How design and tech address climate change

A few months ago at a startup mixer event, I met a founder who said, “I’m not building the next Tesla or planting trees. I just run a software startup.” I smiled. Then asked: “But what if your code could cool the planet?” 🌍 We often think climate solutions are about solar panels, electric cars, or carbon offsets. But the most surprising climate heroes might be sitting behind a laptop.🦸🏼 Here’s what most people miss: Technology startups are already driving real climate impact—just not always in obvious ways.✅ 👉🏼 A logistics AI startup reduced fleet emissions by 27%—just by optimizing delivery routes. 👉🏼 Agri-tech firms are helping farmers cut water usage by 40% through precision irrigation. 👉🏼 SignDesk, an AI-powered contract lifecycle management platform, is helping enterprises go paperless—eliminating thousands of kilos of paper waste and drastically reducing carbon footprints. These aren’t side projects. They’re quiet revolutions. 🙌🏼 And yet, the myth persists: “Climate change is a problem for climate companies.” ❌ Let’s challenge that. 💪🏼 If you’re building tech that increases efficiency, reduces waste, or even just helps people make smarter decisions—you are contributing to the climate fight. 💯 We don’t need every startup to focus on climate. We need more startups to realize they’re already part of the solution. So ask yourself: 1️⃣ Where is your product unintentionally harming—or helping—the planet? 2️⃣ What tiny changes could create a ripple effect across millions of users? 3️⃣ What if innovation isn’t just about disruption, but about preservation? Most doors aren’t locked. They’re just not knocked on. Maybe the key to solving climate change isn’t just in policy or protest—but in your next product sprint. 🚀 Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi

The recent floods in the UAE served as a reminder to revisit our urban planning strategies. While immediate relief efforts are critical, it is equally important to focus on long-term solutions to ensure our cities' #resilience when we have extreme weather. One focus area is the importance of including green spaces in urban design. A recent study by MBZUAI (Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence) and IBM discovered that green spaces can significantly reduce temperatures, with some areas experiencing a cooling effect of up to 2.2 °C. This emphasises the critical role green spaces play in mitigating urban heat islands, a phenomenon in which cities have higher temperatures than surrounding areas. Here's how green spaces help: 🔹 Cooling effect: Vegetation and water bodies absorb heat, resulting in a cooler microclimate. 🔹 Reduced Flooding: Green spaces allow rainwater to naturally infiltrate the ground, reducing flooding risks. 🔹 Improved Air Quality: Parks serve as natural filters, absorbing pollutants and improving air quality. The MBZUAI study demonstrated how #AI can play a role in planning and optimising green spaces in urban environments. The study used AI-enabled technology to analyse decades of satellite data, identifying where vegetation has the greatest cooling effect. This data-driven approach allows us to eliminate guesswork and strategically place green spaces for maximum impact. #sustainability #climatechange #adaptation #climateaction

Ever wonder how a building can help fight climate change? Buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of global emissions. As someone who’s spent years exploring how technology can make our world more sustainable, I’m convinced there’s massive untapped potential in the places where we live and work. This is where smart building technology comes in—not as a buzzword, but as a practical, measurable way to cut waste and boost efficiency. Here’s what it looks like in action: 🌡️ Sensors that track temperature, lighting, air quality, and occupancy—so resources aren’t wasted when rooms are empty. 🤖 AI systems that adjust heating, cooling, and lighting in real time—automatically balancing comfort and energy use. 🔧 IoT maintenance alerts that catch issues before they turn into costly failures. 📊 Dashboards that track sustainability KPIs—making progress visible and actionable. The result? Lower energy bills, healthier indoor spaces, and reduced emissions. It’s where real estate meets real responsibility. From my perspective, this shift isn’t optional. As climate goals tighten and energy costs rise, smart systems will become the standard rather than the exception. Pro tip: If you’re in real estate or facilities management, start by conducting an audit of existing systems. Even small upgrades—like smart thermostats or occupancy-based lighting—can deliver fast ROI. Technology is turning buildings from energy consumers into energy savers. What’s your take? Should all new buildings be required to include smart systems? Let’s discuss in the comments! And if you want more on sustainability, technology, and productivity, follow along for future insights. #SmartBuildings #Sustainability #ClimateTech

