Invested In Climate

So far in 2023, we've been looking to the future. Our first episode featured new opportunities with Google, CSAA and IDEO. Then, we did an episode focusing on regenerative agriculture, and another on transforming the global food system.

This week, we'll look to the past and replay one of our first and most popular episodes ever. The episode features Jamie Beck Alexander of Drawdown Labs, a program of Project Drawdown. I thought it's worth replaying as it helps explain the idea that any job can be a climate job, and highlights some really useful tips for creating climate impact through your work no matter what you do.

This episode is for everyone - and it's a reminder that you don't need to switch jobs or start a new company to be part of today's climate movement. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• [3:20] The mobilization of talent toward climate change jobs
• [5:23] Learn more about Project Drawdown & Drawdown Labs
• [8:34] The private sector’s role in addressing climate change
• [12:41] Jamie’s mantra: Every job must be a climate job
• [14:27] Learn about the “Climate Solutions at Work” guide
• [21:53] How to hold companies accountable to their green initiatives
• [28:05] The impact of the Drawdown Project’s workshops
• [30:56] How to influence the organization you work at
• [32:46] How you can make an impact in all areas of your life

• Project Drawdown
• Drawdown Labs
• Climate Solutions at Work Guide
• Changing Company Culture Requires a Movement, Not a Mandate
• SEC Proposes Long-Awaited Climate Change Disclosure Rules
• Jamie Beck Alexander’s TEDx Talk
• Amazon Employees for Climate Justice
• Doughnut Economics

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on Twitter

• InvestedInClimate.com
• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

Are you ready to uncover the truth about our food systems and its impact on our planet? Last week, we delved into the topic of soil and regenerative agriculture, and this week, we're taking a closer look at the larger picture of food and its role in climate change. As it turns out, food is not only something we interact with every day, but it's also a complex web of industries, processes, and relationships that account for a staggering one-third of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Our special guest, Danielle Nierenberg, is a leading expert and advocate in the field of sustainable food systems. She's the President of Food Tank, a non-profit organization working to improve the global food system. Together, we'll be discussing groundbreaking strategies to combat food waste, promote regenerative agriculture, and rethink the future of meat production. Join us for a fascinating conversation with a seasoned expert in the field as we explore the most pressing issues facing the food industry today and the opportunities for change in the coming year.

• [3:00] Food Tank’s origin story
• [5:32] Danielle’s background & path of environmentalism
• [7:45] The role that Food Tank is playing today
• [8:56] Ways that people can get involved in Food Tank
• [10:30] What is the food system
• [11:53] How is the food system (as it's currently designed) exacerbating climate change
• [13:24] Opportunities & priorities for reversing climate change through food
• [16:20] Momentum & trends in the regenerative agriculture movement
• [19:10] Best practices that we need for the future - balancing big corporations & small-scale farmers
• [21:13] How do we break our dependency from synthetic fertilizer
• [22:45] Signs of progress in reducing synthetic fertilizer dependency & cutting food waste
• [26:59] Meat consumption, lab-cultivated meat & preferences
• [30:53] Danielle’s thoughts on alternative protein for investors
• [32:45] The biggest levers for food systems impact
• [33:46] Impressions from the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference & next steps in the global policy arena
• [36:02] Danielle’s top priorities for 2023
• [37:59] Podcast spotlight - Food Talk with Danielle Nierenberg

• Food Tank
• World Wildlife Fund
• Greenpeace
• Peace Corps
• ReFED
• Healthy Living Coalition
• Weight Watchers International
• Congressman Jim McGovern
• Journalist Chloe Sorvino & her book, Raw Deal
• Podcast: Food Talk with Danielle Nierenberg

• Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn

• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

If you have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events or partnerships, please get in touch!

