The urgency to reduce emissions and adapt to our increasingly warm planet is escalating. This year, we have observed temperatures hitting unprecedented levels, similar to almost every year over the past decade. Climate-related natural disasters are impacting communities globally, costing billions.
This is the reason why, over the past two years, MIT Technology Review has assembled a list of companies that have the potential to significantly contribute to combating climate change (you can check out the 2024 list here). We are thrilled to announce that our third installment of Climate Tech Companies to Watch will be published on October 6.
The list includes enterprises from various parts of the globe developing technologies aimed at decreasing emissions or mitigating the consequences of climate change. They showcase innovations across numerous sectors, from agriculture and transportation to energy and essential minerals.
A significant alteration in this year’s list is our focus on a smaller number of firms—we will spotlight 10, down from the 15 we have highlighted in the past.
This modification mirrors the current situation: Climate science and technology are positioned in a drastically different context compared to just a year ago. The US, the largest economy globally and historically the highest polluter, has reversed its climate policy as the Trump administration halts hundreds of billions of dollars in funding, tax incentives, and loans aimed at supporting the sector and climate research.
And the harsh reality is that the clock is ticking. This year marks a decade since the Paris Agreement, the UN pact that sought to limit global warming by establishing a target of reducing emissions so that temperature rises would not exceed 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels. Today, experts concur that we have practically run out of time to achieve that target and must act swiftly to keep warming below 2 °C.
The enterprises on this year’s roster are innovating and expanding technologies with the potential to assist. A diverse range of companies is represented, from nascent startups to multi-billion dollar corporations. Their technologies encompass everything from electric vehicles to the materials that shape our environment.
Of course, we cannot claim to foresee the future: Not every company we have acknowledged will thrive. However, we have made our best efforts to select firms with a solid technical foundation, as well as viable strategies for positioning their solutions in the appropriate market and scaling them efficiently.
We are eager to present the list to you in just a few days. These companies are tackling one of the most critical issues of our era. Who knows—perhaps you will even leave with a bit more optimism.
