A Few Climate Ideas to Laugh At or Laud

From carbon-capturing surfboards to sexy conservationists --
8 ideas to spark possibility

Who knew after I graduated from my climate fellowship that I’d find myself repairing my favorite pair of black, cotton-blended culottes in a sewing circle with a group of physicists and a software engineer?

The circle, created by my friend and fellow cohort member Ariana, was part of her climate action plan. We were all challenged to put one together upon graduation, no matter how illogical, strange, simple, or complex our ideas.

I ended up with many ideas, most of which did not make it into my plan. I felt some were too wacky to share. I also felt frustrated to have all these ideas but not enough time, and resources (and lifetimes!) to implement them. So, I figured I’d write about them instead. Maybe they will inspire someone to try them. Or, maybe they will help generate tangents that lead to new ideas or hybrid ways of thinking.
Here goes!

Idea 1: Carbon Capturing Surfboards
What if we could create a thin sticker or film to put on the bottom of our surfboards that could sequester carbon from the ocean? What if it were versatile so it could also be used in kayaks, jet skis, stand-up paddle boards, or devices that float on the surface of the ocean?

Why?
CO2 (carbon) is a greenhouse gas that contributes to warming our air and oceans. About 30% of our CO2 emissions are absorbed by our oceans. Coastal areas sequester the highest concentration of CO2, which is first absorbed at the ocean’s surface before it gets stored in deeper waters.

Surfers spend most of their time sitting on their surfboards, bobbing up and down on the ocean’s surface, waiting for waves. We could use the surface areas of our surfboards to help sequester CO2. After it is sequestered, the patch or film can be easily removed and dropped in a depot at surf breaks. Perhaps the carbon can then be repurposed into bricks or building materials.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we need to remove some 5 billion tons of CO2 every year to limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C. The International Surfing Association (ISA) estimates that there are between 25–30 million surfers around the world.

Yes, surfers can be lazy. But, give a surfer a bit of structure, like telling them there is a beach clean-up at 9 am at a specific location, and they will show. By offering them a structure to be involved as they enjoy their sport, we’d be adding a huge, untapped lever to the climate action movement.

Idea 2: Coalition of Acupuncturists and Climate Scientists
What if we could get Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors to share their thinking on ways they help balance out the acidity in their patients’ bodies? Then what if we get scientists to share their thinking and insights on the increased acidity of our oceans and soil due to climate change? Come to think of it, why not add some entrepreneurs, ocean conservationists and farmers to the group in the spirit of collaboration?

Why?
As our world warms, our oceans and soil are becoming more acidic and imbalanced. If you’ve ever been treated by an acupuncturist or doctor of TCM, you’ll be familiar with the principles of Yin and Yang used in their treatment approach. Yang is related to acidity, while Yin is its counter. Could the Yin and Yang application found in TCM inspire new insights for scientists, ocean conservationists, farmers and entrepreneurs to think about how to combat ocean and soil acidity due to warming?

Idea 3: Snoop Dogg Does Climate
What if we got Snoop Dogg and Martha to commentate on the innovative and unique solutions emerging in climate with the same curiosity and wonder they did for the Paris Olympics?

Why?
We have the climate science. We have ideas for climate solutions. However, we need to get better at communicating climate change and reaching more people. The news is focused on covering climate disasters and crises more than it is focused on covering potential solutions.
Imagine if Snoop Dogg commentated about seaweed-derived polymers as an alternative to plastic with the same wonder in which he talked about equestrianism at the Olympics. His attention to the innovations would build a buzz around climate awareness.

Idea 4: Amplify Storytellers from the Poles
What if we could amplify indigenous storytelling from the poles?

Why?
We have three poles — the Arctic, the Antarctic, and the Third Pole. The poles are indicators of how fast our world is warming. How often does the average person see, hear, or think about them?