Welcome to an episode on agtech, soil health and regenerative agriculture. Here’s some context: one of the big mysteries we’re facing today is how we’re possibly going to feed 10 billion people while transforming agricultural practices that are truly unsustainable. Modern farming is a technological marvel that has dramatically reduced hunger over the last century, but it relies heavily on synthetic fertilizer, which is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, and intensive farming practices that have degraded soil’s ability to grow food. 

To understand this issue better and learn about some potential solutions, I sat down with agricultural biologist Dr. Paul Zorner and Biodel Ag CEO Ben Cloud. They both bring decades of experience in agriculture and see great potential in regenerative ag practices and innovative agtech technology, including a new product called Sequester. I learned a lot from this conversation and think you’ll enjoy it. Here we go.

• [3:00] What is happening to soil today & why it matters
• [7:22] The role of synthetic fertilizers in the future
• [11:18] Soil health & soil biology
• [13:30] What is regenerative agriculture & its state in the world today
• [15:27] The barriers to adopting regenerative practices
• [19:10] Biodel Ag, their work & Ben’s background
• [22:56] Biodel’s customers & the value proposition of Sequester
• [27:40] Paul’s background & how he came across Ben and his team
• [29:09] Sequester’s potential & opportunities for impact
• [31:02] The next couple of years at Biodel
• [33:14] The agtech market today, its potential for contributing to climate solutions & other opportunity areas
• [37:57] The innovation gaps & areas where greater attention is needed
• [40:23] ​​The agtech market over the next decade

• Biodel Ag
• Sequester 
• Soil Health Institute
• Dr. Jay Golden at Syracuse University & the Dynamic Sustainability Lab
• “The Next Fintech Revolution: Agriculture Finance” by Nik Milanovich in Forbes 
• The Wizard and the Prophet by Charles Mann
• Alternative Fuels and Chemicals Coalition

• Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
• Connect with Paul on LinkedIn

• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

Happy New Year - and welcome to the first episode of 2023!

We have two special guests with us today to discuss exciting opportunities for climate progress.

We’re joined by Matt Ridenour, the Head of Startup Ecosystems for Google. Matt is a dear friend who I had the pleasure of working with for several years at IDEO. He’s now leading accelerator programs at Google, and he’s here to talk about an open call for climate founders. 

The second opportunity is focused on helping frontline communities become better equipped to deal with climate impacts. We’re joined by Jami Goldman, the Sustainability Manager at CSAA, which is a AAA Insurer. She’s someone I’ve been working closely with in recent months on an upcoming open innovation challenge. Jami’s here to talk about a way for funders, investors and other partners to get involved in making the challenge impactful, and eventually, the challenge will be open to startups and non-profits serving communities impacted by climate change. 

We’ve got lots in store for this year, and many more new opportunities to share. Here’s to making it the best year yet for climate progress. Let’s get started!

• [2:39] New Year’s resolutions
• [5:00] Matt’s role at Google & what he’s working on
• [6:15] Jami’s role at CSAA & what she’s working on
• [7:46] Insights on Google’s accelerator program for climate startups
• [10:54] The impact of Google’s previous climate accelerators & lessons learned
• [15:13] How founders can get involved in Google’s accelerator program for climate
• [15:53] Insights on CSAA’s open innovation challenge for addressing the climate crisis
• [18:22] Why climate change matters to insurance providers
• [19:59] The importance of CSAA’s open innovation challenge - why is innovation needed
• [21:49] Advice for those who want to get involved in CSAA’s innovation challenge
• [23:27] Matt’s vision for Google's climate accelerator & the impact it can have
• [25:07] Jami’s thoughts on the mindsets & capabilities that leaders need to develop to handle climate disruptions
• [27:27] Advice for Googlers seeking to make an impact on climate change
• [29:44] Predictions for the climate space in 2023

• Google for Startups Accelerator: Climate Change
• IDEO x CSAA Open Innovation Challenge - Partner Interest Form
• CSAA
• IDEO
• Charge Net Stations
• Chargerhelp
• TechCrunch Disrupt

• Connect with Matt on LinkedIn
• Connect with Jami on LinkedIn

• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

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This is going to be our last episode for 2022. We’ll be back in January with more great conversations. If you have ideas for episodes or topics you’d like us to explore, please reach out through our contact form or on LinkedIn. I’ve had a blast getting this podcast started and I’m excited for it to only get better as we continue. A big thank you to all our guests, to our listeners providing feedback and reviews, and also to Julie Mai, and Aaron & Carey Green for their help behind the scenes.

