Hey CATs,

Welcome to issue 306 of the ClimateAction.tech (CAT) Newsletter - your weekly summary of what's happening inside the CAT Slack community (join here and check out our onboarding checklist), and in the wider world of climate and tech.

Remember you can unsubscribe from this newsletter at any time - the link is at the bottom.

Stay curious 😌💚🐱

CAT Community News

❤️ Help a CAT

M is looking for more examples of grid aware websites

️M is wondering whether anyone managed to get their company to adopt a policy on adoption and usage of AI based tools

🍩 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, Mar 20th. More info.

Media, events, and news

😺 CAT recommendations

▶️ CAT videos

10-15 minute videos providing accessible explainers to climate related issues.

DW Planet A: Why people are throwing AI data centers into the ocean

Every time you type a request into ChatGPT, the servers processing it guzzle water and electricity. Engineers are trying to fix this by building data centers underwater and are even trying to shoot them into space. But does that work?

🎤 Podcasts

The latest climate-related podcast episodes. Don't forget, if you're looking around, there's a list of podcasts maintained by CATs - and there's a full playlist of all the podcast episodes shared in this newsletter this year so far, on ListenNotes - catch up with last year's here!

Environment Variables: Who Pays for AI's Energy Footprint?

Host Kate Goldenring is joined by Chris Adams and Tzviya Siegman for a news round-up on sustainable software. They dig into EnergyNet and the idea of routing electricity more like the internet, unpack the latest AI energy and greenwashing debates, and look at policy and research angles - from proactive water planning for data centers to a cap-and-trade style proposal for AI efficiency.

Outrage + Optimism: The Unfair Economics of Climate Finance

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, one of its largest coal exporters, and a nation with every natural resource it needs to transition to clean energy. The problem isn't will, it's money. Who it's available to, and on what terms.

Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Indonesia's former Finance Minister, explores why developing countries find themselves trapped by contracts they signed in good faith, and why the international finance system is making the transition harder, not easier. In a system that makes decarbonisation harder for the countries most vulnerable to climate impacts, who pays?

Did You Know? Surging HVAC Demand - The Future of Data Centers and Thermal Management

In this thought-provoking episode filmed live at AHR Expo, Rob Tanner and Clifton Beck explore the transformative landscape the HVAC industry, with a special focus on the growing demands of data centers. This conversation dives into the challenges and opportunities of these unprecedented industry shifts.

Peggy Smedlay Show: Obsolescence in an AI Era

Peggy Smedley and cohost Dennis Draeger, foresight director, Shaping Tomorrow, talk about obsolescence in this era of AI (artificial intelligence), narrowing in on human vs machine obsolescence. He says the technology industry has always considered humans second and favoring progress over human dignity.

They also discuss:

· Things that were made obsolete during the Industrial Revolution—and what will happen next in the era of AI.

· The Horizon scandal in the United Kingdom—and how it demonstrates how technology can make mistakes.

· How cultural narratives spread faster than institutional reforms.

📅 Submitted events

Want an event listed here? Use this event listing form to submit the details so we can add it in the newsletter.

Wednesday Mar 18, 2026 - Green AI: Making Machine Learning more Sustainable

Charles Humble is coming to talk about the carbon footprint of artificial intelligence as well as some practical tips on how to minimise this through the different phases of AI development.

Monday Mar 23, 2026 - Job Interviewing Program

Job interviewing is a muscle you have to build and in this program, we’re going to help you train that muscle. You will learn to tackle the fundamental elements of job interviewing, get tons of practice and feedback, and leave with the confidence to face any interview question.

Wednesday Mar 25, 2026 - Climate Tech Time

If you work in climate tech and want to engage in meaningful conversations, this is the place to be. We also offer additional programming earlier in the day to deepen connections and provide more opportunities for collaboration.

Thursday Mar 26, 2026 - UX Jumpstart: Design products that drive real action for climate tech

Working on digital products leveraging environmental data? Join us for a practical 1-hour session designed for founders, technical, product or marketing leads working at the intersection of tech, climate, and data.

