Addressing Climate Challenges with Custom Solutions

The era of subtle interventions and one-off climate fixes is behind us. What we need now are bold, integrated solutions that address multiple challenges simultaneously. Seaweed—specifically, sargassum—is an interesting and not-so-obvious example of what I’m talking about. Algae blooms are surging as oceans warm. Caribbean sargassum hit a new record in 2022, up 20% from 2018. When rafts of sargassum reach the shore, they harm aquatic ecosystems by reducing dissolved oxygen, blocking sunlight needed for photosynthesis in corals and grasses, and elevating water temperatures. But here’s where perspective matters: sargassum inundation isn’t just an ecological problem—it’s an emerging, multi-sector opportunity. 🔬 At the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, R&D is underway to convert sargassum into renewable biofuels, including jet fuel that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90%. 🐄 Researchers at Penn State University are exploring how sargassum can be used as a livestock feed additive to reduce methane emissions. Other studies have also shown promising results for its use in poultry feed and aquaculture. Desalinating it is a hurdle, but innovators like Phyto Corporation are already pioneering techniques with other salt-tolerant crops that could potentially be adapted to sargassum. This is what climate leadership looks like: connected thinking, integrated action, and solutions that cross sectors. Sargassum inundation isn’t just a symptom—it’s a signal. It shows us that complex problems require multifaceted, systems-level answers. In a world of converging climate crises, it's crucial to connect the dots and turn today’s threats into tomorrow’s solutions. Let’s reframe what’s possible: climate solutions can be systemic, scalable, and profitable. But only if we lead boldly and think holistically. #Innovation #Sustainability #ClimateAction #GreenInnovation #RenewableEnergy #TechForGood

Can physical innovation scale fast enough to meet our 2040 climate goals? This edition of the Hardware to Save a Planet Newsletter, features conversations with 11 climate hardware founders who are turning bold ideas into real-world impact, right now in 2025. From Allan Adams at Aquatic Labs making ocean carbon removal measurable, to Scott Mercer at Focused Energy bringing fusion down to earth, to Luke Iseman at Make Sunsets cooling the planet from the stratosphere. These aren't future promises. They're deploying solutions today. We explore how Curtis VanWalleghem at Hydrostor evolved underground energy storage from pilot to commercial scale, how Cole Ashman at Pila Energy democratizes home battery systems, and how Greg Williams at Sublime Systems is reinventing cement to be both cleaner and stronger. Jason Chua at Range Energy electrifies trailers instead of replacing entire truck fleets, while Nehali Jain at Antora Energy stores renewable electricity as glowing hot carbon blocks. Randol Aikin, PhD at Remedy Scientific Inc. standardizes land decontamination, Ross Bonner at Transaera, Inc. simplifies building cooling systems, and Johanna Wolfson at Azolla Ventures provides the catalytic capital that makes it all possible. The Hardware to Save a Planet newsletter is where we dive deep into the climate hardware solutions shaping our energy future, straight from the innovators who are turning bold ideas into reality. 🔗 Subscribe below to join the conversation on real-world climate solutions! 👇

As a communicator, I love reading about climate solutions. Over the weekend I learned about Teto Verde Favela - a nonprofit that teaches residents in Brazil's favelas how to build a green roof to cool their homes without overloading electrical grids or paying to run fans. Typically, green rooftops are heavy and expensive, requiring layers for soil, insulation, and drainage. But a collaboration with a civil engineer produced a safe and affordable solution - bidim a lightweight polyester geotextile made of recycled drink bottles that allows plants to grow without soil. Now green roofs are seen all over - people's homes, bus stops, moto taxi shelters. The benefits are far reaching, beyond cooling they dampen noise pollution, improve building energy efficiency, prevent flooding by reducing storm water runoff, and ease anxiety. Climate solutions are out there and we should talk about them! This is a great example of an innovation that is both practical and affordable. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eSqhqTgk via NPR #UrbanGreening #CommunityGarden #UrbanWilding #BeatTheHeat

How to establish effective climate transition strategies 🌎 Designing a successful climate-transition strategy requires addressing five interconnected challenges: behaviors, time, emotions, interdependencies, and focus. These factors shape how businesses adapt their operations and products to meet climate goals without compromising financial performance or customer expectations. Understanding customer behaviors is essential when introducing climate solutions. Solutions must address affordability, convenience, and reliability to drive adoption. Without aligning new products to established customer preferences, businesses risk launching innovations that fail to gain traction in the market. Adapting to evolving market conditions requires ongoing scenario planning. Instead of relying on rigid long-term forecasts, businesses should monitor key variables—such as regulatory changes and technological advancements—and adjust their strategies accordingly. This approach reduces risk and ensures readiness for shifts in demand for climate solutions. Decision-making in climate strategies can be influenced by emotions, particularly around the urgency of the climate crisis. However, data-driven insights must take precedence to ensure rational planning. Equipping employees with relevant data and aligning teams on the strategy's rationale improves internal alignment and execution. Lastly, businesses must manage interdependencies across their value chains while maintaining a clear focus. Securing critical resources and fostering partnerships are essential to sustaining climate initiatives. Simultaneously, balancing investments between legacy operations and new climate solutions ensures continued profitability and long-term resilience. Source: strategy+business #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange

