Artificial Intelligence is seen as a critical tool for solving climate change. We talk about optimizing grids, accelerating material discovery, and predicting extreme weather.

But can AI really help us solve the climate crisis faster than it contributes to it?

Today I’m joined by three sharp thinkers in the world of climate:

- Hampus Jakobsson: founding partner at Pale Blue Dot and a bullish believer in AI for climate

- Pippa Gawley: founding partner at Zero Carbon Capital and a cautious observer of the AI hype

- Matteo Turchetta: co-founder and CTO at KoraLabs and PhD in AI for sustainable agriculture from ETH Zürich

Together, we answer the question: Is AI a good thing for the climate?

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We talk about:

Why adding “AI” to your pitch won’t save a climate startup

How smaller, smarter models could reduce emissions

Whether climate data is good enough to train real solutions

When AI crosses the line from helpful to harmful

How small AI wins might unlock massive physical world impact

When regulation makes sense, and when it stifles innovation

… and more!

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Where to find Hampus, Pippa & Matteo:

Hampus | Pale Blue Dot | The Drop

Pippa | Zero Carbon Capital

Matteo | KoraLabs

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:30) AI Solution Categories

(03:57) Investor Skepticism

(06:54) Practical Use Cases

(12:30) Data Quality Matters

(17:17) Environmental Impact of AI

(23:05) Solving Real Problems

(33:57) Accelerating Dirty Industries

(40:05) Responsible Use of AI

(46:06) Key Takeaways

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Other episodes you might like:

- How Climate Startups Get Their FIRST Investor

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- VCo2 | The Climate Investing Podcast | Hugo Rauch | Substack

Batteries are the backbone of the energy transition. From grid-scale storage to next-gen chemistries, the world is racing to shape a trillion-dollar industry.

But what are the fundamental differences between battery types? And which are actually game-changers?

To explore the battery market, I’m joined by Dave Borlace, the voice behind Just Have a Think, a YouTube channel trusted by 600,000+ people for its break down of complex climate and energy topics into compelling narratives.

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What we discussed:

Why battery tech is essential for the future of the grid

A breakdown of 6 battery types (from lithium-ion to aluminium-ion)

How China took the lead in battery manufacturing

What metrics matter: energy density, cycle life, cost, safety, and weight

… and more!

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Where to find Dave Borlace:

YouTube: Just Have a Think

LinkedIn: Dave Borlace

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(00:00) Introduction

(01:33) Batteries and the Energy Transition

(10:45) Lithium-Ion Dominance

(24:49) Exploring Lithium-Sulfur

(31:04) Is Sodium-Ion Viable?

(35:07) The Promise of Solid-State Batteries

(38:53) Incumbents vs. Innovators

(42:07) What’s Up with Flow Batteries?

(47:06) The Potential of Aluminum Batteries

(49:58) Rapid Fire Questions 🔥

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This episode is a bit different from our usual format. Typically, I sit down with climate investors, angels, VCs, and PEs. But this time, I wanted to try something new.

It's summer, and I thought it was the perfect moment to invite Dave Borlace, creator of Just Have a Think and one of the clearest voices on climate technology, to break down the battery landscape for us.

He's not an investor, but he’s a brilliant educator.

I hope you enjoy this special episode as much as I did.

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