# The rise of climate adaptation tech

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2024-09-05
- Length: 37m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-09-05-the-rise-of-climate-adaptation-tech

## Summary

Katie MacDonald, co-founder and managing partner at Tailwind Climate, explains the emerging investment category of climate adaptation and resilience (A&R) technologies. She details Tailwind’s taxonomy of 8 thematic areas and 35 sectors, highlighting co-benefits where mitigation technologies like energy storage also provide resilience. MacDonald discusses demand signals from governments, such as California’s SB 261, and the challenge of defining metrics for success in A&R, contrasting immediate health monitoring with long-term infrastructure hardening.

## Chapters

- [2:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-09-05-the-rise-of-climate-adaptation-tech#t=136) Introduction: Defining Climate Adaptation and Resilience
- [5:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-09-05-the-rise-of-climate-adaptation-tech#t=309) Tailwind’s A&R Taxonomy and 8 Thematic Areas
- [12:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-09-05-the-rise-of-climate-adaptation-tech#t=763) Investment Trends: Resilience-Curious vs. Pure Play Climate Investors
- [21:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-09-05-the-rise-of-climate-adaptation-tech#t=1266) Demand Signals: Insurance, Utilities, and Regulatory Pressure
- [27:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-09-05-the-rise-of-climate-adaptation-tech#t=1633) Water Tech and Government as a Buyer in Adaptation
- [32:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-09-05-the-rise-of-climate-adaptation-tech#t=1966) Measuring Success: Metrics, Capacity, and Project Drawdown for Resilience

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Tailwind Climate (company)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- Climate Works (company)
- S&P Global (company)
- Jupiter (company)
- Climate X (company)
- 1st Street (company)
- Aquaria (company)
- Source (company)
- RWDI (company)
- Arab (company)
- Turner Construction (company)
- PG&E (company)
- California (other)
- SB 261 (other)
- SEC (other)
- IPCC (other)
- SDGs (other)
- UNEP (other)
- DOD (other)
- Air Force Base (other)
- Hurricane Michael (other)
- Suez Canal (other)
- Panama Canal (other)
- Latitude Media (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Gigatons of Impact: Why Climate Hardware Needs Catalytic Capital](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-06-19-gigatons-of-impact-why-climate-hardware-needs-catalytic-capital) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Nurturing Companies that Have a Net Positive Impact on Nature: Insights from Tom Chi of At One Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-05-23-nurturing-companies-that-have-a-net-positive-impact-on-nature-insights-from-tom) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [The Deep Tech Revolution: Solving Climate Change with Five Industry Leaders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-01-16-the-deep-tech-revolution-solving-climate-change-with-five-industry-leaders) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [The Climate Hardware Playbook: Strategies for Founders and Investors with Christian zu Jeddeloh and Sophia Escheu](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-09-26-the-climate-hardware-playbook-strategies-for-founders-and-investors-with-christi) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [50th Episode Special: Checking in with early guests Accelerate Wind, Charm Industrial, and Heirloom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-04-12-50th-episode-special-checking-in-with-early-guests-accelerate-wind-charm-industr) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-09-05-the-rise-of-climate-adaptation-tech. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.