What it is
Project Drawdown's Solutions Library is the most comprehensive, data-backed collection of climate solutions available. Over 90 solutions are ranked by total CO2 equivalent reduction potential through 2050. Each solution includes cost analysis, implementation status, co-benefits, and barriers. Solutions span energy, food, land use, buildings, transportation, and society. The library is free, open-access, and updated with new research annually.
Why we picked this
Project Drawdown answers the single most important question in climate action: what actually works, and how much? The ranked list of solutions eliminates guesswork. Reduced food waste is #1 (87.4 Gt CO2e by 2050). Plant-rich diets are #2. Offshore wind is #10. Family planning is #7. Some of these rankings surprise people, which is exactly the point. Without data-driven prioritization, individuals, businesses, and governments allocate effort to visible but low-impact actions while ignoring high-impact solutions that lack media attention.
Key takeaways
- Reduced food waste ranks as the #1 climate solution by CO2 reduction potential, with 87.4 Gt CO2 equivalent avoided through 2050.
- The top 20 solutions collectively address approximately 80% of the total reduction potential, providing a focused action agenda for climate policymakers.
- Each solution includes net cost or savings data, showing that 40 of the top 80 solutions save money compared to business-as-usual, destroying the narrative that climate action is expensive.