For our last episode of the year, I’m excited to end where we began – and that’s talking about the importance of local activism and policy. Today’s guest is Adrian Martinez. No, not the football player, nor the baseball player – but the superstar Senior Attorney for Earthjustice. Adrian is working on a program called Right to Zero. In today’s episode, he talks about the critical role Earthjustice’s team of attorneys play at the city, state and federal level to help communities eliminate pollution through decarbonization. I was really energized by this conversation and encouraged to learn that the power we have at a local level can really add up to transformative, widespread change. Hope you enjoy this one. Happy holidays. 

• [3:22] What is Earthjustice & how it got started
• [4:22] What is Right to Zero
• [5:42] The intersection between environmental action & human health
• [7:30] What needs to change in the built environment & how Earthjustice is helping
• [9:46] Local change, how it works & progress for buildings
• [12:04] How the Inflation Reduction Act will make a difference
• [13:04] Examples of necessary mandates
• [14:01] Transportation campaigns, how they’ve worked & the results
• [17:05] Earthjustice’s role on the pathway to policy change
• [18:35] Electrifying transit buses - where lawyers are needed
• [20:38] Other types of fleets Earthjustice is working to decarbonize
• [23:26] Ways that people can take a stand & be involved
• [26:03] How equity is factored into Earthjustice’s work
• [29:22] Who is in opposition & how are they showing up
• [31:33] The influence of tech on decarbonization efforts
• [33:51] Adrian’s holiday wishlist for the tech industry
• [35:27] How climate-invested companies are affecting Earthjustice’s work
• [37:18] Earthjustice’s other priorities & how listeners can help

• Earthjustice
• Earthjustice: Right to Zero
• Earthjustice Action Center

• Connect with Adrian on LinkedIn

• InvestedInClimate.com 
• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

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The future is electric - especially when it comes to cars. Demand for electric vehicles is far outpacing supply, and automakers are rolling out more or more EV models as governments around the world set clear timelines for when new gas-powered cars will no longer be allowed. 

The transition to EV is good news for our climate. Transportation creates over a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, and about 40% of that comes from cars. 

This episode focuses on where we’re at in the EV transition and I’m joined by two true experts. Kyle Stock is a Senior Writer for Bloomberg Green. He writes about cars and has his finger on the pulse of EV trends. Cathy Zoi is the CEO of EVgo, the largest public EV charging network in the United States. Cathy has extensive experience in the energy sector and is building the infrastructure we need for the switch to electric vehicles. We talk about the current state of the EV market, which cars are hot and who’s buying them, the impact of recent legislation, our evolving user experience with cars and much more. I learned a lot and am sure you will too. Enjoy. 

• [3:13] The state of the EV market today
• [7:09] The hottest EVs in the US right now & what’s driving the demand
• [9:15] Kyle’s personal favorite EV
• [11:38] Cathy’s personal favorite EV
• [12:28] Who’s actually buying EVs today
• [14:20] Things you should consider if you’re looking for an EV or new car in general
• [16:00] How does the cost of EVs compare & tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act
• [19:28] What is EVgo & the problem they’re aiming to solve
• [23:10] EVgo’s geographic footprint & the current user experience of EV charging
• [27:33] The most significant barriers to the EV transition
• [33:44] The possibility of charging while you drive
• [37:55] The future of the EV user experience

Resources Mentioned

• Bloomberg Green
• EVgo
• S&P Global Mobility
• National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program
• Tesla
• Ford Electric
• Hyundai Electric
• Kia EV6
• Subaru Electric
• Volkswagen Electric
• GMC Hummer Electric
• Toyota Electric
• Chevy Electric
• Uber Electric
• Lyft Electric

• Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn
• Connect with Cathy on LinkedIn

• InvestedInClimate.com 
• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

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If you look at climate change as a systems problem (which it is), it doesn’t take long to see the important role of finance. Yes, there’s phenomenal growth in ESG investing, alongside funding in clean energy and climate tech. However, overall, our financial system has failed to factor in climate risks and climate impacts. According to the climate disclosure nonprofit CDP, just 1% of companies provide the information that investors need for assessing if they have credible plans for mitigating risks and transitioning to a low-carbon future. Large greenhouse gas emitters have easy access to capital, yet companies are incentivized to adopt a short-term view, prioritizing quarterly earnings over long-term considerations like the health and safety of their employees, customers, and communities. 

So what can be done about this? Not many people have the expertise or network to think about transforming finance. That’s where an ambitious organization called Ceres comes in. Ceres works with large investors and corporate boards to create systemic change. 

In this episode, we hear from two members of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets about the work they’re doing to reshape the role of finance in climate change. Steven Rothstein is the Managing Director and brings decades of experience to this question, and Yamika Ketu is a Senior Associate who recently authored a report that looks at the climate lobbying of S&P 100 companies. 

Tune in to hear about Ceres’ history and growth, the expected SEC rule change that could have dramatic impacts, findings from their recent research, and of course, ways that you can get involved. Here we go.

• [3:58] What is Ceres & how it got started
• [5:24] The scoop on the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets
• [6:53] Yamika’s role & what she’s aiming to do
• [7:45] Why there’s a need to invest in changing capital markets
• [10:16] The SEC rule change that would require companies to disclose climate risks
• [12:39] Public comments & sentiments around the proposed SEC rule change
• [15:08] Pressure for organizational change
• [16:38] The resistance & take-off in changing capital markets 
• [19:13] Ceres’ recent analysis & report on the lobbying activities of S&P 100 companies
• [22:03] What sustainability leaders can do to ensure their work isn't being undone by partner associations
• [25:15] What Steven sees as a home run for accelerating change
• [26:49] Events that are changing the system in a dramatic & rapid way
• [29:35] What investors & participants in today's financial system can do 
• [31:02] Addressing greenwashing through another proposed SEC rule
• [32:09] Companies that stand out based on their level of commitment & action
• [34:08] Other work that Ceres is doing & ways for listeners to get involved

• Ceres
• Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets
• Ceres Report: Responsible Policy Engagement Analysis 2022
• SEC Proposed Rule for Climate Risk Disclosures
• Ceres Global 2023

• Connect with Steven on LinkedIn
• Connect with Yamika on LinkedIn

• InvestedInClimate.com 
• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

If you have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events or partnerships, please get in touch!

If you’re interested in venture investing in climate tech, you probably already know about Climate Tech VC (CTVC). It began as a side hustle and small newsletter and now reaches 40,000 people. In my opinion, there’s really no better source of data and insights around climate tech investing. 

In this episode, I sat down with CTVC's Co-Founder Kim Zou. Kim was an investor at Energy Impact Partners and has been following climate tech investment closely as its taken off over the past several years. In fact, Kim might have actually been the person who coined the term "climate tech." Beyond that bold claim, there’s a lot to learn about regarding the state of climate tech investing in this interview. We talked about how CTVC got started, how climate tech has grown in recent years, where that investment is coming from and going to, how the economic slowdown has affected things and a bunch more. Buckle up and enjoy.

