What Comes After Climate Tech?

The Evolving Language of Climate Innovation

The human tendency to categorize and name is fundamental, yet our naming conventions aren't always precise.

From Clean Tech to Climate Tech

Consider the field of climate tech. This encompasses companies and technologies dedicated to lessening or reversing our environmental impact, while simultaneously aiding adaptation to ongoing climate shifts. As terminology goes, 'climate tech' is relatively effective, succinctly defining the sector’s core objective.

It represents a significant improvement over its predecessor, 'clean tech'. A decade ago, startups now categorized as climate tech would likely have used this earlier label. However, 'clean tech' proved to be an ambiguous descriptor. To those unfamiliar with the field, it could easily refer to items like robotic cleaning devices or innovative household products. Climate tech offers greater clarity.

The Search for a New Descriptor

Having emerged roughly a decade ago, and with a natural human desire for novelty, the term 'climate tech' is now being re-evaluated. Furthermore, the expanding scope of the field has made the existing label somewhat cumbersome. Consequently, alternative terms have been explored over the past year.

Planetary health arose as an initial alternative, first appearing in the medical journal The Lancet in 2014. Some investors adopted it, partly to address the issue of scope expansion. Numerous companies focus on technologies impacting the planet, without necessarily targeting carbon emissions directly. While appealing, 'planetary health' hasn’t gained widespread acceptance.

Political Influences and Shifting Perceptions

Recent political events have also influenced the discussion. The term “climate” is facing increased scrutiny, with some actively seeking distance from it. This trend began even before recent elections, and it’s probable that 'climate tech' will be replaced within the next five years.

Exploring Alternative Labels

Numerous suggestions are being considered. Planetary health remains a prominent contender, boasting a descriptive quality and an early advantage.

The American dynamism platform includes a clean energy component, but this term is closely associated with the venture capital firm a16z, where partner Katherine Boyle originated it. It also encompasses a broad range of areas, including defense, public safety, education, and housing.

Frontier tech is another option, though it’s even broader than 'climate tech'. Critical infrastructure overlaps with climate tech, but isn’t entirely synonymous. Deep tech also encompasses climate tech, but extends to areas like AI, robotics, and quantum computing.

A Recent Proposal and its Shortcomings

The most recent suggestion is growth tech. However, this term appears unlikely to gain traction. It’s overly generic – aren’t all venture-backed startups aiming for growth? – and fails to capture the specific focus of these companies.

While climate tech is poised to drive substantial growth and industrial innovation, as evidenced by developments in China, more fitting terminology exists.

A Proposed Solution: Resilience Tech

Offering a constructive alternative, I propose the term “resilience tech”. It’s not a perfect solution, and further refinement is possible. However, it effectively encapsulates the core aim of climate tech: to enhance the resilience of both the world and humanity.