2021 and Imagining A More Resilient Future
A Biden Administration and its meaning for the future of urban and climate innovation.
New Beginnings
I’m still reveling in youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman's poem from last week’s inauguration and the fact that we have a new president and the first woman vice president in the history of this country (long overdue). In this recent piece about tech in the Biden era, TechCrunch writer, Taylor Hatmaker explores the complex relationship this Administration has with big tech. The big emphasis on climate goals in the past few weeks seems to be a snippet of what we can expect for federal investment in innovative solutions and green technologies.
Additionally, there is now an even larger focus on the nations’ infrastructure, mobility, and the future of sustainable work and housing options. As these discussions and policies continue to roll out, there will be increased opportunities for cities to rebuild amid COVID-19. Timing is crucial as we grapple with what it means to support and scale solutions if the infrastructure does not exist to support these new companies and their inventions. You can read President Biden’s plan to build a modern, sustainable infrastructure and an equitable clean energy future here.
Before the end of the year, Congress’s COVID relief bill included $35 billion worth of climate policies and energy funding. The bill designated $4 to $5 billion R&D funding to solar, wind, and storage tech, an additional $20 billion being committed to CCS, advanced nuclear, and smart grid technologies.
Investment
Rivian and Cruise raised a combined $4.65 billion last week across separate rounds, as investors and automotive manufacturers bet big on the progress that electric vehicles will continue to make in the coming years.
Elon Musk is donating $100M to find the best carbon capture technology through Xprize Foundation, the non-profit organization that hosts competitions aimed at encouraging technological development and innovation.
My team, Venture For ClimateTech, the venture studio and accelerator model sourcing the most promising climate solutions across the globe, is accepting applications until March 12th. Click here to sign up for an info session and please feel free to forward this opportunity to an early-stage founder who might be interested.
Climate Tech Club on Clubhouse
Kayalin Akens-Irby, Head of Partnerships at Planet FWD, and I launched a Climate Tech Club on Clubhouse for founders, investors, builders, problem solvers, and individuals with a passion for innovating to address climate change. We discuss emerging technologies, startups, regenerative systems, clean energy, green cities, climate-friendly food, policy, and regulation changes. We’re creating a space to learn, collaborate, and explore solving the climate crisis through scalable solutions.
We’re hosting our first event tonight at 8 pm EST (5 pm EST) to discuss trends with some amazing speakers including Shilpi Kumar, Jessica Greenwalt, Marques Anderson, Zécca Lehn, and Christopher Sweat. If you’re on Clubhouse follow me and I’ll be sure to invite you to our club.
Readings
CES showcases 6 trends to shape smart cities in 2021
The start of a new year can serve as an opportunity to reinvigorate local governments. As some cities dive into new fiscal budgets, others undergo yearly planning — and this year, all cities are bracing for a fresh start under the Biden-Harris presidential administration. Smart Cities Dive outlined six core trends that experts expect to influence cities in the year ahead:
Personally-owned electric bikes will continue to grow in popularity
Businesses will increasingly embrace 5G
Cities will keep using data dashboards to share information
More sectors will explore “as-a-service” offerings
Deliveries will be increasingly autonomous
The public will weigh-in on more smart city tech
NYC's roofs are getting a sustainable makeover
“While buzz around the passage of New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act in April 2019 has fizzled, the city’s public officials, property owners, architects, real estate moguls, and financiers are revving up to put new policies into practice. As of Nov. 15, 2019, Local Laws 92 and 94 are in effect to target a vast, often overlooked and underutilized resource in New York: roofs.”
Strategic design can help car-free streets gain popularity post-coronavirus
Published in March of last year, this article explores the start of cities and states enacting stay-at-home orders to stem the COVID-19 outbreak as once-packed urban streets became empty of cars. Some mayors seized this opportunity. What can we expect for planning stemming from these findings? Working on an exciting project or idea related to this, drop me a note.
Death of the downtown: How cities can rebuild using 'tactical urbanism
“What will happen to cities as we know them today? While it is likely that most cities will ‘bounce back’ from the crisis, many experts agree that when this modern rebirth occurs, cities will look different than they did pre-pandemic — particularly in their downtown regions.”
Could this new building in Israel be the future of offices?
“Microsoft’s new Herzliya campus in Israel is opening, as the future of office-based work is uncertain. The technology company says distinctive design features mean the building is prepared for the pandemic and beyond. These include a ‘flexible grid’ where offices can be easily reshaped and desks can be rolled into new positions.”
Why Batteries Are the Key to Biden’s Green Dreams
“President-elect Joe Biden’s plan to fight global warming calls for building vast swaths of solar panels and wind turbines, but making it work will rest squarely on batteries. That’s true of climate change plans in Europe, China and elsewhere, too, because there’s no way to switch to carbon-free cars and power grids without greatly expanded storage capacity for electricity.”