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Solar and wind power are already scalable solutions; with other new entrants, these clean technology contenders are ready to go, but for them to sprint to the consumer market, we must cheer them on with locally adapted market solutions.

The materials used in solar cells damage the environment. We need new generations of renewable energy solutions that are safer and reduce our material footprint. We could even use materials derived from plants and trees, such as cellulose, to construct many different components of solar cells.

Renewable energy and electric mobility are key technologies to combat climate change, but batteries that store energy are dependent on certain minerals: lithium, cobalt, graphite and nickel. Currently, only about five per cent of lithium-ion batteries are recycled, even if all of them should be.

Carbon emissions of cars, motorbikes, boats and aeroplanes would decrease dramatically if we used electric power sources and recharged with renewable energies. We can reduce overall energy use through product-service systems that promote use over ownership.

Buildings are carbon gluttons. They gobble up half of the world’s raw materials and generate one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions. Perhaps we should be feeling building shame – or at least looking for more sustainable construction solutions. The carbon footprint of constructing a concrete multi-storey building is 75 per cent higher than that of a wooden structure.