As the multinational effort to tackle climate change continues in Paris, it would seem like the demand for solutions has never been more pressing.
While policymakers lock heads on how to stop rising temperatures, there are a groundswell of activities already providing clean energy solutions across the globe.
The United Nations has dubbed these schemes 'Light House' activities.
Tech that is revolutionising the climate change game
Clean and safe light(01 of05)
Azuri PayGo Energy has combined solar and mobile phone technology to bring clean energy to people living in Sub-Saharan Africa.The problem:1.2 billion across world do not have access to electricity in their homes. In Sub-Saharan Africa, most burn kerosene in order to have a light source as clean energy is unaffordable.The solution:The pay-as-you-go solar home system provides eight hours of 'clean lighting.' Every user has to pay a one-off instalment fee and then use their mobile phones to top-off their unit.
Electric vehicle charging corridors (02 of05)
ChargePoint, is the world's largest charging network for electric vehicles. Based in the US, the network entails up to 100 charging stations. According to the UN, it helps electric vehicle drivers to avoid more than 27 million kilograms of CO2.The problem:Transportation is responsible for 27 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the US.The solution:The charging points give drivers quick access to keep their electric vehicles top, allowing them to travel for longer periods of time.
Sustainable and conflict-free smartphones(03 of05)
Dutch company, Fairphone sources conflict-free tin and tantalum from mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo to build a sustainable phone. So far, 60,000 phones have been sold. The problem:The average smartphone contains conflict minerals, including gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten, that fund rebel groups.The solution:As well as sourcing conflict-free tin and tantalum, the organisation also monitor working conditions in their phone factories. For each phone sold, money is invested in a Worker Welfare fund, which is then spent on training and wage increases.
Safe and affordable water (04 of05)
Lifelink is a smartcard system that works in Kenya and Uganda, allowing people to collect water from various dispensers around the country. The problem:In Kenya alone 16 million people don't have access to clean water. There is also a lack of monetary to funds to sustain water system across these countries. The solution:The idea of Lifelink is that is a self-contained, self-financing system that helps communities have a secure source of water. So far, 44 pilots sites have been built in Kenya and Uganda.
Preparing for sea level rise(05 of05)
Mapping Exposure to Sea Level Rise provides governments with high-risk areas with flood maps, giving them information to help them mitigate the risks of sea level rise.The problem:Due to the low-lying nature of the Pacific region, many communities in countries such as Tonga and Papua New Guinea are at a high risk of flooding.The solution:The governments of Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea have been able to include predicted climate change impacts in planning and policy decisions. They are now implementing a range of measures to mitigate the impacts of storm surge and inundation including sea walls and mangroves.