Here's 9 Biomimicry Solutions for Climate Change

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We know that carbon emissions, particularly carbon dioxide and methane, are a major contributor to global climate change trends, and that the challenge of mitigating and even reversing this trend is highly complex. We also know that, like so many other sustainable design challenges we face, managing carbon is a challenge faced by the natural world and solved for through its own adaptive strategies that have evolved over 3.8 billion years. In short: Nature sees carbon as a building block and we can too.

In a new report from Biomimicry 3.8, carbon solutions are examined via technologies and products inspired by the natural world, showcasing important insights into how nature's genius can help humans: 

  • Minimize the carbon footprint of energy and materials production

  • Sequester carbon where emissions are present

  • Use carbon as a feedstock to produce innovative materials and commodities

INSPIRED BY NATURE

Below is a round up of nine biomimicry solutions across different sectors included in the report that offer an opportunity to take action and integrate biomimicry into your carbon strategy:

  1. BioWave | Renewable energy technology that harvests wave action energy with kelp motion

  2. VAWT Wind Farm Design | Vertically oriented wind turbines arranged like schools of fish

  3. Swarm Logic Technology | Holistic energy demand management system that communicates like a swarm

  4. AirCarbon | High-performance plastic made with carbon captured from emissions

  5. Carbon Mix | Carbonate rocks made from captured CO2 emissions, mimicking how coral builds

  6. Multi-Strata Agroforestry | Forestry management strategy that mimics the forest

  7. Ecological Performance Standards | Ecosystem-based performance metrics for the built environment

  8. Perennial Crops | An approach to modern agriculture that mimics the prairie grassland

  9. Zelfo | Biobased material that leverages self organizing fibers and stores carbon at the same time

  10. Leave us a comment below on what inspiration you derive from nature for solving climate change challenges!


Nature has managed carbon for 3.8 billion years

Nature has evolved strategies to manage, and even take advantage of, the presence of carbon. The natural carbon cycle is a constant operating condition of the Earth and the natural world, including organisms and ecosystems.

Champion adaptors included in the report are helping humans tackle carbon and climate change biomimetically.
These champions include:  

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Keep Exploring

Here's a list of additional resources of inspirations from nature and climate change solutions that we are excited about.

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AskNature: What can we learn from nature as we design solutions for mitigating, adapting to, and reversing climate change?  Explore the curated collection of biological strategies on AskNature.org >>


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Project Drawdown is the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming.  Explore 100 solutions currently available to reverse global warming >>


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The Biomimicry Global Design Challenge: Create a nature-inspired innovation (a product, service, or system) that combats climate change.  Join the challenge >>


A World Empowered with Nature's Genius
Help us achieve our vision by sharing these biomimicry resources with the creative problem solvers in your network.

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Love To Design With Nature In Mind?
Take our introductory self-paced online course and start building your foundation in the philosophy and practice of biomimicry.