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Knowledge for a warmer world: a patent analysis of climate change adaptation technologies

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  • Kerstin Hotte
  • Su Jung Jee

Abstract

Technologies can help strengthen the resilience of our economy against existential climate-risks. We investigate climate change adaptation technologies (CCATs) in US patents to understand (1) historical patterns and drivers of innovation; (2) scientific and technological requirements to develop and use CCATs; and (3) CCATs' potential technological synergies with mitigation. First, in contrast to mitigation, innovation in CCATs only slowly takes off, indicating a relatively low awareness of investors for solutions to cope with climate risks. Historical trends in environmental regulation, energy prices, and public support can be associated with patenting in CCATs. Second, CCATs form two main clusters: science-intensive ones in agriculture, health, and monitoring technologies; and engineering-intensive ones in coastal, water, and infrastructure technologies. Analyses of technology-specific scientific and technological knowledge bases inform directions for how to facilitate advancement, transfer and use of CCATs. Lastly, CCATs show strong technological complementarities with mitigation as more than 25% of CCATs bear mitigation benefits. While not judging about the complementarity of mitigation and adaptation in general, our results suggest how policymakers can harness these technological synergies to achieve both goals simultaneously.

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  • Kerstin Hotte & Su Jung Jee, 2021. "Knowledge for a warmer world: a patent analysis of climate change adaptation technologies," Papers 2108.03722, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2022.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2108.03722
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Natalia Wagner, 2023. "Inventive Activity for Climate Change Mitigation: An Insight into the Maritime Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-23, November.
    2. Minjong Cheon & Changbae Mun, 2023. "The Climate of Innovation: AI’s Growing Influence in Weather Prediction Patents and Its Future Prospects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-13, December.

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