It only takes casting your mind back to January of this year, when the climate induced wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles burnt 687 acres, destroyed 16,251 structures, and claimed 29 lives, to realise that climate change is no longer a distant threat- it's our current reality.

More often than not, conversations around the climate crisis, and subsequent technological solutions, focus on reducing emissions and mitigation, which is no doubt necessary. However, more focus needs to put on how we simultaneously adapt to the changes already locked in our climate system.

The Adapt is born from the recognition that technological solutions and the individuals behind them will play a crucial role in humanity “preparing for, dealing with, and ultimately adapting to”, climate induced risks in an already changing word.

Even with current mitigation efforts, global temperatures are continuing to rise, in fact 2024 marked the first calendar year where the annual average temperature reached 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels across multiple datasets.

As these temperatures change the frequency of severe heat, storm surges, wildfires, floods and pests has increased. Far from theoretical, these climate induced risks are affecting communities, economies and ecosystems today.

Moreover, current political headwinds mean that the ongoing mitigation efforts we do have and indeed any solutions that include with the word ‘climate’, are under ever increasing scrutiny.

What makes The Adapt different?

Unlike other climate newsletters and publications that focus primarily on emissions reduction, decarbonising and mitigation more generally, The Adapt offers a structured framework for understanding the emerging CAT landscape through five verticals of climate induced risk that these technologies combat.

1. Extreme Temperatures

   From hot to cold, extreme temperatures at either end are increasing due to a destabilised climate.

2. Water Risk

   Quantity and Quality, encompassing floods, droughts, water contamination and pollution, water-related climate impacts require innovative technological solutions.

3. Wildfire Management

   As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense, technologies for detection, prevention, suppression, and recovery become increasingly critical.

4. Extreme Wind

   Wind related disasters from hurricanes to tornados are increasing in frequency and volatility, with the proportion of tropical cyclones reaching category 4/5 growing by 13% since 1980 and are now 2–3× more likely versus pre-industrial conditions.

5. Pests & Invasive Species

   Climate change is expected to exacerbate the spread of invasive species by altering land and sea use patterns and increasing extreme weather events.

6. Important to note

   These risk verticals are best viewed as concentric circles that constantly have knock on effects to each other. Extreme heats causing droughts and so water risk, or the extreme wind of tropical storms resulting in flooding, as we saw with Helene and Milton in late 2024.

Deep dives into the CAT solutions themselves coming next!

What Can You Expect?

Each month, The Adapt will deliver a carefully curated analysis of the climate adaptation technology landscape:

• Technology Deep Dives: Focused examinations of emerging solutions addressing our five key verticals, with analysis of technical approaches and market potential.

• Company Spotlights: Profiles of innovative startups and scaleups commercialising adaptation technologies, including their business models and competitive positioning.

• Founder Stories: Insights into the entrepreneurial journeys and personal motivations driving the visionaries tackling climate adaptation challenges. Learn what inspires them, the obstacles they've overcome, and their unique perspectives on building future resilience through adapting now.

• Market Trends: Concise analysis of investment flows, funding rounds, M&A activity, and policy developments shaping adaptation markets.

• Real-world Applications: Case studies showing adaptation technology in action across communities, businesses, and governments.

• Investment Analysis: Insights on valuation trends, key metrics for evaluating adaptation companies, and emerging areas attracting capital.

Who This Newsletter Is For

The Adapt is for:

• Investors seeking opportunities in climate adaptation technology.

• Technologists working on ‘CAT’ technology.

• Corporate Leaders preparing for and adapting their organisations for climate reality.

• Policy Makers advocating for resilience strategies.

• Anyone concerned about navigating our changing climate and the technological solutions for them.

My Perspective

As someone working at the intersection of climate tech founders and investment vehicles, I bring an insider's perspective to CAT.

My goal is to provide clear, actionable insights that help you understand what's happening in climate adaptation technology, why it matters now and where it's headed.

The conversations are still heavily geared towards mitigation solutions, with 75% of funds allocating the majority of their capital on reducing emissions. In contrast, adaptation is still very much seen as the frontier of public finance. For private investors willing to take the plunge and accept our new climate reality there is a huge opportunity…

Climate adaptation technology represents both a critical challenge and an unprecedented opportunity. By subscribing to The Adapt, you'll gain regular insights into the technologies helping us to adapt to our new climate reality and shape a more resilient future.

Thank you

Will