🌳Embracing Nature-Based Solutions for Greater Climate Resilience🦬 As the urgency for climate action intensifies, it is important to use all of the solutions available to us, in addition to conventional approaches such as emissions reductions and the use of technological approaches like solar panels and wind turbines. As emphasised in this article its time to deepen our commitment to nature-based solutions—proven, cost-effective strategies that leverage the power of ecosystems to mitigate climate impacts. Nature-based solutions, which include restoring ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and coastlines, also help to address the biodiversity crisis, as well as building community resilience. Reinstating vegetation has co-benefits such as naturally attenuating stormwater and cooling urban heat islands, offering dual benefits: significantly reducing carbon emissions and helping communities adapt to climate change impacts. The data in the article underscore their effectiveness: 🌳Nature-based solutions can provide 37% of the emissions reductions needed by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement targets. 🌳 Nature restoration can decrease the intensity of climate hazards globally by 26%. However, the full potential of NbS is often underestimated due to fragmented implementation. By adopting a connected, systems-based approach to maximise their impact across ecosystems and communities it is feasible to amplify the benefits. Canada, for instance, has taken significant steps by committing $4 billion over four years to natural infrastructure through its Natural Climate Solutions Fund. By promoting a tried and tested approach and by integrating indigenous and local knowledge, it is feasible to develop holistic management practices that protect and restore natural assets. In turn this will build more resilient, low-carbon communities that thrive in harmony with their environment. #naturebasedsolutions #rewilding #naturerecovery #ecosystemrestoration https://lnkd.in/ezAg3xtD

The Climate Tech Unicorns Redefining Our Future 🚀 Four years ago, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink famously made a bold prediction: the next 1,000 unicorns would come from the climate tech sector. BlackRock has since backtracked on many of its net zero commitments, as we all know. But Fink was right about one thing: 👉 Climate change is not just the biggest generational challenge—it is also the biggest generational investment opportunity. And as my mentor, Nobel Peace Laureate Prof. Yunus, always says: “Wherever I see a problem, I see a business opportunity.” So let’s bring on the problem-solving climate unicorns! At Carbon Equity, we invest in the pioneers reshaping entire industries—from energy and materials to transportation and manufacturing. Here are 9 portfolio companies turning climate challenges into billion-dollar opportunities selected by chief climate impact Liza Rubinstein Malamud: 🔋 Form Energy – Cracking the Code on Long-Duration Energy Storage Problem: Renewable energy is intermittent. Solution: Iron-air batteries that store energy for 100+ hours, making renewables reliable. 🌍 KoBold Metals – AI-Powered Critical Mineral Discovery Problem: Mining for key materials is inefficient and environmentally damaging. Solution: AI-driven exploration to find sustainable sources of critical minerals. ♻️ Redwood Materials – Closing the Loop on Battery Supply Chains Problem: Battery waste is piling up, and raw materials are scarce. Solution: High-efficiency battery recycling to create a circular economy. ⚡ Octopus Energy – Powering the Clean Energy Revolution Problem: Affordable, clean energy remains inaccessible for many. Solution: Smart, tech-enabled renewable energy solutions for homes and businesses. 🔗 Stegra – Decarbonizing Steel Production Problem: Steelmaking is one of the most polluting industries. Solution: Green hydrogen-powered steel production to cut emissions. 💧 Electric Hydrogen – Scaling Green Hydrogen Production Problem: Green hydrogen remains too expensive to scale. Solution: Next-gen PEM electrolysis to produce low-cost, high-efficiency hydrogen. 🌿 Twelve – Turning CO₂ into Valuable Products Problem: CO₂ is treated as waste instead of a resource. Solution: Electrocatalysis technology to upcycle CO₂ into fuels and chemicals. 🔋 Group14 Technologies – Supercharging EV Batteries Problem: Lithium-ion batteries are reaching their performance limits. Solution: Silicon-carbon anodes that dramatically enhance battery capacity and efficiency. 🏡 1KOMMA5° – Simplifying Home Energy Independence Problem: Clean energy upgrades for homes are complex and fragmented. Solution: A one-stop shop for solar, storage, and energy management. 💡 Climate Innovation = Economic Opportunity These companies turn climate solutions into tomorrow’s trillion-dollar industries, proving impact drives value. What climate unicorns are your favorite? #ClimateTech #CarbonEquity

🔹Decarbonization is a priority for companies, and we shall not give up. We shall also adapt infrastructures to climate conditions that are changing fast.🔹   Unfortunately, the world increased again in 2024 its carbon emission.  Now is the time for companies to take action. We shall all at least in Europe show the way which is followed by China, to act to reduce our carbon footprint. As Equans we are committed to the SBTi to follow a +1,5°C decarbonization speed and will do so on a world basis. We will not give up.   Unfortunately, +4°C is the trajectory we could reach if decarbonization efforts remain insufficient or ineffective. In this reality, hospitals, buildings, and energy networks must evolve to withstand heat waves, droughts, and extreme weather events that we already see multiplying.In other terms, standard used to design , based on last 80 years of statistics are no more valids!!   The “Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change” report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Quantis, to which we contributed, highlights approaches and initiatives already implemented by businesses. But much more needs to be done to ensure the resilience of our infrastructures in the face of new climate realities. https://rb.gy/s9nixu The challenge is no longer “just” about reducing CO2 emissions—it is also about ensuring that critical systems can function under increasingly extreme conditions.   🔹What are the solutions?🔹 ➡️Adapting building design and operation based on new climatic scenarios: improving insulation, integrating passive cooling techniques such as ATES at large scale, and developing smart energy systems that optimize consumption based on climate variations. ➡️Strengthening critical infrastructure avoiding their failure: making energy grids more resilient to extreme temperatures and weather events, upgrading heating and cooling networks, and ensuring that hospitals and essential services remain operational under climate stress. ➡️ Adapting urban environments: implementing nature-based solutions such as green roofs and urban forests, expanding large-scale district cooling and heating systems, getting the heat from fatal sources such as factories, data center, and rethinking water management to prevent flooding and shortages.   Adaptation is no longer an option, it's a necessity. Now is the time to anticipate and rethink our infrastructure for a more resilient world.   #ClimateChange #EmpoweringTransitions #EnergyTransition