In this recent blog article, we shared real stories from two experts who built a career in climate tech. In this post, we will further explore the field of climate tech, highlighting different career paths and opportunities for those who wish to pursue a career in this evolving sector. 

What is climate tech?

Climate tech is defined as technologies that are explicitly focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions or addressing the impacts of global warming, and they can be grouped into three broad groups, those that:

  1. Directly mitigate or remove emissions.
  2. Help us to adapt to the impacts of climate change (adaptation).
  3. Enhance our understanding of the climate.

It is important to highlight, though, that technological innovation is just one of the pieces needed to foster climate action, and it must be combined with solid policies and economic incentives, as well as education and mechanisms for ensuring public participation.

The global venture ecosystem experiences a sharp pullback in 2022, with funding dropping by 35% from 2021. Around 25% of VC investments were directed to climate tech (Q421-Q322), which is a sharp rise from 1% in 2010. Most of the investments went to startups in the mobility & transport or energy sectors, which highlights the need of increasing investments in other key areas for climate action, such as agriculture and land use (AFOLU). For 2024, 5 markets have been highlighted by industry specialists: green hydrogen, direct air capture, agriculture field intelligence, electric vehicle (EV) charging software, and micro-grid/off-grid providers.

Initiatives such as CATAL1o5ST and Mission Innovation have been targeting incubators and accelerators working on climate tech.

Three different career paths in the climate tech sector

Path 1: Smart Cities

Even though much of the climate policymaking happens at the global and national levels, cities are at the forefront of climate impacts and urban areas are responsible for 70 percent of global CO2 emissions (IPCC, 2022). Cities can join several networks to foster their climate activities, such as C40, ICLEI, and the Global Covenant of Mayors, there has been an increase in specialized events, such as Innovate4Cities. Therefore, investing in climate tech that addresses urban challenges must be a top priority, and it will also generate several professional opportunities.

A big challenge all cities face is where to secure the funding needed to develop and implement their climate policies. For instance, Bristol is taking towards securing more of the funding needed for the climate transition by setting up a Net Zero Investment Co-Innovation Lab, using grant funding from the EU-funded Pilot Cities Programme, run by NetZeroCities. Therefore, cities look for professionals trained in finance and with innovative ideas to fund their climate policies. Among these are increasing building efficiency, better mobility solutions, urban agriculture and initiatives to reduce and adapt to increasing heat waves and other extreme weather events.

Path 2: Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU)

Around one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU). The sector thus needs climate tech solutions to decarbonize and offer alternatives, and a growing career path has been of entrepreneur. Climate-KIC offers several entrepreneurship programs, such as ClimateLaunchpad. In 2022, Mabe Studios won the competition with a simple, but efficient solution: a plant-based leather made from Angico tree, commonly found in South America and also used in reforestation programs. Key skills needed for entrepreneurs are the ability to innovate, knowing what to prioritise, and technical skills related to their field or role in a startup (management, marketing, operations, among others).

Path 3: Energy

Among the top 10 Top global equity deals in Q1’24 was Huakong Power, a Chinese manufacturer that specializes in the development of energy-saving and intelligent control services. There are several career opportunities related to engineering and other STEM professions within energy-focused climate startups, as well as a growing demand for technical careers, such as electricians specialized in solar panels. In addition to high-tech solutions, entrepreneurs also focus on social goals. The Brazilian NGO Revolusolar combines solar installations with energy efficiency initiatives, vocational training and cultural and educational activities to promote active community involvement for a just energy transition.

Lifelong learning and professional development for climate tech professionals

In a 2020 webinar, I presented with Henrique Pereira, co-founder of WayCarbon, we discussed general skills demanded of climate professionals: the ability to learn (and unlearn) quickly, knowing how to work as part of an ecosystem, knowing how to navigate between the analogic and digital worlds, creativity and resiliency in a world of constant and rapid changes. On this last point, Yuval Harari stresses the need to invest in reskilling and lifelong learning to adapt to the fast pace of the 21st Century, and consequently in emotional intelligence and mental equilibrium to cope with a never-seen rate of change in the job market.

Among the tailor-made professional learning offerings of Climate-KIC is the Climate Leadership Academy, a modular program that can include online capability building courses (in topics like systems innovation, working in complexity or gender and climate, among others) peer-to-peer leadership coaching, learning festivals, and policy innovation practice for emerging and senior leaders. It is designed with the lens of equity and inclusion, to foster rapid learning from some of the most innovative climate-ambitious projects. It enables a self-transformational journey for leaders in cities, regions, businesses, and communities to create systemic change.

In summary, we have learned from the article that climate tech is an evolving sector. As such, there are key learning factors to consider when deciding the next steps in this field. The EIT Campus plays a crucial role in addressing these factors by providing a comprehensive and interdisciplinary platform for continuous learning and skill development.

Explore our courses and continue the conversation by leaving a comment below or exploring our community for more opportunities and resources. Enjoy this learning adventure today with the EIT Campus!

References:

  1. PwC – State of Climate Tech 2021. “The state of climate tech 2021: The next frontier for venture capital.” PwC. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/sustainability/publications/state-of-climate-tech-2021.html
  2. CBINSIGHTS. “State of Venture 2022.” CB Insights. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.cbinsights.com/research/report/venture-capital-q4-2022/
  3. PwC – Overcoming inertia in climate tech investing. “Overcoming inertia in climate tech investing.” PwC. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/services/sustainability/publications/overcoming-inertia-in-climate-tech-investing.html
  4. CBINSIGHTS. “Top 10 Global Equity Deals Q1 2024.” CB Insights. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.cbinsights.com/research/top-global-equity-deals-q1-2024