š CAT Newsletter 264 - 2025-04-20
Hey CATs,
Welcome to issue 264 of the ClimateAction.tech (CAT) Newsletter - your weekly summary of what's happening inside the CAT community, and in the wider world of climate and tech. New to CAT or looking to re-discover the community? Try outĀ our onboarding checklist.
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CAT Community News
šŖ CAT member projects & actions
As part of our community action this month, we're doing aĀ CAT Earth Day Show & Tell on Thu, Apr 24. CATs can add their projects, actions, wins, or stuff they learned toĀ this presentationĀ and join the event to share live. Here's a few CAT member project highlights that have been shared in the presentation and/or on Slack over the last few weeks:
@Owen RogersĀ works at .eco and has releasedĀ climate reporting for .eco domains. This means that anyone with a .eco domain can see the carbon footprint associated with managing it. Providing this level of climate accountability and transparency is a first in the domain name industry.Ā @Owen RogersĀ will join theĀ Show & Tell eventĀ to share more.
@Dryden WilliamsĀ is the co-founder ofĀ CarbonRunner.ioĀ hit a milestone of saving over 500 KG of CO2 emissions.Ā This compares to taking a car off the road for 1,300+ miles or planting 26 trees.
AĀ facilitated a discussion titled "The green elephant in the data center: Exploring the environmental impact of increasingly larger datasets and models" at DATA_FAIR - a data engineering and data science conference.
GĀ experimented to control his back-up transfer speeds based on how green the current energy mix is.Ā He shared his findings in a blog postĀ and is inviting others to more in-depth discussion.
ā¤ļø Help a CAT
MĀ isĀ looking for collaborators to create a climate gameĀ (maybe storytelling-based?) and thenĀ submit it for the next issue of Branch
BĀ is asking:Ā Has anyone worked with the Carbon Footprint tools from the Google Cloud Platform?
JĀ isĀ looking to connectĀ at an event inĀ #local-chicagoĀ next week!
š CAT events
:muscle: Thu, Apr 24th ā CAT Earth Day Show & Tell [online]
Join us to explore & celebrate different ways of taking climate action in the tech industry. If you're a member of CAT, visit the event's Outline page to see how you participate in the community Show & Tell with your project, action, win, or learning.
š Thu, May 1st ā Digital Degrowth Book Club [online]
āJoin us for a discussion on Digital Degrowth: Technology in the Age of Survival by Michael Kwet.
š ļø Fri, May 23rd ā ZĆ¼rich Hackathon [in-person]
š© Community networking
Every 2 weeks, we match 2-3 CATs so you can connect over a quick 30-minute call. Join #cat-roulette, pick your region and wait for a message from Donut. The next round of matches will go out on Fri, May 2nd. More info.
Media, events, and news
šŗ CAT recommendations
ā¶ļø CAT videos
10-15 minute videos providing accessible explainers to climate related issues.
Bloomberg Originals: How Human Brain Cells Could Power AI
This episode of Bloomberg Primer explores the world of biocomputingāwhere scientists are laying the foundation for a field that may blur the lines between the biological and synthetic. Integrating biological elements into AI could lead to more sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies, offering a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional computing methods.
š¤Ā Podcasts
The latest climate-related podcast episodes. Don't forget, if you're looking around, there's a list of podcasts maintained by CATs
Environment Variables: GreenOps with Greenpixie
Host Chris Adams sits down with James Hall, Head of GreenOps at Greenpixie, to explore the evolving discipline of GreenOps. They discuss how Greenpixie helps organizations make informed sustainability decisions using certified carbon data, the challenges of scaling cloud carbon measurement, and why transparency and relevance are just as crucial as accuracy. They also discuss using financial cost as a proxy for carbon, the need for standardization through initiatives like FOCUS, and growing interest in water usage metrics.
