Speed & Scale An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now

In 2006, acclaimed investor John Doerr and his partners at Kleiner Perkins launched their first clean technology fund. They've backed more climate entrepreneurs than anyone and invested in a wide range of solutions, amassing hard-earned lessons along the way. Yet years later, despite breakthroughs in batteries, electric vehicles, and solar and wind power, we are not on track to limit global warming. Instead, we are on the brink of an all-out crisis.

Today, climate change is being tackled inconsistently and insufficiently. More than ever, we need a clear course of action.

What if the techniques that powered the rise of today's most innovative organizations were brought to bear on humanity's greatest challenge? Fueled by a powerful goal-setting tool called objectives and key results (OKRs), SPEED & SCALE offers an unprecedented global plan for cutting emissions and reaching net zero by 2050. Used by Google, Bono's ONE foundation, and startups the world over, OKRs have scaled ideas into movements that changed the world. With clear-eyed realism and science-backed precision, Doerr identifies the OKRs we need to reduce emissions across every sector of the economy--with all possible speed.

Equally inspiring and pragmatic, SPEED & SCALE intersperses Doerr's learnings with firsthand accounts from Jeff Bezos, Christiana Figueres, Al Gore, Mary Barra, Bill Gates, and other intrepid entrepreneurs, activists, and scientists. A launchpad for those who want to act, this book is for ambitious leaders of every ilk. With a definitive plan, science, and inspiration on our side--there is no more time to waste.

In 2006, acclaimed investor John Doerr and his partners at Kleiner Perkins launched their first clean technology fund. They've backed more climate entrepreneurs than anyone else and have invested in a broad range of solutions, absorbing hard-earned lessons along the way. Fifteen years later, despite breakthroughs in batteries, electric vehicles, and solar and wind power, global warming continues to get worse. Its impact is all around us: droughts, floods, wildfires, the melting of the polar ice caps. Our world is squarely in a climate crisis and on the brink of a climate disaster.

Yet despite our state of emergency, climate change has yet to be tackled with the consistency and urgency it requires. More than ever, we need a clear course of action.

What if the goal-setting techniques that powered the rise of today's most innovative organizations were brought to bear on humanity's greatest challenge? Fueled by a powerful tool called Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), SPEED & SCALE offers an unprecedented global plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and preserving a habitable planet. Used by Google, Bono's ONE foundation, and startups the world over, OKRs have scaled ideas into achievements that changed the world. With clear-eyed realism and science-backed precision, Doerr identifies the OKRs we need to reduce emissions across every sector of the economy and to arrive by 2050 at net zero--the point where we are no longer adding to the heat-trapping carbon in the atmosphere.

By turns pragmatic and inspiring, SPEED & SCALE intersperses Doerr's wide-ranging analysis with firsthand accounts from Jeff Bezos, Christiana Figueres, Al Gore, Mary Barra, Bill Gates, and other intrepid policy leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, and activists. A launchpad for those who want to act now, this book is geared to ambitious leaders of every kind. With a definitive plan, science, and a rising climate movement on our side, we can still reach net zero before it is too late. But as Doerr reminds us, there is no more time to waste.

In 2006, John Doerr was moved by Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth and a challenge from his teenage daughter: "Dad, your generation created this problem. You better fix it." Since then, Doerr has searched for solutions to this existential problem--as an investor, an advocate, and a philanthropist.

Fifteen years later, despite breakthroughs in batteries, electric vehicles, plant-based proteins, and solar and wind power, global warming continues to get worse. Its impact is all around us: droughts, floods, wildfires, the melting of the polar ice caps. Our world is squarely in a climate crisis and on the brink of a climate disaster.

Yet despite our state of emergency, climate change has yet to be tackled with the urgency and ambition it demands. More than ever, we need a clear course of action.

What if the goal-setting techniques that powered the rise of today's most innovative organizations were brought to bear on humanity's greatest challenge? Fueled by a powerful tool called Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), SPEED & SCALE offers an unprecedented global plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions before it's too late. Used by Google, Bono's ONE foundation, and thousands of startups the world over, OKRs have scaled ideas into achievements that changed the world. With clear-eyed realism and an engineer's precision, Doerr identifies the measurable OKRs we need to reduce emissions across the board and to arrive by 2050 at net zero--the point where we are no longer adding to the heat-trapping carbon in the atmosphere.

By turns pragmatic and inspiring, SPEED & SCALE intersperses Doerr's wide-ranging analysis with firsthand accounts from Jeff Bezos, Christiana Figueres, Al Gore, Mary Barra, Bill Gates, and other intrepid policy leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, and activists. A launchpad for those who are ready to act now, this book is geared to leaders in every walk of life. With a definitive action plan, the latest science, and a rising climate movement on our side, we can still reach net zero before it is too late. But as Doerr reminds us, there is no more time to waste.

With clear-eyed realism and an engineer's precision, Doerr lays out the practical actions, global ambitions, and economic investments we need to avert climate catastrophe. Guided by real-world solutions, Speed & Scale features unprecedented, firsthand accounts from climate leaders such as Laurene Powell Jobs, Christiana Figueres, Al Gore, Mary Barra, John Kerry, and dozens of other intrepid policymakers, innovators, and scientists.

In Speed & Scale, Doerr presents a compelling 10-step plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050-the global goal we need to reach to ensure a livable Earth for generations to come. From electrifying our energy grid to fixing our global food supply chain to capturing carbon from the air, Speed & Scale contains practical solutions for policymakers and entrepreneurs alike.

As the world confronts an urgent climate crisis, Doerr reminds us that it is also the greatest economic opportunity of our lifetimes. Whether you're a climate scientist or someone striving to make a difference in your local community, this book will help you to activate the sustainable solutions the world urgently needs.

Praise for Speed & Scale

"Everybody should get Speed & Scale by John Doerr." - Meryl Streep

"A practical guide for participation in decarbonizing the global economy, a task as challenging as it is urgent." - Christiana Figueres