We train and employ teams around the world to directly reduce ghg emissions, while providing direct benefits to people in the bottom 20% socio-economic bracket – and we do this at a pace aligned with science-based targets. Teams work on waste management, building zero emissions transport networks, renewable energy, land rejuvenation, and carbon sequestration.
The performance of these teams in aggregate aims at reducing global emissions by one gigatonne of CO2e per year, while employing over 200 million people and providing support for approximately 900 million families in the bottom 20% income bracket. We estimate the overall cost of financing teams to meet these targets is around USD$200 billion per year.
Our overall strategic goal is to catalyse this market through the creation of Gigatonne Teams financed by GSCs. Approaching full capitalisation of teams required to hit one gigatonne will leverage a dynamic pricing model for GSC's
Teams create, test and implement abatement and reduction solutions required in their local context. Typical domains include food waste reduction (preventing it from going to landfill and composting), creating zero emission transport networks (switching to electric vehicles), introducing clean energy for personal and commercial needs (biogas for cooking), and implementing solutions to radically improve food and water security. Currently, most Gigatonne Teams operate in the Global South, with teams in India, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Team members are typically (but not always) younger people seeking to make careers out of their work with Gigatonne, through which we are creating green jobs.
We have trained and supported 95 teams through completion of 146 sprints within 71 cities spread over 25 countries. This has resulted in 3,250 families being directly impacted and the abatement of 1,670 tonnes of CO2e.
How teams will be addressing the challenge?
A gigatonne is one billion tonnes. Current scientific estimates are that we need to reduce global emissions between 1 to 1.4 gigatonnes of CO2e per year, with emissions needing to peak almost immediately. This is how that goal can be achieved, while simultaneously benefiting those most vulnerable.
The core math behind the gigatonne challenge follows a power-law. In simple language this means the more teams we have, the more likely it is we achieve our goals.
Here’s how it works:
Our goal is reducing one billion tonnes of CO2e per year while benefiting the most vulnerable.
This approach also means that we maximise equity, the more teams we have the more the benefits are decentralised across multiple geographies.
We have run multiple scenarios for the co-investment needed to make gigatonne-scale reductions. This is the only approach where the math adds up. We have set 7 performance levels for Gigatonne Teams. These performance levels include temporal, abatement and equity targets. Teams graduate to a new level once they meet the standards for a level.
From Level 3 all teams are financed.
We have a 3 phase approach to this:
Phase 1: Start-up (48 months)
Phase 2: Take-Off (48-60 months)
The Take-Off Phase consists of regional “Code Red Sprints” – these are timebound “sprints” where 250 teams start at Level 1 and graduate to Level 6 in 24 months.
Phase 3: End-State (48-60 months)
The End-State Phase involves extending Code Red Sprints to nine regions around the world, with approximately 750 teams participating per region.
The goal is for teams to reach a “Steady-State” where they are reducing emissions steadily across multiple domains, from energy efficiency to renewables to food and transport.
What are the teams performance levels?
We define 7 performance levels for teams (Level 1- Level 7), delivered in time-bound “sprints”. Targets increase 10 x at each level.
At each level, teams design and test prototypes to meet the targets and requirements set for that level. More details on requirements can be found in the Gigatonne Protocol.
When a team meets their targets and to satisfy all required conditions they are invited to progress to the next level. Sprints for each Level include investing in:
- teams' capacity development
- engaging local communities and stakeholders
- learning from the extended Gigatonne network of teams - all of which is facilitated by two trained Gigatonne coaches assigned to each team. Funding is provided from Level 3 onwards.
The performance levels approach enables us to assess teams and follow their growth as they develop their track record.
What are the teams’ abatement activities?
