Meet the innovators under 35 shaping climate tech
The 2026 cohort of innovators under 35 in climate tech reveals a dual narrative: AI is both a growing energy burden and a transformative tool for mitigation, while the sector grapples with the overlooked constraints of material supply chains and niche industrial processes. This year’s selections underscore how climate solutions are increasingly defined by their ability to integrate computational efficiency with systemic material and infrastructural overhauls.
How does AI feature in the work of this year’s climate tech innovators?
AI appears in two distinct roles: as a target for efficiency improvements and as a catalyst for climate solutions. Innovators like Jae-Won Chung focus on reducing AI’s own energy footprint by measuring the demands of open-source models, while others such as Jing Wei and Zhonghua Zheng leverage AI to enhance pollution tracking and urban climate modeling, respectively.
What are the primary material challenges highlighted by the innovators in this cohort?
The cohort emphasizes the looming shortages of critical materials like lithium and copper, which are essential for batteries and grid-scale energy storage. Innovators such as Mohammad Alkhadra and Benjamin Mowbray are addressing these challenges by developing faster and more sustainable extraction methods from brine and hardrock ore, respectively.
Beyond energy and transportation, which less obvious sectors are being targeted for decarbonization?
The innovators are tackling overlooked sectors such as steel production, plastics manufacturing, and refrigeration. Laureen Meroueh is pioneering cleaner steel production, Joseph Nguthiru is creating bioplastics from invasive weeds, Diana Orembe is converting food waste into fish feed for aquaculture, and Jinyoung Seo is developing solid refrigerants to replace potent greenhouse gases.
Ce que ça pourrait changer
The dual role of AI—both as a contributor to and a tool for mitigating climate challenges—suggests that future policy and investment must carefully balance computational advancements with energy efficiency. Meanwhile, the focus on critical materials and niche industrial processes signals that climate tech is expanding beyond traditional energy systems, requiring cross-sectoral collaboration to address systemic gaps.
