Questioning the Death of 'Climate Tech'

It Might Just Be Time to Reframe

Odds are the recent presidential election will dramatically change the landscape for climate tech companies. So much so that Heatmap reporter Katie Brigham is wondering whether it might be time to shift away from the term “climate tech” entirely. In a recent piece, she argues that the industry needs a rebrand if it’s going to persist.

Illustration via Heatmap News. Image from Getty Images

There’s a lot that’s compelling about the argument. The word “climate” itself can be quite polarizing. Some associate it primarily with over-zealous activists who want to deny everyday people the right to eat cheeseburgers or drive a car. Fortunately, Brigham’s piece offers some alternative phrasings that might be a better fit for the new political landscape, ranging from “resilient cities” to “critical infrastructure” or even “energy dominance.” But what’s the throughline between all of these terms?