With deadly extreme weather hitting all over the globe, rising temperatures peaking during the hottest summer on record and carbon pollution levels that keep climbing, Britain害羞草研究所檚 Prince William and wealthy entrepreneurs Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg promised a warming world a degree of hope.
That comes in the form of innovation, creativity and technology, the trio and others said at a summit Tuesday in the posh Plaza Hotel. They announced finalists for William害羞草研究所檚 third annual Earthshot Prize that offers five awards of 1 million pounds ($1.2 million) to companies and groups that come up with new ways to save the planet.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e got to hang onto optimism and hope because it is the biggest driver of change, the biggest driver of innovation,害羞草研究所� William told the crowd of movers and shakers, after mentioning that he害羞草研究所檇 slipped away for a morning jog in New York害羞草研究所檚 Central Park.
While a healthy dose of realistic pessimism about Earth害羞草研究所檚 climate is important, the heir to the British throne said he wants people to believe 害羞草研究所渢here is hope; there are people out there doing incredible things that will have massive impacts on our futures.害羞草研究所�
William害羞草研究所檚 summit highlighted 15 different finalists from around the world, including efforts to reduce London air pollution from vehicle tires, reduce livestock methane emissions by new types of seaweed feedstock and use DNA technology to make more sustainable textile dyes.
DIFFERING VISIONS OF THE FUTURE
Days after protesters in the street, many of them under 30, talked of robbed futures, speakers at the Earthshot summit 害羞草研究所� named because it was inspired by President John F. Kennedy害羞草研究所檚 moonshot effort in the 1960s 害羞草研究所� saw a different world developing, mainly because of changes in technology.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a lot of climate exaggeration,害羞草研究所� said Gates, who founded Microsoft and is now a philanthropist. 害羞草研究所淭he climate is not the end of the planet. So the planet is going to be fine.害羞草研究所�
The world will not be able to meet its agreed-upon goal to limit future warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial temperatures, but it won害羞草研究所檛 hit the 3-degree Celsius mark either, said Gates, who is not a climate scientist.
Gates cited a reason for thinking it won害羞草研究所檛 be as bad as it once looked: Since 2015, until last year, the world went on a 害羞草研究所済igantic害羞草研究所� innovation binge in efforts that could help curb climate change.
Gates promoted a winner from last year who tries to use rock-like resources to safely store carbon dioxide sucked from the atmosphere, speeding up a natural process by 100,000 times. If that company can get the price of storing carbon dioxide down to $50 a ton it 害羞草研究所渂rings in this additional tool that reduces the temperature rise.害羞草研究所�
AVOIDING INVESTMENT IN HEAT-TRAPPING GASES
Later, at the same hotel, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen talked about more down-to-Earth financial issues 害羞草研究所� how powerful companies could have what害羞草研究所檚 called net-zero investments, which is not funding industries and firms that emit heat-trapping gases.
害羞草研究所淭he climate crisis has propelled a massive economic shift,害羞草研究所� Yellen said.
She introduced a series of best practices for these financial institutions to carry out their net-zero commitments called 害羞草研究所� .害羞草研究所� They include encouraging banks and other institutions to finance clients pursuing decarbonization in high-polluting industries and investing in clean energy projects. Some financial institutions could supplement emissions reduction measures with the voluntary purchase of carbon credits, according to a handout.
She said the goal is to affirm 害羞草研究所渢he importance of credible net-zero commitments and to encourage financial institutions that make them to take consistent approaches to implementation.害羞草研究所�
Yellen also announced that a group of philanthropic organizations 害羞草研究所� including Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies and others 害羞草研究所� would pledge $340 million to help financial institutions 害羞草研究所渄evelop and execute robust, voluntary net-zero commitments,害羞草研究所� she said.
In a statement, David Arkush, director of Public Citizen害羞草研究所檚 Climate Program, said the new Treasury commitments, 害羞草研究所渟uffer from major shortcomings.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淥ffsets are a loophole large enough to drive most carbon pollution through,害羞草研究所� he said.
Afterward, Prince William headed toward ground zero, where he visited with firefighters at FDNY Ten House, the station that was the first on the scene at the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks. He then greeted scores of people lined up behind metal barricades across the street. The Prince shook outstretched hands and chatted briefly with people.
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Hussein reported from Washington. Bobby Caina Calvan contributed from New York. Follow AP害羞草研究所檚 climate and environment coverage at and follow Seth Borenstein at and Fatima Hussein at
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Seth Borenstein And Fatima Hussein, The Associated Press
