Film 2040 Follow Up

Thanks to everyone who came to the free screening of 2040 on Friday 18th October. Our community are working hard to implement systems for a sustainable, happier future.

Kat McCarthy explains what’s happening:

Microgrids/energy ecosystem

RedGrid, in collaboration with 2040, launched a successful capital raise to fund Australian pilots of its energy ecosystem technology. This was the technology idea used in Bangladesh, as explored in the film.

Here's a summary of RedGrid from the Australian Financial Review on July 1, 2019

Utilising machine learning algorithms, the company has created a new distributed architecture to underpin the energy grid and turn neighbourhoods, apartment blocks or shopping centres into their own "mini-grids". In these mini-grids, all of the devices in people's homes or shops such as air conditioners, refrigerators and pool pumps will be equipped with software that lets the devices communicate with each other and autonomously adjust energy consumption. It means devices can turn themselves on and off and redistribute electricity to areas or products that need it more.

Co-founder Dr Adam Bumpus, a former senior research fellow in environment and innovation at Melbourne University, said the technology would help prevent blackouts on hot summer days.

It would mean excess solar energy from rooftops could be put to use immediately in the surrounding area in exchange for energy credits, rather than going back to the retailer. The company has been recruited by EnergyAustralia to run a pilot program utilising its data to test whether a machine learning algorithm could help it manage peak energy times more efficiently.

Regenerative farming

The 2040 film is supporting CARBON8, a farmer-led initiative that is responding to the current impact of droughts, floods and desertification, by supporting farmers to increase carbon in their soil and transition to regenerative agriculture. Techniques include multi-species cropping and cover crops; holistic grazing and water cycle restoration.

You can support CARBON8 via a donation (one off or monthly), by getting involved as a farmer, or (for an organisation or business) becoming an impact partner.

Marine permaculture

In the film, we learnt about the magic of seaweed.

In April 2019, The Intrepid Foundation partnered with The Climate Foundation to fund research through the University of Tasmania for Australia’s first marine permaculture platform in Storm Bay near Hobart. Seaweed can grow up to half a metre a day, making it a turbo charged carbon sequesterer with lots of cascading benefits -- it is one of the most exciting climate solutions available. Many kelp forests have been wiped out due to warming oceans but scientists have recently found a way to regenerate the kelp. Intrepid contributed $100K to the making of 2040, and as more people learned about the power of seaweed through the film, Intrepid and partners raised $350K for this project via crowdfunding.

More info here: https://www.theintrepidfoundation.org/seaweed-regeneration

Ecosia search engine

The 2040 film endorses Ecosia, a search engine based in Berlin that donates 80% or more of its profits to non-profit organizations that focus on reforestation. Ecosia considers itself a social business, is CO2-negative and supports full financial transparency. To date, it has planted more than 71 million trees