With the beginning of 2025, climate tech experts are forecasting transformative shifts across renewable energy, decarbonization strategies, and technological advancements. Leaders from diverse sectors share their visions of a sustainable future, highlighting key trends that will shape global efforts to combat climate change.
Romain Diaz, Founder & CEO at Satgana
Romain Diaz, Founder and CEO at Satgana, emphasizes pragmatic shifts in climate action narratives and market dynamics. His 2025 predictions focus on resilience, capital flows, and evolving perceptions of green investments. Following are predictions Romain Diaz shared with the Climate Insider:
1. Climate romanticism will be replaced by climate pragmatism
“2025 will see clear narrative changes, from green premiums to green discounts, and from sustainability to resilience.”
Diaz predicts a pivot from idealistic sustainability approaches to pragmatic strategies, where resilience becomes the core focus of corporate and government actions.
2. Capital flows toward climate adaptation and mitigation will accelerate
“The megatrend of increasing capital flows towards climate mitigation and adaptation is still in full force.”
Despite economic uncertainties, Diaz foresees sustained investments in climate solutions as businesses adapt to intensifying climate disruptions.
3. Green discounts will replace green premiums
As technologies mature, sustainable practices will become more cost-effective, shifting from premium pricing models to affordability that drives widespread adoption.
4. Resilience will take centre stage
As climate risks grow, businesses will prioritize building systems capable of adapting and thriving despite disruptions, making resilience a competitive advantage.
Andrew Beebe, Managing Director at Obvious Ventures
Andrew Beebe, Managing Director at Obvious Ventures, offers an optimistic view of 2025, drawing from his extensive experience in climate tech investments. Obvious Ventures, co-founded by Twitter and Medium’s Evan Williams, boasts a robust portfolio of successful ventures like Beyond Meat and Proterra. Beebe predicts breakthroughs across clean energy, battery technologies, carbon removal, agriculture, and AI. Following are predictions Andrew Beebe shared with the Sustainability Magazine.
1. Clean energy will leap past fossil fuels
“The era of fossil fuels dominating the energy sector is drawing to a close. Solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower are poised to overtake fossil fuels in baseload capacity, global efficiency, and declining costs. New technologies are unlocking vast deposits of clean energy and accelerating traditionally slow research areas like nuclear fusion.”
Beebe anticipates that renewables will surpass fossil fuels in baseload capacity, with advanced technologies in geothermal energy making significant contributions. This seismic shift is bolstered by global investments in clean energy, projected by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to reach $2 trillion in 2024, double the investment in fossil fuels.
2. Advances in battery chemistries will rewire industries
“Breakthroughs in battery technology are transforming energy storage and consumption. Solid-state lithium and synthetic silicon batteries promise greater energy density, faster charging times, and longer lifespans. These advancements are critical for scaling distributed renewable energy and reducing industries’ dependence on the grid.”
Beebe foresees battery technology transforming how industries store and consume energy, enabling further decentralization of renewable energy systems.
3. Carbon removal will hit overdrive
“Technologies for carbon capture and sequestration are rapidly advancing. Direct air capture and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage are scaling up, making it possible to remove and store carbon dioxide more efficiently and achieve global climate targets.”
The scaling of carbon removal technologies marks a pivotal step toward meeting international climate goals, Beebe notes.
4. Agriculture will transform from top to bottom
“Farming is undergoing a clean energy revolution. Renewable-powered machinery and data-driven precision farming are breathing sustainability into a historically carbon-heavy industry. Innovations like vertical farming and lab-grown foods are reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint and boosting food security.”
Beebe envisions clean energy and technology fundamentally reshaping agriculture, with vertical farming and lab-grown foods playing vital roles in reducing emissions.
5. AI will take the guesswork out of risk analysis
“Advanced algorithms and machine learning models can predict equipment failures, optimise maintenance schedules, and improve energy efficiency. By leveraging AI, businesses will enhance the reliability and resilience of renewable energy systems while reducing operational uncertainties.”
Beebe sees AI transforming risk analysis, ensuring renewable systems operate reliably and efficiently as they scale globally.
Tim Weiss, Co-Founder & CEO of Optera
Tim Weiss highlights the urgency of rapid decarbonization and the role of market forces in driving climate action. Following are predictions Tim shared with the Sustainability Magazine:
1. The 2020s must be the decade of bold decarbonization
“The next five years will determine the type of planet future generations will inherit. We have an incredible responsibility right now.”
Weiss calls for accelerated action, with governments and businesses leveraging regulatory incentives to mitigate climate risks.
2. Fossil fuel asset value will decline as renewable energy grows
“Fossil fuel assets that cannot adapt will steadily lose value over the coming decade.”
Weiss underscores the need for transitioning to low-carbon technologies to sustain asset value.
3. Commercial EV adoption hinges on infrastructure and incentives
Weiss highlights disparities in EV adoption, with last-mile delivery fleets outpacing long-haul trucking due to infrastructure challenges.
Conclusion
The collective insights from these industry leaders paint a transformative picture for 2025. From clean energy overtaking fossil fuels to AI optimizing risk and operational efficiencies, advancements in climate tech are accelerating. As resilience and pragmatism replace earlier narratives, businesses must adapt swiftly to navigate this pivotal decade.
Climate Insider Notes
- Renewables are projected to surpass fossil fuels in baseload capacity by 2025, driven by geothermal and advanced battery technologies.
- Investments in carbon removal and AI-driven risk analysis are scaling rapidly, signaling major advancements in emissions reduction and resilience.
- Pragmatic climate narratives are replacing green premiums, emphasizing affordability and resilience as key drivers of adoption.
- Agricultural innovations like precision farming and lab-grown foods will reduce emissions and enhance food security.
