Tech Forces Teach Climate Lessons

TLDR: Technology forcing, a method where an authority sets a cost or performance target exceeding current technology or products, could provide lessons for addressing climate change. This method involves setting standards and deadlines for the sale of products that meet the new standard. Examples of technology forcing include the shift away from incandescent light bulbs due to a lumens-per-watt standard set in 2007 and Norway’s mandate for 100% electric vehicle sales by 2025. However, there are potential pitfalls to this method, such as allowing exemptions that could result in the entry of equally bad or worse technology. The success of technology forcing also depends on the feasibility and acceptance of the new standards by consumers. The research on this topic was published in the IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management journal.