Why I'm Pivoting to Climate Tech

April 15, 2024

For the past 3 to 5 years, I've worked in different industries as a software engineer, including media, hospitality, and consumer goods. However, I've never felt like I'm using my technical skills to truly make a difference or improve the world. My curiosity has led me to discover a new passion: finding sustainable solutions to address climate change and reduce environmental impact.

I believe innovation in this industry is lacking for a few key reasons:

  • Government policies and mandates often dictate innovation, which can stifle progress.
  • Many believe it is impossible to achieve negative or net-zero emissions before 2050, so they do not bother trying to solve the problem.

Many people do not realize how serious climate change is, even if we only achieve a 20% solution or if only a few countries cut emissions. To fully solve climate change, we need both government regulations and new technology to work together. Here's why:

  • Even if government regulations shift with new political parties coming into power, new technology will always remain.
  • Regulations can speed up the use of new technology, which can lower costs and make it easier for global deployment.
  • Innovation can drive down the cost of technology, leading to its widespread adoption as a global requirement.
  • Cheaper technology can be used all over the world, but some regulations cannot be applied everywhere. (For instance, telling a small country in Central America or the Caribbean to halt oil exploration is not viable, as this activity contributes significantly to the country's economic growth.)

Reflecting on these challenges, I have felt a strong personal drive to take action. Experiencing the direct impacts of climate change, especially through prolonged heat waves in Belize, has made me bullish about diving into climate tech. As a result, I have been actively hacking and researching on side projects. Among these, the most promising idea is an AI tool that transforms ESG data into actionable insights. The aim is to empower individuals and companies to collect and analyze their ESG data, enabling data-driven decisions for a cleaner, better future. If you are interested, feel free to sign up for the waitlist!!