ETH Domain launches Climate Solutions Hub

Empa and Eawag have launched the ‘Climate Solutions Hub’ (CSH) to address the gap between pilot climate technologies and their large-scale implementation. While many transformative solutions exist, they often remain stuck in demonstration phases due to non-technological barriers.

Co-leader Christian Binz noted that regulatory hurdles, lack of investment, insufficient knowledge, and low public acceptance are more frequent obstacles to scaling than technical limitations. The hub will work with partners from research, industry, and the public sector to identify and overcome these barriers.

Research conducted by Eawag, such as the ‘WaterReuseLab’ project in Bengaluru, India, highlights the complexity of scaling decentralized water reuse. Such projects demonstrate that successful implementation requires navigating user acceptance, legal frameworks, and viable business models alongside the technology itself.