📰 News Highlights

University of Exeter: Wildlife imaging shows that AI models aren't as smart as we think

Using AI to identify wildlife reveals a potential "transferability crisis", researchers say. Marketing for AI imaging systems often suggests that models can easily tackle novel scenarios across ecosystems and settings, much in the same way as human observers. But in a new article, two University of Exeter researchers argue that this is based on a "flawed assumption".The article, published in the journal PLOS Biology, is entitled: "Deep learning in biology faces a transferability crisis."

Forbes: AR As A Sustainability Tool, Replacing Physical Infrastructure With Digital Layers

In public perception, augmented reality (AR) is still mostly linked to Instagram filters, interactive ad campaigns or experimental projects. This view seriously underestimates what the technology can actually do and keeps it seen as an "add-on" rather than a tool that can reshape urban environments.

But when cities and businesses are viewed through a sustainability lens, it becomes clear that AR can perform functions that are currently handled by physical objects.

Inside Climate News: Grassroots Resistance to Data Centers Rises in Pennsylvania

As community protests grow, both Democratic and Republican officials are proposing more industry regulation. Plans to build more than 50 data centers in Pennsylvania face opposition from a growing network of community groups, environmental activists and state lawmakers from both major parties.

Driven by concerns about the industry's huge electricity demands, heavy water consumption, use of polluting diesel generators for backup power and industrialization of rural areas, an increasing number of grassroots groups are mobilizing in an attempt to stop or at least delay the massive buildout.

The Guardian: Tech firms and AI farming tools 'playing with the food system', warns thinktank

Tech companies and industrial agriculture are "playing with the food system" by using AI and algorithms to undermine farmers in choosing what the world eats, leading food security experts have warned.

Companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM and Alibaba are working with industrial agriculture firms to influence what crops are grown and how, according to a report by the thinktank International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food).

Our World in Data: Deforestation is no longer inevitable

In the past, forests around the world were cut down on a massive scale. We lost some of the world's richest ecosystems. In recent decades, the picture has become more complex. Deforestation has not ended, but it is no longer happening everywhere. Since 1990, some regions have continued to lose large areas of forest, while others have slowed this long-run trend — and even reversed it.

World Animal News: Kenya Wildlife Service Showcases AI & Drone Technology

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is taking center stage at the Global Conservation Tech & Drone Forum (GCTDF 2026), currently unfolding in Nairobi and Konza Technopolis. Running until March 6, the five-day forum is spotlighting cutting-edge technologies that are helping protect wildlife and manage ecosystems across Kenya.

BBC: New policy coming on London data centres

City Hall is to set a new stance on new data centres in London, due to concerns about their vast power and water usage, officials have confirmed.

💚 Papers We Love 💚

ITU: Guidelines for assessing the environmental impact of artificial intelligence systems

As the demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technology increases, so does the environmental pressure it imposes. The environmental impact associated with AI, driven by significant energy costs, has become a critical issue that needs to be addressed for the future development of AI.

This Recommendation provides a holistic framework for evaluating the environmental impact of AI systems, covering direct and indirect impacts, assessment, and mitigation strategies.

💼 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.

Vizzuality - Back End Engineer - 30.000 Eur to 49.000 Eur depending on experience - Permanent - Totally remote

We're on the lookout for a Back-End Engineer with experience and proficiency in NodeJS/TypeScript/Python and a strong DevOps mindset to join our team at Vizzuality.

We expect our engineers not just to write code, but also to deploy, operate, and maintain the infrastructure it runs on.

At Vizzuality, our purpose is to reach a fair and sustainable planet by creating tools that radically empower people to make positive changes now. We’re always looking for passionate people who strive to use their creativity and skills to make a difference in people’s lives and help make the world a better place.

Bioregional - Insights & Engagement Coordinator (Corporate Sustainability) - £28,500-34,000 - Permanent - Flexible - remote ok

We're looking for a bright, organised and creative Insights & Engagement Coordinator who is passionate about sustainability and supporting businesses on their transformation journeys. Deadline: 9am Monday 2 March 2026

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