Session Carbon Reduction or Carbon Capture? Photo credit: VivaTech 2024
Carbon Reduction or Carbon Capture?
This session delved deep into the transformative power of technology in the fight against climate change, highlighting the practical steps industries are taking to slash CO2 emissions. Bringing together thought leaders from Airbus, Google Ventures, Plan A, Capgemini, and CUR8, the discussion revolved around how technology is reshaping entire sectors, helping businesses cut their carbon footprint and fast-track their journey to net-zero.
Aviation took center stage as a critical battleground for emissions reduction, with Julie Kitcher of Airbus underscoring the company's dedication to pioneering greener skies. She painted a compelling picture of Airbus’s next-generation aircraft designs and their bold strides in developing sustainable aviation fuels, signaling a new era of low-carbon air travel.
Marta Krupinska from CUR8 weighed in on the growing importance of trust and large-scale investments in carbon removal initiatives. “How we generate trust is actually working with large organizations that we can trust. So when Microsoft, Google, Airbus, or Amazon make massive investments into carbon removal the world assumes that these organizations have done their due diligence to invest in the right thing.”
However, while carbon removal technologies are evolving, they’re far from the scale we need warned Lubomila Jordanova from Plan A. "At the moment, some of the biggest facilities for carbon removal are at the capacity of a few thousands cars. India, last year, introduced one million cars on the road so obviously we need to be looking at reduction first before anything else."
Session Waste Not, Want Not: How to Rethink Our Food Systems. Photo credit: VivaTech 2024
Waste Not, Want Not: How to Rethink Our Food Systems
Food waste accounts for one-third of global food production and significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. In this session, the panel explored cutting-edge solutions aimed at reducing this waste, with speakers emphasizing the role of technology and innovation in reshaping the food industry.
Stressing the urgency of addressing inefficiencies in the food value chain, Christophe F. Maire of Foodlabs noted that the food industry is responsible for roughly 30% of global emissions. He pointed to initiatives like Klim and Too Good to Go, which offer immediate ways to reduce waste by using tech-driven approaches to food distribution and sustainability. Maire's call for swift action was echoed by other panelists, who focused on how technology can streamline the food production process.
Julie Klinge Johansen of Too Good to Go, highlighted the power of AI in managing food expiration in retail, stating, “Even if we save four meals every second, it’s not enough—we need to aim higher.” The session also introduced other innovative technologies like urban rooftop farming for local produce, regenerative farming supported by digital platforms, and advanced fermentation techniques for producing sustainable proteins. With trillion in food waste annually and 783 million people still undernourished, the speakers underscored that tackling food waste is not just a technological challenge, but a moral imperative.
Session Can AI Help Us Speed Up the Energy Transition? Photo credit: VivaTech 2024
Can AI Help Us Speed Up the Energy Transition?
As AI becomes more integrated into society, its potential to optimize energy systems is increasingly recognized. The panelists from this session discussed AI’s advantages and drawbacks in the race to reduce our global carbon footprint.
According to the International Energy Agency, AI is already applied in over 50 areas within the energy ecosystem, with a projected market value of $13 billion. However, as Jeremy Kahn of Fortune pointed out, even tech giants like Microsoft, despite pledging net-zero targets, have seen their carbon footprint increase due to growing AI use.
The panelists remained optimistic about AI's potential however. “My belief is AI can really help the climate transition despite the energy consumption associated with,” said Philippe Rambach of Schneider Electric. AI can optimize processes, forecast demand, and help avoid peaks in energy consumption, which is crucial for the green transition. Hiroshi Matsuda of Mitsubishi highlighted innovative ways his company is reducing energy use in data centers, a key driver of electricity demand. Thomas Spencer from the International Energy Agency added that while data center energy use has grown 40% since 2015, their workload has increased by 350%, showcasing the sector's progress in energy efficiency.
The conversation also touched on AI’s role in climate justice and bridging the gap between data-rich and data-poor regions. Claire Monteleoni of Inria Paris Centre underscored the importance of applying AI to energy forecasting in developing nations, helping them plan and manage resources more effectively. While AI is not a silver bullet, she highlighted its potential to drive inclusive and sustainable energy solutions globally, particularly in regions most affected by energy scarcity.
Session Green Metropolis: Shaping Climate-Smart Cities. Photo credit: VivaTech 2024
Green Metropolis: Shaping Climate-Smart Cities
Cities are the largest contributors to global emissions. This session brought together experts to discuss innovative urban planning strategies, including green buildings, resilient infrastructure, and advanced technologies like digital twins and AI for resource and space management.
Jacques Beltran of Dassault Systèmes emphasized the shift from intuition-based urban planning to data-driven approaches. “We are trying to bring more scientific precision to city development with our technology.”
Cecilia Kushner from the New York City Economic Development Corporation shared how NYC’s green economy action plan was grounded in data analysis to identify the city's most significant climate challenges. The discussion also touched on how vulnerable regions need to rethink urban expansion to avoid climate hazards, as pointed out by Helene Chartier of C40 Citites. “90% of the urban expansion that is happening in global south is happening in climate hazard areas or very close to it.” Better planning can help manage this expansion sustainably.
A key theme was the importance of collaboration between cities and tech providers, as well as public-private partnerships to fund these advancements. Beltran dispelled the myth that digital twins—virtual models of cities—are only for large urban areas, pointing out that smaller cities are also adopting these solutions. The panelists agreed that technological innovation, combined with community-led planning, is essential to create equitable, climate-resilient cities.
Collaboration and Innovation
The insights shared during these sessions at VivaTech 2024 make it clear that while the challenges of climate change are monumental, technology offers a powerful toolkit for solutions across industries. However, tech alone isn’t enough—collaboration between governments, corporations, startups, and communities is essential. As we accelerate climate technologies, a balanced approach that combines tech advancement, equity, and climate justice will be key in making impactful, lasting change.
Want to dive into more VivaTech sessions? Check out all of our 2024 Session Recordings for more insights into other industries.