Caribbean’s Climate Tech Accelerator Is Live And It’s A First

Historic First: Caribbean Launches Climate Tech Accelerator

Facing heightened vulnerability to climate change, the Caribbean has launched its first dedicated climate tech accelerator, Carbon Shift, aiming to transform adaptation into economic opportunity.

Backed by the Development Bank of Jamaica's BIGEE Programme and led by innovation hub TBR Lab, the initiative targets established businesses, not ideas or importers, developing original climate solutions beyond basic solar, such as advanced renewables, sustainable agriculture, and carbon markets.

The programme features an eight-week curriculum plus 12 weeks of mentorship support, provided in partnership with Europe's Climate KIC, and will select 15-20 full-time entrepreneurs building and selling their own climate technologies.

• Focus: Accelerating established businesses (not ideas), developing original climate adaptation technologies in:

  • Renewable energy (beyond basic solar)

  • Sustainable agriculture

  • Carbon markets

  • Other green sectors are enabling a low-carbon future.

• Program Structure:

  • 8-week intensive curriculum

  • +12 weeks of ongoing mentorship & support

  • Access to subject matter experts and Climate KIC (Europe's leading climate network).

Recognizing a critical gap in the region's ecosystem, Carbon Shift seeks to connect these ventures with investors, corporates, and governments, providing essential business development knowledge and networking to help founders succeed and make climate adaptation a driver of investment and growth in the Caribbean, with plans to run annually.

Greenwashing is Dead: Meet Climate Tech’s Actually Profitable ‘Emerald Economy

Newsweek's 2025 Greenest Companies list recognizes 750 global leaders in environmental performance, evaluated by Plant-A Insights and GIST Impact on greenhouse gas emissions, water use, waste management, and sustainability disclosure.

Over half have emissions targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). While crucial, Harvard Business School Professor George Serafeim argues this traditional footprint-based approach overlooks a vital dimension: companies enabling the global low-carbon transition.

Serafeim notes that tech and finance firms naturally dominate "greenest" lists due to low operational emissions, but the hardest-to-decarbonize sectors (steel, cement, manufacturing) are underrepresented despite their critical role.

His team at Harvard’s BiGS Lab developed a complementary metric, the Climate Innovators 100, focusing on investment in climate solutions rather than just emission cuts. Using AI to scan disclosures, they identified companies actively scaling key technologies like renewables, EVs, plant-based foods, and low-emission manufacturing.

This list highlights "a different shade of green": heavy emitters transitioning their product portfolios to provide essential climate solutions. Examples include:

• Bunge: Reducing fertilizer-related emissions in sugarcane production.

• Valero & Dow: Ranked highly for supplying advanced materials needed for decarbonization.

• GM & Tesla: Appearing on both lists for combining operational greening with climate innovation.

The Harvard list doesn’t replace traditional rankings but provides essential context: meeting climate goals requires recognizing companies building the solutions and those transforming high-emission industries from within.

How Galway’s Climate Talks Could Rewrite Global Policy

The Mary Robinson Centre and University of Galway, in partnership with Mayo County Council, will host the third annual Mary Robinson Climate and Nature Conference on May 26-27, 2025, in Ballina, Co. Mayo.

Centered on the theme "Courage in Crisis," the conference aims to unite climate justice advocates, scientists, activists, community groups, and policymakers to address local, national, and global challenges in climate and biodiversity conservation.

Former President Mary Robinson emphasized the need for collective action, or "meitheal," to address the interconnected climate and nature emergencies.

The event will feature prominent speakers, including Dr. Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin (DCU), Prof. Hannah Daly (UCC), Anja Murray, youth activist Dearbhla Richardson, and international experts like Dr. Omnia El Omrani and Prof. Navjot Bhullar.

Programming includes workshops, panel discussions, nature walks, art exhibitions, and public events like an "Oíche Cultúr agus Craic" evening of music and storytelling. Conference co-chairs Dr. Caitríona Carlin, Dr. Sinéad Sheehan, and Dr. Alma Clavin highlighted the significance of integrating climate and nature themes and leveraging Ballina’s community-driven sustainability efforts.

The event is sponsored by University of Galway, Sunflower Foundation, Mayo County Council, Eirgrid, Fáilte Ireland, FutureEnergy, and IBP Insurance.

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