[{"document_url": "https://thenextweb.com/google/2015/12/09/cop21-climate-change-plan-hts-tech-68-times-but-innovators-are-nowhere-to-be-seen/", "unformatted_src": "https://cdn0.tnwcdn.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2015/12/Solar-Impulse.jpg", "src": "https://cdn0.tnwcdn.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2015/12/Solar-Impulse.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Solar Impulse", "alt_text": "#COP21 climate change plan H/Ts tech 68 times \u2013 but innovators are nowhere to be seen"}, null]
Credit: Solar Impulse

The latest draft agreement from Parisâ #COP21 climate negotiations onÂ the future of our planet is surprisingly conciseÂ at 29 pages, but technology gets a whopping 68 mentions within this potentially world-changing document.

Much of this outlinesÂ how rich nations can help finance tech innovations that will assistÂ developing countries in addressing climate change, as well as focusing on sharing technology solutions to avoid duplicated effort.




Trouble is, despite the fact that technologyÂ companies like Google, Microsoft and FacebookÂ are makingÂ significantÂ attempts to develop newÂ tech and reduce their own footprints, theyÂ wereÂ strangely absent from #COP21âs parallel Sustainable Innovation Summit.Â And there was certainly very few startup innovators on its list of speakers.

You could see BMW, owned by climate-cheater Volkswagen, or global-warming contributor Coca Cola, as well numerous heads of government who have been trying and failing to to tackleÂ the huge challenges that climate change presents.

But there were just threeÂ young, innovative tech companies speaking at the summit: fuel-zero airplane company Solar Impulse,Â electric scooter startup GogoroÂ and environment commodities trading platform Carbon Trade Xchange.

Unveiled on November 30 to coincide with the opening of #COP21 was theÂ Breakthrough Energy CoalitionÂ startupÂ fund, comprised of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, plus other tech leaders.

This group has agreed to work with 20 governments as part of Mission Innovation, which should see investment in cleantech by these nations, which include the US, UK and China,Â double over the next five years to $20 billion.

ButÂ where were Gates, Zuckerberg and Bezos when the stage opened at the Sustainable Innovation Summit? And what aboutÂ all the startup innovatorsÂ from across the globe?

Looking at the draft text, it appears likeÂ #COP21 could accelerateÂ much-needed climate innovation.

Unfortunately, we mightÂ have to wait another fewÂ years forÂ bureaucrats and corporates to finally cede some airtime to those whoâve been making big and small innovative steps on the ground for many years.

And, after all,Â it couldÂ likely be five years at least before the Breakthrough Energy Coalition project hasÂ something to show for itself.

I just canât help but feel like if the COP negotiations more clearly involved the big namesÂ behind the products that we all use, needÂ and, probably even love, the climate debate might beÂ as cool as the latest lightning-compatible headphones.

OrÂ that, just like this yearâs scrambling attempts to get a legally-binding target on global carbon emissions after âcrucialâ negotiations failed at COP back in Copenhagen in 2009, this all feels too little, too late.

â¤ Draft Paris OutcomeÂ [UNFCC]

Read next: TNW's Apps of the Year: Periscope changed the game for personal livestreaming








