# Episode 111: Robots for climate action - Patrick Meier

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2025-02-28
- Length: 35m
- Episode: 111
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier

## Summary

Patrick Meier, founder of the Climate Robotics Network and leader of the UK FCDO project on Robotics for Global Development, explains how robotics can scale climate action through mitigation and adaptation. He highlights specific applications including drone-based mangrove planting by Inverto Earth, waste sorting robots like Wally, and agricultural automation by startups such as Gather and Samudra Oceans. Meier emphasizes a minimalist, sustainable design philosophy and the importance of local expertise, drawing on his experience co-founding WeRobotics to advocate for frugal innovation in low- and middle-income countries.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier#t=7) Introduction: Claire Asher and Patreon pitch
- [2:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier#t=147) Defining Climate Robotics and the need for automation
- [3:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier#t=232) Examples: Wally, drone tree planting, and agricultural robots
- [6:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier#t=381) The Climate Robotics Network and multidisciplinary collaboration
- [11:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier#t=701) Circular economy: Manufacturing, installation, and recycling robots
- [16:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier#t=961) Agrobotics: Gather, Samudra Oceans, and precision farming
- [20:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier#t=1227) Mangrove restoration with Inverto Earth and drone seeding
- [24:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier#t=1444) Robotics in low- and middle-income countries and FCDO project
- [29:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-02-28-episode-111-robots-for-climate-action-patrick-meier#t=1765) WeRobotics, Flying Labs, and prioritizing local expertise

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Climate Robotics Network (company)
- WeRobotics (company)
- Inverto Earth (company)
- Gather (company)
- Samudra Oceans (company)
- Wally (product)
- FCDO (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [222. Tree-Climbing and Reef-Restoring Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-06-17-222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [How to Fund Your Social Impact Design Project: Joe Speicher of Autodesk Foundation (Core Talk Ep 4)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2017-03-07-how-to-fund-your-social-impact-design-project-joe-speicher-of-autodesk-foundatio) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Driving Sustainability Through Reforestation: A Conversation with Adrien Pages, Co-Founder and CEO of MORFO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-11-09-driving-sustainability-through-reforestation-a-conversation-with-adrien-pages-co) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Doing the bees’ work with Thai Sade of BloomX](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-01-18-doing-the-bees-work-with-thai-sade-of-bloomx) (How I Built This)
- [The coming robotics wave](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-03-20-the-coming-robotics-wave) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

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