Welcome to Supercool
I was having beers with a neighbor recently. As we chatted about our town and families, I casually asked whether he was concerned about the future. He considered for a moment, then replied, “I am. I have a lot of concerns, actually, especially on the offensive line. Clemson has a lot of rebuilding to do to get back to winning championships.”
Everyone is concerned about the future. However, not everyone prioritizes the same things in the same order.
At Supercool, our priority is climate change, more precisely, on how to solve climate change in delightful ways that cut carbon and enhance our modern lives.
Who Cares About Climate?
It may be hard to believe, but just about everyone is concerned about climate change. The 2023 Edelman Special Report on Trust and Climate Change found that 93% of people believe climate change poses a serious and imminent threat to the planet, including 83% of all Americans.
But how can nearly everyone be concerned about climate change and still credible action on a scale commensurate with the challenge remains elusive?
It’s a matter of priorities. We care about climate change; we happen to care much more about nearly everything else, like healthcare, education, national security, inflation, our pets, probably our kids, and definitely college football.
A 2023 survey by The Economist and YouGov found that of the 15 issues identified, Americans cared the least about climate change and the environment.
So it’s not that we don’t care about climate. Concern runs deep. To quote former President George W. Bush (as played by Will Ferrell):
“Global warming is an issue that my administration is very concerned about. Deeply. Deeply, in a deep kind of concerned way.”
We want action on climate, but not at the expense of action on what we feel is more meaningful to our way of life.
And that is okay. Today, it’s possible to directly improve the issues that matter most to people while cutting carbon simultaneously.
Supercool Climate Solutions
We started Supercool to share a fast-moving phenomenon; today, innovative climate solutions are spreading on a never-before-seen scale.
Far from requiring sacrifice, many of these initiatives improve our lives, just as they decrease carbon emissions. They improve student test scores, keep our neighborhoods safe, and ensure our military is combat-ready. They cut our bills, create jobs, and revitalize downtowns. They deliver meaningful results based on the things that give our lives meaning.
You’ll find Supercool climate solutions in places like Lincoln, Nebraska, where the city rolled out an initiative to rehabilitate low-income rental apartments with upgrades like energy-efficient windows and better insulation – that increase comfort while cutting carbon and electric bills – without raising rents or financially burdening landlords.
You’ll find them in Cortez, Florida, an hour south of Tampa, where homeowners in Hunters Point, a net-zero housing development, don’t have any electric bills. They pay zero for electricity because their modern designed houses produce more energy than they consume. Their houses are also built climate tough, having easily withstood the damage wrought by Hurricanes Ian and Idalia. In a state where home insurance is in crisis, and many homeowners are being dropped by their insurance companies, homeowners at Hunters Point are still insured.
The Future is Supercool
We are in a unique moment. Our human capacity for ingenuity is being tested. Yet, people and communities worldwide are rising to meet this moment. They are aided by three mighty forces that are propelling progress.
1. Federal Climate Funding is Unprecedented
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is injecting nearly $1 trillion into the U.S. economy to accelerate America’s green transformation. Governments in other countries are following suit to maintain their competitiveness in a world bent on decarbonization.
2. Climate Action is Local
Over 600 U.S. cities have adopted climate action plans, turning neighborhoods into living laboratories for action. Around the world, the number of cities with climate action plans totals over 3,000.
3. Climate Technologies are Scaling
Many climate technologies have advanced from pilot to commercial scale, leading to rapid adoption among governments and the private sector.
The science is irrefutable; we live in a time of climate urgency. Peril cannot be dismissed as a possibility. Yet, it’s equally clear that the future holds so much promise and potential.
Places worldwide have seized on that potential and are already enjoying the benefits of the low-carbon economy. Our aim at Supercool is to share these stories and the supporting data so we all can learn, accelerate adoption, and embrace the future with renewed hope and optimism.
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