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Climate Defense as a Business Imperative: How Innovation Can Turn Resilience Into Profit
From “climate change” to climate defense
The language we use shapes the actions we take. For years, discussions about global warming centred on “climate change,” a phrase that conveys a passive, almost inevitable transformation of our environment. Yet the meteorological extremes of the past decade – record heat waves, devastating floods, more recently in Texas, US, [1] as well as across Europe and Asia – demonstrate that these forces are not distant. They are threats to our infrastructure, our economy and our safety. This is why we speak of climate defense. It is an active commitment to anticipate, adapt to and mitigate climate‑driven hazards. Climate defense is not just a moral obligation; the numbers show that it is a growth industry.
Figure 1: A flooded Guadalupe River leaves fallen trees and debris in its wake in Kerrville on Friday. Carter Johnston/The New York Times/Redux
Consider the global climate‑adaptation market, which includes technologies, services and infrastructure upgrades that help societies withstand floods, heatwaves and soil erosion. It was valued at US$30 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to US$104 billion by 2032 – a compound annual growth rate of 16.74 % [2]. This surge reflects more than climate anxiety. Population growth and urbanisation mean that nearly 70 % of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050 [3] requiring resilient infrastructure and early‑warning systems. And early‑warning programs are delivering: the World Meteorological Organization’s CREWS initiative provided improved forecasting and warning services to 125 million people in 2023 and 396 million since 2017 [4]
Adaptation also makes economic sense. A World Resources Institute analysis found that every US$1 invested in climate adaptation yields more than US$10 in economic, social and environmental benefits [5]. The average annual return on adaptation projects is 27 %, with certain sectors such as health delivering returns of over 78 % [6]. Put differently, resilience is not a cost centre; it is one of the best investments a society can make.
Europe’s cautious leadership and the U.S. appetite for risk
In regulatory debates, observers often contrast Europe’s precautionary approach with the United States’ innovation‑first mindset. Under the precautionary principle, the European Union restricts or bans chemicals or technologies until they are proven safe, placing the burden of proof on producers. By contrast, the U.S. often allows widespread adoption of new products until harm is demonstrated [7]. This difference is evident in many sectors – from food and aviation to artificial intelligence – and it explains why some fear that electoral swings in Washington could slow sustainable innovation.
I share the concern but not the pessimism. Europe has been a quiet leader in climate defense. The EU Adaptation Strategy aims for smarter, faster and more systemic adaptation, emphasising better data tools, scaled‑up resilient solutions and stronger international cooperation [8]. In 2023, the EU and its member states provided €28.6 billion (US$31.19 billion) in public climate finance and mobilised €7.2 billion in private finance for developing countries [9] Yet Europe’s adaptation finance gap is still projected at €28 billion per year by 2030 [10], reminding us that cautious regulation must be balanced with bold investment.
Figure 2: The Boring Company handed three environmental violations (sources: https://www.geplus.co.uk/news/the-boring-company-handed-three-environmental-violations-31-03-2023 and https://fortune.com/2024/02/27/flirted-death-elon-musk-boring-company-employeed-inj)
America’s risk‑tolerant approach has allowed rapid innovation. Many of the technological breakthroughs driving low‑carbon infrastructure – including advanced sensors, monitoring platforms and AI‑driven design – originated in Silicon Valley. Rather than perceiving regulatory philosophies as a zero‑sum game, I see them as a “golden rule”: prudence and boldness must complement each other. As climate defense requires new materials, monitoring tools and policy frameworks, collaboration between the EU and the U.S. will remain essential. Temporary political shifts may alter incentives, but the combined forces of necessity, markets and science will continue to push us towards resilience.
Geotechnical innovation: profit from nature‑inspired solutions
My field – geotechnical engineering – illustrates how sustainability and profitability can align. Traditional ground improvement and construction materials are among the most carbon‑intensive activities. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) production alone accounts for roughly 3 % of global greenhouse‑gas emissions. Yet alternatives exist. Geopolymer concrete, produced from industrial by‑products such as fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag, has a carbon intensity about 80 % lower than OPC and can cut CO₂ emissions by up to 90 %. Typical geopolymer mixes emit around 104 kg CO₂ per cubic metre compared with 340 kg for traditional concrete, while still achieving suitable compressive strengths, typical of conventional mixes. These materials are not theoretical: they are being used in bridges, pavements and marine structures worldwide.
Another innovation is biocement, produced through microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) and enzyme‑induced carbonate precipitation (EICP). These processes use microorganisms or enzymes to precipitate calcite, binding soil grains without the high temperatures or emissions of conventional cement. Recent reviews note that biocement offers a sustainable alternative to conventional binders, with researchers exploring low‑cost growth media and waste streams to lower production costs. Such methods have been applied for liquefaction mitigation, slope stabilisation, coastal erosion control and heritage conservation, while reducing the energy consumption and greenhouse‑gas emissions associated with cement. The global market for soil stabilisation technologies, including these eco‑friendly methods, is projected to grow from US$25.15 billion in 2024 to US$36.84 billion by 2030, a 6.56 % annual growth rate [10].
A call to arms
Words matter. “Climate change” conjures passivity; “climate defense” demands action. The data show that investment in adaptation and resilience is growing rapidly, delivering high returns and spurring new markets [11] Europe is channelling billions into adaptation and adopting a precautionary regulatory framework [12] , while the U.S. fosters innovation with fewer constraints – together forming a productive tension that propels advances. Geotechnical innovations like geopolymer concrete and biocement are not only reducing greenhouse‑gas emissions [13]; they also generate jobs, lower costs and deliver durable infrastructure.
This is why I propose that climate defense become the rallying cry of our era. It positions us not as passive victims of a changing climate but as proactive stewards shaping resilient, sustainable societies. It invites engineers, investors, regulators and citizens to embrace prudent boldness – to invest in low‑carbon materials, to scale early‑warning systems, to build adaptive infrastructure and to share knowledge across borders. Only then will we see the full potential of green technologies: a world where sustainability and profitability go hand in hand, where nature‑inspired engineering forms the foundation of a thriving, climate‑defended civilisation.
Dr. Dimitrios Terzis, Research Teaching Associate / Founder & CEO, EPFL / Medusoil BiomineralsTM