Is incrementalism enough in a systems-change world?

This piece is a discussion between two sustainability commentators about whether corporate climate work actually adds up to real change, rather than news about home energy programs or rebates. It does not cover any new policy, incentive, or technology relevant to upgrading a house.

The conversation does touch on one point that connects to home energy: solar power. One speaker recalled research from 25 years ago that mapped out what it would take to make solar cheap and common, using a roadmap covering technology, policy, and financing. At the time, getting solar down to $1 per installed watt seemed like a distant goal. Today, installed solar can cost as little as 30 cents a watt, which the speakers point to as proof that slow, incremental progress on energy technology can eventually produce big, real-world results, like the affordable solar systems now available to homeowners.

Beyond that example, the discussion is about corporate sustainability strategy, professional burnout, and a technical framework called "spheres of influence," recently adopted into a forthcoming ISO net-zero standard for companies to measure their broader climate impact. None of this changes what programs, rebates, or technologies are available to homeowners right now.