Subsidies are the Ultimate Competitive Strategy
10/02/24 • 10 min
In this episode of Climate on the Edge, I’m diving into a topic that’s been top of mind lately—what happens if the political winds shift, and we lose momentum on climate policy? With the election approaching, there’s a lot of talk about the potential rollback of the Inflation Reduction Act and what that could mean for climate infrastructure funding. I recently attended Voyagers’ Annual General Meeting, where industry experts discussed the resilience of climate tech companies in the face of political uncertainty, and it got me thinking.
One of the most interesting moments at the AGM was Nat Bullard’s presentation, where he highlighted how institutional predictions about renewables have consistently been wrong—renewables continue to grow exponentially. Even with concerns about reduced subsidies, other speakers made a strong case that the best climate companies can thrive on their own. They argued that while subsidies are helpful, they’re not the sole reason for success. So, when is it really safe for investors like us to dive into climate tech?
In this episode, I also take a look at the bigger picture when it comes to subsidies. Industries like oil, gas, and agriculture have benefited from billions in government support over the years, and climate tech should be no different. While some fear a shift in political power could direct subsidies back toward fossil fuels, I believe waiting for certainty could mean missing out on huge opportunities. We need to rethink how we view subsidies and invest in the companies building our future, regardless of political changes. Thanks for listening, and as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Episode Resources
Nat Bullard’s website w/ links to past presentations: https://www.nathanielbullard.com/
Timestamps
00:00 The Election...
01:03 Insights from the Climate Tech Venture Fund Meeting
02:56 The Reality of Subsidies + Wild Statistics
09:15 Political Risks and Opportunities Ahead
Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts ⭐️
For more about the show and more information about episodes, visit Climate on the Edge.
Supported by emrgnce - innovative minds exploring climate’s next frontier.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Climate on the Edge, I’m diving into a topic that’s been top of mind lately—what happens if the political winds shift, and we lose momentum on climate policy? With the election approaching, there’s a lot of talk about the potential rollback of the Inflation Reduction Act and what that could mean for climate infrastructure funding. I recently attended Voyagers’ Annual General Meeting, where industry experts discussed the resilience of climate tech companies in the face of political uncertainty, and it got me thinking.
One of the most interesting moments at the AGM was Nat Bullard’s presentation, where he highlighted how institutional predictions about renewables have consistently been wrong—renewables continue to grow exponentially. Even with concerns about reduced subsidies, other speakers made a strong case that the best climate companies can thrive on their own. They argued that while subsidies are helpful, they’re not the sole reason for success. So, when is it really safe for investors like us to dive into climate tech?
In this episode, I also take a look at the bigger picture when it comes to subsidies. Industries like oil, gas, and agriculture have benefited from billions in government support over the years, and climate tech should be no different. While some fear a shift in political power could direct subsidies back toward fossil fuels, I believe waiting for certainty could mean missing out on huge opportunities. We need to rethink how we view subsidies and invest in the companies building our future, regardless of political changes. Thanks for listening, and as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Episode Resources
Nat Bullard’s website w/ links to past presentations: https://www.nathanielbullard.com/
Timestamps
00:00 The Election...
01:03 Insights from the Climate Tech Venture Fund Meeting
02:56 The Reality of Subsidies + Wild Statistics
09:15 Political Risks and Opportunities Ahead
Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts ⭐️
For more about the show and more information about episodes, visit Climate on the Edge.
Supported by emrgnce - innovative minds exploring climate’s next frontier.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Biodiversity and Climate Risk w/ "Nature-Tech" VC Tom Quigley of Superorganism
As biodiversity faces mounting risk from the explosion of H5N1 bird flu and climate change, can investing in nature-focused startups unlock new ways to safeguard our planet’s species and ecosystems?
On this episode of Climate on the Edge we’re joined by Tom Quigley, who discusses his unique journey from conservation biology to technology and eventually becoming a venture capitalist focusing on biodiversity. His experiences in field conservation then tech startups shaped his understanding of leveraging technology for conservation challenges.
The conversation explores concepts of ecosystem services, biodiversity measurement, land-use change, and the interplay between technology and nature. Quigley emphasizes nature's resilience, existing initiatives for biodiversity protection, and the future of nature tech.
He also shares personal reflections from his career working to support nature, and how he hopes to see much more of the finance world join the trend of investing in “nature-tech”.
02:19 From Conservationist to Tech Enthusiast
07:51 Challenges and Opportunities in Nature Tech
11:41 Understanding Biodiversity and Its Importance
18:31 The Economic Value of Ecosystem Services
25:47 Complexity of Measuring Biodiversity
30:10 Nature as Humanity's Defense Against Climate Disaster
32:20 The Role of Mangroves in Storm Protection
33:24 Key Drivers of Biodiversity Loss
36:49 Understanding Zoonotic Diseases
42:12 Hopeful Solutions and Nature's Resilience
46:06 The Future of Nature Tech and Biodiversity Investments
54:56 Optimism for the Future
Episode Resources
Bat Fungus Leads to Population Loss
‘Terrifying’ Article on H5N1’s Effect on Biodiversity
Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts ⭐️
For more about the show and more information about episodes, visit Climate on the Edge.
Supported by emrgnce - innovative minds exploring climate’s next frontier.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
What I've Learned So Far & Frontier Climate Headlines
Fresh from New York Climate Week, I’ve been reflecting on the concept of “toxic positivity” in climate spaces—a term discussed by Amy Westervelt of Drilled. It’s that disconnect between the optimism we often see at conferences and the stark realities of climate disasters unfolding worldwide.
On this show, we don’t sugarcoat or shy away from tough questions. Instead, we dive deep into solutions that could truly bend the curve on climate change. We’re not just discussing problems—we’re exploring the complex, messy work required to solve them.
In this episode I recap some of the most important lessons I've learned from experts and innovators building climate solutions.
I also take a look at some recent climate headlines that you might not have heard about-
-Vietnam launches a low emissions rice initiative
-Chongqing, China, experiments with cloud seeding to combat heatwaves
Thanks for listening to Climate on the Edge—let’s keep pushing the conversation forward.
Episode Resources
Vietnam Low-Emissions Rice Program
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Toxic Positivity at Climate Week
01:50 Climate on the Edge so far
10:10 Climate Headlines
19:25 Upcoming Topics and Conclusion
Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts ⭐️
For more about the show and more information about episodes, visit Climate on the Edge.
Supported by emrgnce - innovative minds exploring climate’s next frontier.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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