Social Responsibility
At CalWave, impact is the driving force that propels our work forward.
Our aim is to unlock wave power for people and planet. We believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that our impact is socially, environmentally, and economically sound.
Sustainability
CalWave’s mission is aligned with and facilitates several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
MEETING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
FAST FACTS AND FIGURES
Scale of Resource and Emission Reduction Potential
Ocean-based mitigation options could reduce global GHG emissions by nearly 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per annum in 2030 and by more than 11 billion tons per annum in 2050, relative to projected business-as-usual (BAU) emissions. Reductions of this magnitude are larger than the emissions from all current coal-fired power plants worldwide and more than China’s total emissions in 2014. Ocean-based mitigation options could reduce the “emissions gap” (the difference between emissions expected if current trends and policies continue and emissions consistent with limiting global temperature increase) by up to 21% on a 1.5°C pathway, and by about 25% on a 2.0°C pathway, by 2050.
The figure to the left provides emissions projections of various electricity supply technologies, with ocean energy resulting in the least lifecycle emissions.
IPCC Special Report recognizes ocean energy as a means of mitigating climate change. According to the report, rapid actions to reduce greenhouse gas emission can still help limit the changes in the ocean and cryosphere and preserve ecosystems and livelihoods that depend on them. To do that, cooperation among authorities across sectors and jurisdictions needs to be enhanced, taking into account the local and indigenous knowledge.
The United Nations report: “Tidal, wave and other marine energies will escalate”. The report also outlines prevention and restoration actions that can help protect the ocean and cryosphere ecosystems. The report further suggests that the urgent need for low-carbon energy sources is likely to create economic opportunities for the ocean energy sector.
Ocean-based Mitigation Options
Ocean-based Mitigation Options and Associated Annual Mitigation Potential in 2050.
Source: The Ocean Panel, 2019.