The Powerful Role of Diversity in Climate Innovation

All frontline communities such as Indigenous tribes, low-income populations, and people of color are the original sustainability professionals.  They’ve had to cope with climate change longer than any other cohort, and when we as humans are stressed, the condition often breeds innovation. 

Studies show that greater diversity leads to better performance, results, and innovation. Problems like the climate crisis have sparked more critical thinking and creativity, leading to better solutions. 

Here are some of the diverse climate innovators we admire at ClimaBilt

Martha Montoya is one of these community partners. Her Ag Tools are part of fostering change within frontline communities and in the face of climate stresses affecting crops. 

Likewise, following thought leaders like The University of Washington’s Corie Cobb: is important, because her semiconductor patents are the kind of breakthrough solutions to the exponentially growing climate problems we all need. 

BlocPower,  founded by Donnel Baird, a man of color, is democratizing solar and heat pumps so lower income neighborhoods can have access to financing and less expensive systems. Because of his lived experience, he’s scaling fast with each new neighborhood partnership, while also empowering more employees.

Bottom up approaches means finding and going after the best US Department of Energy climate solution grants through SBIR.gov or The American Network. Research from NYSERDA and Elisa Miller-Out also shows that a climate innovation company is twice as likely to receive venture capital money provided they’ve first come to the Department of Energy; and by the way, these grants come with no strings attached. The only prerequisite is that all participants must already be partnering with a BIPOC community. 

We salute all climate innovators and revel in the fact that the sustainable business sector is among the more diverse and inclusive. Our team at The ClimaBilt Agency enjoys helping everyone in this space ensure they are effective in growing their mission and impact.