Kristinn Árni L. Hróbjartsson’s Post

(Link in comments, FI) A few weeks back, my former employer, Running Tide, announced that it was winding down. While my time at the company was only a year, I learned a lot and gained colleagues and friends that will last. Here are five general points for the climate industry that are not included in the news story but that I feel that are worth sharing here. 1) 9 out of 10 startups fail. We probably need at least 30 technologies for carbon removal at the IPCC-recommended scale of 4-10Gt/year. One startup can realistically master one technology, and it means that we'll see 270 startups winding down. Sorry, 269. 2) We need ways to scale solutions and science simultaneously and at record speed. Sometimes, this means that something that is being scaled up turns out to be ineffective, but it's better than not doing anything for 10-20 years. 3) The media cannot repeat the decades of misleading information on climate change where reporting gave substantially more space for skeptics than would have been justified. They should keep actors accountable, though. 4) Politicians forge the playground and rules for it. As long as durable carbon removal is voluntary, the future market remains risky. As long as requirements for co-benefits and climate justice for durable carbon removal are not required, they won't happen at scale. Make all this mandatory and you'll see influx of investment and talent. 5) This might be controversial, but I think that the highest-paying jobs and most profitable companies should be those that contribute to a livable planet. In 2022 was the most profitable year for oil companies, $290 billion. I'd like to see a future where climate tech profits surpass oil company profits. I'm leaving many points out to keep it simple - maybe we'll see them in comments later. Lastly, if you are looking for talented and driven people with experience in carbon removal - there are a bunch available in US and Iceland. Feel free to reach out to me!

In a new article for Forbes, Energize's Kevin Stevens and John Tough analyze the state of the growth-stage climate tech market — from recent fundraising and valuations data to the massive revenue opportunity presented by the energy transition.   Their conclusion? This is likely the best environment in five years for growth-stage investing in climate.   Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gZQdmvTv

Corporate Responsibility in the Age of Climate Change In honor of Earth Day on Monday April 22nd 2024. The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat; it's a reality that we're facing today. From deadly heat waves to devastating floods, the consequences of our inaction are becoming increasingly apparent. As governments and companies grapple with this global challenge, it's clear that we need a coordinated, large-scale effort to address the root causes of climate change. Experts estimate that failing to address the climate crisis could cost trillions of dollars each year in lost GDP. The solution? An $8 trillion annual investment over the next 25 years to overhaul energy grids and create net-zero fuels. It's a daunting task, but one that we must undertake if we hope to secure a sustainable future for generations to come. Governments, particularly those in the G20, have a critical role to play in this effort. The United States, China, India, and Germany alone account for 80% of the world's emissions. Legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act in the US and the net-zero emissions target in Australia are steps in the right direction, but more needs to be done. Corporations, too, have a responsibility to act. Tech giants like Microsoft and Google have pledged to be net-zero or even net-negative by 2030, while Apple has already cut its emissions in half since 2015. However, 40% of the world's top 1,000 companies have yet to make a net-zero commitment, and those that have are sometimes accused of greenwashing or fuzzy climate accounting. Despite these challenges, there is reason for hope. Many companies have realized that going green can save them money in the long run. Scientists and startups are also exploring innovative solutions, from reflecting sunlight back into space to neutralizing ocean acidity. The climate crisis is a global problem that requires a global solution. It's time for governments, corporations, and individuals to come together and take decisive action. The future of our planet depends on it.

Between 2019-2021, more early-stage climate companies received funding than in any other 2-year period over the last decade. Some of those companies will become generational businesses, and even the most capital-efficient will need capital to scale. But, the funding environment for them as they grow is more difficult than ever. This expanding pipeline and limited supply of capital are why John Tough and I believe this is the best time in a long time to be growth investors in climate. https://lnkd.in/gTAKuBJh

The need for climate tech continues to rise, but the amount of investment has declined for a second year amid tough market conditions. PwC’s fourth State of Climate Tech report finds climate tech investors continue to expand their search for growth potential and climate impact. Learn more here: #StateOfClimateTech #climatetech

There has never been a better time to start a business focussed on tackling the climate crisis. 📈 Investment in startups, looking to positively impact the climate change space, has never been higher and is continuing to grow. “In the years since 2015, when the Paris Agreement was signed, Climate Tech investment has increased nearly ten times, from $6.6 billion invested in climate tech companies to over $60 billion in 2022. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, there was an 89% increase in global climate tech funding.” https://lnkd.in/e3Wpg8ny 👊 If 2024 is your year, take a look at ZINC’s climate investment areas to see how we are looking to support founders tackling the climate crisis.  https://lnkd.in/ep-iJ5UU If your mission aligns with ours, we’d love to hear from you! https://lnkd.in/d9gPe75t

The need for climate tech continues to rise, but the amount of investment has declined for a second year amid tough market conditions. PwC’s fourth State of Climate Tech report finds climate tech investors continue to expand their search for growth potential and climate impact. Learn more here: #StateOfClimateTech #climatetech

The need for climate tech continues to rise, but the amount of investment has declined for a second year amid tough market conditions. PwC’s fourth State of Climate Tech report finds climate tech investors continue to expand their search for growth potential and climate impact. Learn more here: #StateOfClimateTech #climatetech

The need for climate tech continues to rise, but the amount of investment has declined for a second year amid tough market conditions. PwC’s fourth State of Climate Tech report finds climate tech investors continue to expand their search for growth potential and climate impact. Learn more here: #StateOfClimateTech #climatetech

Understanding what the right climate technologies are: Carbon Equitys 4 guiding principles. 🎯 👩💻 Almost everything we do, from living to moving, eating, producing goods, and generating power, results in #emissions. 🌍 There's no escaping greenhouse gas production. But to stay below a 2-degree temperature rise, we must cut our emissions in half over the next decade. ✂ To achieve this, we need to change our entire economy fundamentally. And while this poses one of the biggest challenges ever, it also presents one of the largest #opportunities humanity has ever seen. That’s why climate tech space is becoming a hot topic among entrepreneurs and investors. However knowing what the right technologies are is difficult. 😰 That’s why we at Carbon Equity designed four simple guiding principles to help us evaluate the investments made by the funds we select. Here is what we look for: 0️⃣ Net zero alignment ☮️ Do no significant harm 💨 Solve a real emissions problem 🏆 Work on the best system solution Yup, just these simple 4. The challenges lie in assessing how they score on each of these pillars. Because sometimes these companies are just a desk and two people in a lab. 🔮 It’s almost like you are predicting the future, and that's exactly why deep industry knowledge, expertise and experience are so incredibly important. #climatetech #climatechange #climateunicorn