A new Fast Company article based on some of my research examining how #design, not #technology is essential to addressing environmental and sustainability challenges. 🧠 While so much attention is focused on flashy ideas of #greengrowth and how breakthrough tech will save the world, really what is needed is mindset shifts and the need to reform value chains, from materials through consumer use. ⚙️ Thus, it is the quiet power of design—how we conceive, build, and integrate products and services—that determines the scale and longevity of environmental impact. Research shows that such a wholistic perspective can influence up to 80% of a product’s environmental footprint. In the article I provide some examples form Chloé and Seventh Generation. 🔁 This isn’t about designing better gadgets per se—it’s about designing better systems. We need a shift in mindset across the corporate world to consider circularity, equity, and regenerative principles from the start, not an afterthought to try to address after a product is produced. Cross-functional collaboration and incentives that align with long-term value—environmental and social—are essential. 📚 This design-centric framing resonates deeply with the argument I develop in #TheProfiteers. As I argue, real change demands a rethinking of how value is created. Design is foundational to that perspective. By considering possible externalities from the start and embedding commons-first principles into design itself, more equitable and sustainable outcomes are possible.

I just watched a talk on Design for Climate Disaster and completely questioned my assumption about designing in climate. Most designers design for perfect conditions. We assume fast WiFi. Sunny days. Users who aren't panicking. But designing for climate resilience is the opposite of that. In her talk at Figma Config, Megan Metzger talks about her design work for Forerunner's disaster response platform. The features aren't flashy. They're functional: • Mobile-first design with high-contrast screens • Offline functionality that syncs when connectivity returns • Real-time FEMA calculations for immediate decisions The results: Damage assessment time dropped from 3-4 hours to 45 minutes. Over 15,000 assessments completed faster. This unlocked $2.4 billion in recovery funds sooner. Megan's approach: design for effectiveness over elegance. Her three crisis design principles: 1. Trust comes from reliability under pressure Your system must work with low battery. Weak internet. When everything else fails. 2. The right tools make impossible tasks possible Enable people to do hard things under difficult conditions. 3. Clarity enables action Clear design removes hesitation. Give users confidence to act decisively. Climate disasters aren't rare anymore. They're Tuesday. Every month brings new records. Heat domes. Atmospheric rivers. Category 6 hurricanes. The biggest climate companies are finally getting this: • Rivian designs trucks that maintain navigation during wildfire smoke. Not just daily commutes. • Sunrun designs solar systems that work during blackouts. Not just sunny days. • Climavision builds weather radar for extreme events. Not just forecasting. As more companies enter climate adaptation and disaster response, Megan's principles become survival requirements. The same principle applies to climate technology: • Solar panels that work during storms • EV charging that functions in extreme weather • Carbon tracking that doesn't glitch during peak usage As climate designers, we obsess over features. We should obsess over reliability. Your climate solution isn't just competing with other green tech. It's competing with the status quo when everything goes wrong. The fossil fuel system works reliably. That's why people stick with it. If your sustainable alternative fails during stress, you've lost more than a customer. You've lost trust in the entire climate movement. My takeaway: design for the worst day, not just the best day. Test your climate tech during power outages. During heatwaves. During floods. Because that's exactly when we need it to work. But this also begs the question - How do we balance reliability with efficiency?

