"It's very hopeful when you see what humans can do when we put our mind to it."
As the world wakes up to the urgency of the climate crisis, so too it seems are international investors to new types of opportunities.
Global backers are increasingly looking to fund green energy solutions, an Irish energy industry leader has said.
Eddie O'Connor, former CEO of Bord na Móna and Airtricity, wants to sustainably power Europe with his new venture SuperNode.
The energy industry has reached a "tipping point", he said on this week's episode of All In."The price of renewable energy has collapsed; we also see the Greta Thunberg phenomenon so everybody is aware [of climate change]."
SuperNode is aiming to secure funding for a super grid to connect renewable energy sources around Europe. Eddie says the venture is high risk but believes that investors will get behind it as it's a future-based solution.
"There’s people saying 'well, you know, if this guy Eddie O’Connor and Supernode succeed there’ll be billions, hundreds of billions spent on this technology'."This is the great thing about what we’re at. We cannot go on polluting the world so if you have that vision in your mind and you have the intensity of purpose to be able to deliver on this then people [will invest in it]."
On a personal level, Eddie said that he is optimistic about the future of the planet.
"It's very hopeful when you see what humans can do when we put our mind to what needs to be done, when you've got sufficient focus and determination to rid the world of this terrible CO2 stuff. We can do it, it's just a lot of political decisions have to be made.
Praising efforts by the Dáil Committee on Climate Action, he continued; "It would give you great hope that yes, whatever it takes to do this we can do it and we can do it in harmony with nature.
"We don't have to pollute the planet, we don't have to leave our grandchildren with a legacy of disgust and loathing at former generations who knew what the problem was and did nothing about it."
Eddie features on this week'sepisode of All In, JOE's new business show.
All In, backed by AIB, is available everywhere you get your podcasts and on YouTube every Wednesday