I sometimes see the Arctic referenced in scientific-focused articles or through stories of polar bears on melting ice caps. It’s like out of sight, out of mind. I hardly come across stories from Indigenous people speaking about the changes they are experiencing in these remote places.
Though the poles are far off to most, they are our highly vulnerable axis of balance. If they are thrown off, the whole earth is thrown off. If the ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland melted alone, sea levels would rise 230 feet, and coastal cities would be underwater. We need to amplify more voices from these regions of the world.

Idea 5: Every Travel Writer a Climate Writer!
What if there was a movement that mobilized travel writers, bloggers, and influencers to integrate climate messages into their stories?

Why?
People love following the stories of travelers as they explore the wonders of the world. Perhaps instead of travelers just writing about the awesome wave they surfed off the coast of Java, or the transformation they got from the Ayahuasca ceremony in a South American jungle, they could include climate talking points in their posts relevant to their place of travel.
I’ve adopted this hybrid approach to share my surf travel memoirs. I write about my past surf adventures and link them to pressing climate issues.
What if every travel writer were a climate writer? That would be a powerful way to educate and reach more people on climate change.

Idea 6: Sexy (Or Weird!) Conservation Influencer
What if we had a “Kim Kardashian” equivalent of climate influencing — someone who can make conservation sexy (or weird!) enough to want to follow?

Why?
I know. Sexy is subjective. And it’s not “social justice-y” of me to perpetuate constructs that focus on individual influence as opposed to building communal influence. But, people follow people. And, individual actions and stories are hugely influential in bringing people along into broader movements.

Beauty and fashion influencers have incredible sway over people. What if there was someone who made conservation behaviors sexy (or weird!) enough for people to want to emulate? Could refusing single-use plastic ever be…sexy?

Idea 7: Junior Climate Corps
What if we could create a junior climate corps that provides paid internships for high school students to get experience working in areas of recycling, clean energy, conservation, and climate adaptation?

Why?
The U.S. is historically responsible for the most CO2 and CH4 (methane) emissions, two greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. To give some context on emissions in the U.S., an American refrigerator consumes more energy than many people do in Africa. To say we have a duty to reduce the impact of our emissions would be an understatement.

In the U.S., we need a pipeline for youth to enter the climate movement as leaders. If youth come from families with economic struggles, putting food on the table trumps any focus on climate action; worrying about the environment is a privilege.

We have an American Climate Corps for adults, which helps train tens of thousands of Americans to enter the workforce to fight climate change, accelerate the use of clean energy, and help communities with climate resilience. These corps members receive a monthly stipend and educational award to participate.

If we could tie economic livelihood creation to climate action for youth by providing them paid opportunities as part of their high school education, we would not only cultivate the next generation of climate leaders, but we’d also be creating pipelines for a future green workforce.
While the work of small nonprofits to create this pipeline is worthy, systemic solutions to create pipelines through high school infrastructure can help us scale efforts to meet the enormity of the climate issue.

Idea 8: Man-Made Coltan
What if we could create a man-made mineral that replaces coltan?

Why?
Congo holds 70–80% of the world’s coltan, a mineral used in creating a variety of electronic products. However, over 6 million people in Congo have lost their lives in large part due to the country’s mineral conflict since the 1990s.

Coltan is also used in creating solar products, an alternative energy solution to get us to rely less on fossil fuels. While going solar is solving one problem, it does not solve the huge human rights and climate justice problems endemic in the sourcing of its materials.
Someone once told me that innovation is just a function of time. I have no doubt some of these ideas might already be in the works in some way, shape, or form. I also do not doubt some of them may be downright impossible to do.

At the same time, Einstein once said “if at first the idea is not absurd, then there will be no hope for it.”

Perhaps there’s a thin line between what’s laudable and what’s laughable. Perhaps some seeds of hope got planted from this share.

Farhana Huq is an Executive & Leadership Coach, Surfer, Global Explorer and Founder of Surf Life Executive Coaching & Brown Girl Surf.