Product design is becoming a more important exercise for companies to reduce tariff impacts and costs, drive down emissions, and capture revenue upside. A key first step is evaluating the bill of materials and conducting a lifecycle assessment to pinpoint where both tariffs and emissions are highest—from materials to manufacturing, usage, and disposal—allowing for targeted, high-impact changes. Switching to low-carbon or recycled materials, simplifying designs, and sourcing locally can significantly reduce costs and environmental impact. Modular, durable products also support circular economy goals by enabling easier repair, reuse, or recycling. Improving energy efficiency—both in production and during product use—can lower emissions and operating costs, making products more attractive to customers. Technologies like digital modeling and just-in-time production also help reduce waste. To fully realize the commercial potential, companies must clearly communicate sustainability attributes through credible claims, transparent labeling, third-party certifications, and marketing that highlights both environmental and performance benefits. Our research shows that appropriate claims can drive 6 to 25%+ revenue uplift.

AI and technology have the potential to play a significant role in addressing climate change. What do you think? Here are some ways in which AI and technology can help manage the impacts of climate change: Monitoring and Prediction: * Satellite Imaging: AI-powered analysis of satellite images can track deforestation, monitor changes in land use, and assess the health of ecosystems. * Climate Modeling: Advanced AI algorithms can improve the accuracy of climate models, allowing for better predictions of future climate patterns and extreme weather events. * Early Warning Systems: AI-driven systems can analyze vast amounts of data to provide early warnings of natural disasters like floods, droughts, and wildfires, allowing for timely evacuations and preparedness measures. Mitigation: * Renewable Energy Optimization: AI can optimize the operation of renewable energy systems like solar and wind farms, maximizing their efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. * Energy Efficiency: AI-powered smart grids can optimize energy distribution, reduce energy consumption, and identify inefficiencies in energy systems. * Carbon Capture and Storage: AI can help develop more efficient and cost-effective methods for capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions. * Sustainable Agriculture: AI can optimize agricultural practices, reducing the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, and improving crop yields. Adaptation: * Urban Planning: AI can help design cities that are more resilient to climate change, optimizing infrastructure and land use to minimize the impact of extreme weather events. * Water Management: AI can optimize water distribution and usage, helping to manage water scarcity and prevent water shortages. * Disaster Response: AI can aid in disaster response efforts by analyzing data to identify areas most affected and coordinating relief efforts. Challenges and Considerations: * Data Quality and Accessibility: AI models rely on high-quality and accurate data, which can be challenging to obtain, especially in developing countries. * Ethical Considerations: AI systems must be developed and used ethically, ensuring that they do not exacerbate existing inequalities or create new ones. * Infrastructure and Expertise: Implementing AI solutions requires significant investment in infrastructure and the development of skilled AI professionals. While AI and technology offer promising solutions to address climate change, it is important to recognize that they are not a silver bullet. A comprehensive approach that combines technological solutions with policy changes, behavioral changes, and international cooperation is essential to effectively address this global challenge. #Ai #Technology via @tiatavee #Innovation

Technology is revolutionising how businesses tackle carbon emissions, offering innovative solutions that are both measurable and impactful. IoT sensors and AI-driven platforms allow organisations to monitor energy use and emissions in real time, identifying once-invisible inefficiencies. These insights enable precise strategies for reducing operational carbon footprints. Businesses can leverage technology to offset emissions they can’t yet eliminate. Exchanges such as Carbon Trade eXchange (CTX) are increasing the transparency of carbon offset programs by offering verified carbon credits and ensuring investments in projects like reforestation, renewable energy, and reuse deliver tangible results. Globechain the ESG Reuse Marketplace exemplifies how technology and reuse go hand in hand, providing companies with ESG and carbon-deferred data to quantify the impact of rehoming items that might otherwise be discarded. This integration reduces waste and lowers emissions tied to production and disposal, showcasing the power of circular economy solutions. As we navigate the path to net zero, adopting advanced technology for carbon management is no longer optional—it’s essential. These tools empower organisations to take measurable, accountable, and scalable climate action, making sustainability a core driver of success. How is your business embracing technology to reduce its environmental impact and build resilience for the future? #CarbonManagement #SustainabilityInBusiness #NetZeroGoals #TechForGood #CircularEconomy #CarbonTracking #SustainableInnovation #CarbonOffsetting #ClimateAction #GreenTechnology