Saving innovative climate and energy research: Four recommendations for Mission Innovation

Mission Innovation (MI), a fledgling initiative to boost energy innovation around the world, is in danger of collapsing if the Trump administration fulfills promises to slash U.S. support. To save MI, member states meeting at the June 2017 Beijing Ministerial should reframe the initiative to pursue both quantitative and qualitative goals, pledge to support ongoing operations, and welcome contributions—albeit diminished—from the U.S. Whether or not MI can continue to elevate energy innovation to the highest political levels, it has revealed important opportunities to advance global innovation efforts and helpful lessons to guide other international initiatives that aim to combat climate change.