Catalyst: Future-proofing data center power infrastructure
Data centers face a critical timing problem. They need massive amounts of power immediately, but grid upgrades can take more than seven years to complete. In this episode, recorded as part of a live Frontier Forum, Latitude Media's Stephen Lacey speaks with Xendee co-founders Adib Nasle and Michael Stadler about how microgrids can help data centers get power quickly, while also preparing for future technology changes. The conversation explores how the combination of combined heat and power systems with supplemental technologies like batteries and renewables can create flexible, adaptable power solutions for mission-critical facilities. Their research across different energy markets shows striking cost reductions
Green IO: #56 Building Green Software, the one year anniversary with Sarah Hsu
A year ago, Building Green Software was released by O'Reilly. Since Tim Frick's book "Designing for sustainability" (8 years ago!), O'Reilly didn't publish anything fully focusing on sustainability. So, it's a fair statement that this book was long awaited.Ā But a year is an eternity in IT. This is why Sarah Hsu, one of its 3 co-authors as well as the chair of the Green Software Foundation's Principles of Green Software committee, joined the show to talk about the trends she witnesses first hand in the green software engineering field and how she would envision a v2.
š Submitted events
Want an event listed here? Use this event listing form to submit the details so we can add it in the newsletter.
Wed Apr 23 2025 - How to make your job a climate job
Join us for a candid panel discussion with folks from the tech industry who have driven meaningful sustainability efforts at work. You'll walk away with inspiration & ideas for practical climate-aligned actions. Co-hosted by CARL.eco and Any Job Can Be a Climate Job podcast. ā
Wed Apr 23 2025 - Measuring & Mitigating Your Organization's AI Carbon Footprint
Dive into the art and science of measuring AI emissions. Following a brief presentation, we'll host an open discussion to identify specific, actionable opportunities to diminish your AI carbon footprint.
Thu Apr 24 2025 - Demystifying Digital Emissions
Discover how:
- Everyday tech choices impact the planet
- Clever coding reduces emissions
- GreenCloud is building a datacentre-free cloud
Fri Apr 25 2025 - Sustainability Creatives Live Music and Open Mic Night
Join us for our 'small business baby shower' celebrating the launch of the Sustainability Creatives Hub! We have a local band coming to play and an open mic! We want to hear why YOU care about sustainability and creativity through music, words, poetry, or any creative medium.
Sat Apr 26 2025 - Non-Human Persona Workshop in Vermont
Design with deeper connection and purpose. In this Vermont-based workshop, you'll create Non-Human Personas and explore new perspectives to bring empathy, creativity, and intention into your work, walking away with tools to create more life-centered and regenerative designs.
Wed May 07 2025 - Creative Climate Career Group Coaching
Infuse you job pivot in the impact space with new energy and direction!
Thu May 08 2025 - Discover HFX: A New Gateway to Japan's Innovation Ecosystem
Scrum Ventures will be hosting an event on our new HFX program https://hfx.jp/en/. We are aiming to help make Japan more sustainable starting from a new sustainable smart city initiative. If this sounds interesting, please join the event to learn more and how to get involved.
Thu May 15 2025 - Green IO New York 2025
Green IO New York covers responsible AI, green software, sustainable design, green cloud, etc., and will provide a variety of perspectives from practitioners and experts.
Thu Jul 03 2025 - Green IO Munich 2025
Apidays Munich and the Green IO podcast have partnered to bring you the first Green IO conference for the DACH region, packed with the latest insights from thought leaders in Tech Sustainability and hands-on feedback from practitioners scaling Green IT.
š° News Highlights
AZO Materials: Sustainable Lithium Recovery Using Microbial Technology
Scientists at the University of Surrey have discovered a microbial electrochemical method that can recover 90-95% of the lithium from used lithium-ion batteries.The development provides a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional recovery methods, which might be broadened to reclaim additional valuable battery metals such as cobalt.
Reasons to be Cheerful: For Modern Foragers, This Map Reveals Urban Abundance
Through Falling Fruit, people around the world can find edible plants to enjoy ā often in unexpected places.
Channel News Asia: Jumping on the Studio Ghibli AI trend? It's costing the planet more than you think
For many people, artificial intelligence has already become a part of life, helping out with repetitive, menial tasks or quick research and generating everything from job application letters to funny memes. It has also made a big positive impact in several industries including healthcare, finance and technology, making it possible for people in these fields to innovate quickly and improve their services and offerings.Yet, as the technology advances, its hidden costs are coming into sharper focus as well. In a two-part series, CNA TODAY examines some of these covert influences and how individuals, companies and governments may mitigate the adverse impact. This week, we explore how generative AI requires massive resources to drive its operations and growth, and how that is taking a massive toll on the environment.