• [3:07] What is Climate Tech VC & how did it get started
• [5:33] Finding synergies for accelerating climate innovation
• [8:29] CTVC’s growing team & business model
• [13:29] The scale and growth in climate tech venture investing
• [15:43] The different spaces within climate tech & areas with the most investment activity
• [19:08] Built environment opportunities
• [23:33] How has corporate interest in climate investing changed over recent years
• [25:56] IRA impacts on climate tech companies and climate tech investing overall
• [29:50] Valuation & fundraising trends
• [37:34] Bumps in the road - long term transition to sustainable protein or just climate tech overall
• [40:25] The influence of elections on climate tech investing

• Climate Tech VC
• Greentown Labs
• Kula Bio
• Energy Impact Partners
• Syzygy Plasmonics

• Connect with Kim on LinkedIn

• InvestedInClimate.com 
• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

You're probably aware that venture capital investing in climate has grown very quickly in recent years, from around five billion in 2016 to over 40 billion dollars deployed in 2021. Large funds drive most of that growth, but small vehicles still play an important role - especially in recruiting new investors to start investing in climate. 

Sundeep Ahuja has helped many investors dip their toes into climate. He's invested in over 100 companies through syndicates that he's led. Full disclosure: I've backed a couple of his syndicated deals. Now, he's focusing on developing funds to deploy more capital into climate startups. Sundeep has a fascinating background, having been a software engineer, product manager, marketer, and business leader for technology companies, Kiva.org, Republic, and many others. He also wrote a novel and a television pilot as part of his effort to fuel more climate action. Sundeep has great insights to the world of investing in climate startups today. If that's the world you're curious about, I think you'll enjoy this episode. Here we go. 

• [3:39] Sundeep’s history of climate investing & current work at Climate Capital
• [4:37] The difference between syndicates, rolling funds & traditional venture funds
• [8:56] Climate Capital’s investment thesis
• [10:49] Climate Capital’s screening process 
• [12:34] Examples of companies & industries that Climate Capital is focused on 
• [15:49] The outlook for climate tech investing
• [17:49] Geopolitics & climate investing
• [19:27] The vision for “building the A16z of climate”
• [21:44] The role of community-building
• [25:08] Activating people through communication
• [27:31] Opportunities for non-accredited investors
• [30:18] The case for investing in climate

• Climate Capital
• Climate Capital Collective
• Republic
• Wefunder
• AngelList

• Connect with Sundeep on LinkedIn

• InvestedInClimate.com 
• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

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Have you come across the idea yet that we need to electrify everything? It's the concept that we need to replace gas appliances with electric ones and power those with renewable energy. It's a simply idea really, and yet it's crucial to eliminating pollution, protecting the environment, saving a whole lot of money and eliminating the illnesses caused by burning fossil fuels. The benefits are massive – but so is the complexity of decarbonizing billions upon billions of buildings.

At the forefront of the movement to electrify everything is Rewiring America, an ambitious organization focused on the systemic change needed to make clean, electric appliances the default. For this episode, I spoke with Rewiring America’s CEO Ari Matusiak. We spoke about the organization's approach to systems change, the implications of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), their work to aggregate demand for electrification and much more. I learned a ton and am excited to share this episode as there are many ways we can all help make the mantra “electrify everything” a reality. Enjoy.

• [3:36] What is Rewiring America & the problem they’re aiming to solve
• [5:05] The criticality of electrifying buildings in the United States
• [7:17] The scale of change that Rewiring America is working towards
• [9:50] User experience considerations & opportunities for electrification
• [13:50] Thinking about systems change to address the magnitude of scale
• [18:12] How to aggregate local demand in a systematic way
• [22:43] Signs of increasing local demand & progress
• [25:04] What the IRA means for individual consumers
• [27:41] The national level impacts of the IRA
• [31:02] The follow on effects of the IRA
• [33:14] The flywheel for electrification & systems change
• [37:01] Advocating for local policy change & accelerating electrification beyond homes
• [41:45] Raising awareness & urgency to decarbonize the built environment
• [44:56] What next year holds for Rewiring America & how listeners can help

• Rewiring America
• Rewiring America: IRA Savings Calculator
• Rewiring America: Get Involved

• Connect with Ari

• https://InvestedInClimate.com 
• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

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