Giving Compass' Take:

• Shana Rappaport argues that it will take: unprecedented transparency, intelligent systems, mass collaboration and mixed reality feedback to fight climate change in this digital age. 

• What is the role of philanthropy in climate action and climate policy?

• Read about philanthropy and digital civil society. 

More often than not, the conversation about climate action is focused on decarbonization — on investing in and deploying the emission-reducing technologies needed to keep us under 2 degrees Celsius of global warming — a.k.a., averting catastrophe.

But what if unlocking climate progress requires a different kind of key?

Don’t get me wrong: Not only is deep decarbonization critical, it’s also possible. After all, over 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from just five sectors — electricity, industry, agriculture and land use, transportation and buildings — and we’ve pretty much got most if not all of the solutions to do what scientific consensus tells us is needed: cut global emissions in half in the next decade and get to net zero by 2050.

The question is: Why aren’t we doing this? Why are global emissions still increasing? Why is it that we’re still on the trajectory towards a 4 or 5 degrees Celsius warmer world by the end of the century? What will it take — as in really, truly take — to set business, government and society on an inclusive deep decarbonization path?

Enter the D^2S Agenda — short for Digital Disruptions for Sustainability — a report (PDF) published this week by international research organization Future Earth as part of its initiative, Sustainability in the Digital Age. The interconnected premises on which it is based are as insightful and relevant as they are downright fascinating. And they link beautifully with the underlying premise of our annual VERGE event.

Read the full article about fighting climate change in the digital age by Shana Rappaport at GreenBiz.