BBC: Looking at nature reduces pain, study finds
Viewing nature could help people feel less pain, a study has found. The neuroimaging study, led by a team from the University of Exeter and University of Vienna, found that people who were looking at natural scenes experienced less pain than those viewing a city or indoor office.
Washington Post: This muggy city keeps cool with minimal AC
PALAVA CITY, India, is a 5,000-acre experimental community northeast of Mumbai, to take advantage of India's westerly winds. The breezes keep people cool outdoors so they can walk or bike instead of hopping into polluting cars and buses. The community aims to not only slash its planet-warming emissions to zero but also to provide a road map for communities facing the pressures of more extreme weather.
NDTV World: AI-Generated Research Paper Is Latest Spin On Climate Change Denial
Climate change deniers are pushing an AI-generated paper questioning human-induced warming, leading experts to warn against the rise of research that is inherently flawed but marketed as neutral and scrupulously logical.
The paper rejects climate models on human-induced global warming and has been widely cited on social media as being the first "peer-reviewed" research led by artificial intelligence (AI) on the topic.
š Papers We Love š
HuggingFace and Distributed AI Research Institute: Integrating Ethics and Environmental Sustainability in AI Research and Practice
AI systems are increasingly used in areas like climate change, health, and education, but their deployment consumes significant energy and resources, and this can amplify inequalities and biases. Historically, the ethical and environmental impacts of AI have been studied separately, missing the interconnected effects on society and the environment. The paper from HuggingFace and the Distributed AI Research Institute highlights the need to address AI's societal and environmental impacts together, rather than separately.
Jobs
Remember only jobs listing salary ranges are listed here - to get your job listed, you need to list a salary range. Folks can still look in the #jobs channel. Remember: if you're looking for advice finding a role, check our #climate-careers channel.
Behold - CTO (co-founder option) - ā¬50k-ā¬80k plus equity - Permanent - Totally remote
Weāre looking for a CTO who doesnāt just build tech, but shapes the futureāleading at the intersection of machine learning, IoT, and nature. If you want to work on a product that sparks real behavioural change, in a company that prioritises long-term impact over short-term growth, this is your chance.
rePurpose Global - Senior Product Manager - 160000 - Permanent - Flexible - remote ok
We're seeking a Senior Product Manager at rePurpose Global, a mission-driven series A startup fighting the plastic waste crisis. We've launched a first-of-its-kind SaaS platform for consumer brands to improve their packaging sustainability, comply with landmark regulations reducing packaging waste, and fund plastic pollution clean up in the Global South. We're looking for a seasoned startup PM with sustainability or CPG experience to continue the momentum!
Vizzuality - Front End Engineer - ā¬24,000 to ā¬37,000 Euros per year - Permanent - Totally remote
Do you want to help build a fairer and sustainable future for all life on Earth? Are you currently looking for a new career opportunity? Lucky you, Vizzuality is hiring!
We are looking for a Front-end Engineer with experience and proficiency in ReactJS/TypeScript - Remote based in Spain, Portugal, or UK.
Verna - Software Engineers - Circa Ā£70k + share options - Permanent - Flexible - remote ok
Verna builds software to help people manage land in the best way for the environment ā enhancing biodiversity and drawing down carbon, whilst making sustainable returns. We are looking for a number of software engineers to expand our product development team. Because weāre working primarily in Elixir and Phoenix this is a full-stack role, but with an emphasis on delivering new user-facing features.
John Deere - Product Manager, Sustainability Solutions - $122,580 to $183,864 + excellent benefits - Permanent - Flexible - remote ok
This is an impactful job with an awesome team at a great company! Our team recently launched a Carbon Intensity Calculator where farmers can get their carbon footprint in 10 minutes or less. Join us to continue to build momentum as we help farmers simplify data management for regenerative agriculture!
As a Product Manager for the Sustainability Solutions team at John Deere, you will define & execute our digital product strategy through customer discovery, owning delivery of both prototypes and production-grade software, and iterating quickly to achieve product-market fit for products serving both farmers as well as the agricultural supply chain. An ideal candidate can handle ambiguity well, make "no regrets" decisions quickly, navigate a complex and technical environment with many stakeholders, and guide relationships with key partners.
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