SF Bay Area Climate Tech: January 16 - January 22, 2023
Smart agriculture, climate change and the arts, biotech innovations, and plenty more happy hours this week!
Hi friends,
Kick off the week this Wednesday with the Work on Climate Meet Up in SF, or head to Stanford for an environmental forum on smart agriculture and a talk on the impacts of China’s carbon market. On Thursday, spend the morning at the IndieBio SF demo day featuring biotech and climate startups near Civic Center, then head to the Fog Art + Design fair for an afternoon talk on Climate Leadership & the Arts. That evening, choose between a Community Happy Hour for Climate Activists at Manny’s in the Mission or the Urban Environmentalists Happy Hour on Divisadero. If you’re in the East Bay, check out the Hardware Social Meetup at Port Labs in Oakland featuring Salient Energy. Finally on Saturday, head to Ocean Beach for the Out in Climate Walk & Picnic Hangout.
And while you’re at it - help us build the Climate Tech community in 2023 and beyond! Volunteer applications for several fabulous roles are open until Friday, January 20. We’re excited to work with you!
Cheers,
Alec and Sonam
Hot Take: The debate on stoves is on fire, literally.
Twitter wars illustrated by the one and only Alfred Wu!
Last week, the internet went ablaze. On Monday, the US Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. said the federal agency was considering a nationwide ban on the installation of new gas stoves amid health concerns - and yet another scientific fact became a huge political firestorm. A slew of people on the right lashed out against the agency, crying “gods, guns, and gas stoves” while scientists, activists, and everyday citizens shared the facts:
When turned on, gas stoves release nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde that far outstrip air quality standards set by the EPA.
When turned off, gas stoves leak methane, which is considered more potent than carbon dioxide. Across the US, this is equivalent to half a million gas powered vehicles on the roads every year.
Indoor air pollution is particularly harmful to the lungs and can also impair cognitive ability.
A recent peer-reviewed study by RMI estimates that 12.7% of child asthma cases are attributed to a household’s gas stove.
Several studies in the UK dating back 50+ years show the link between gas and asthma - the science is confirmed again and again.
Cities across the country are taking matters into their own hands. New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles have already outlawed gas stoves in new construction buildings. California will ban gas furnaces and water heaters starting in 2030 - and many think gas stoves will be added to this list.
The stats, thanks to the Energy Information Administration Residential Energy Consumption Survey
Currently, gas stoves are used in approximately 40% of US homes and 80% of restaurants. Americans who decide to switch from gas to electric can receive up to $840 as a part of the clean energy incentives introduced through the Inflation Reduction Act and several states might have additional programs that layer on the federal benefits.
And the best part: electric stoves work wonders! Induction technology has been around since its debut at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago and there are several startups like Impulse Labs and Copper bringing next gen, battery powered appliances to your kitchen. Don’t just take my word - hear it from Eric Ripert, chef of Le Bernardin, one of the world’s best restaurants: “It’s so much more precise than watching a flame,” he told The New York Times. “You can really focus on your cooking and pay attention to what’s inside the pan, not what’s underneath it.”
Climate Tech taste test event, anyone?
By Sonam Velani
✨ Get Involved in Building the Climate Tech Community ✨
We have big plans for 2023 and are looking for help! Interested in volunteering? Apply for one of our six volunteer roles:
Check the listings and reply to this email with a short cover letter + your resume / LinkedIn to apply! You’ve got until Friday, January 20!
Events This Week
🌾 Environmental Forum: Investing in Farmers, Building Resilience, and Creating Markets for Climate-Smart Agriculture: Wed, Jan 18
🇨🇳 The Impacts of China’s Carbon Market on Firms: Wed, Jan 18
🎉 Work on Climate SF Meet Up: Wed, Jan 18
🧪 IndieBio SF - Demo Day Batch 13 (2023): Thu, Jan 19
🖼 Climate Leadership & the Arts @ Fog Design+Arts: Thu, Jan 19
🌱 Community Happy Hour: Climate Activists!: Thu, Jan 19
🌁 Urban Environmentalists January Happy Hour: Thu, Jan 19
🤖 Hardware Social Meetup: Thu, Jan 19
🏳️🌈 Out in Climate - Bay Area/SF: Ocean Beach Walk & Picnic Hangout: Sat, Jan 21
Read on for more details about this week’s happenings and upcoming events this month
Upcoming Events
🧑🌾 Digital Farming and AgTech Ecosystem | January: Mon, Jan 23
🥕 Sustainable Food Summit: Wed, Jan 25
🏡 USGBC Northern California: 2023 Community Kick-off: Thu, Jan 26
🌎 Sebastopol Climate Engagement Series: Thu, Jan 26
❄️ After Dark: Ice Stories: Thu, Jan 26
🎬 Film screening - 8 Billion Angels: Sat, Jan 28
📈 Markets vs. Mandates: Promoting Environmental Quality and Economic Prosperity: Mon, Jan 30
🔋 1.5 C - Sustainable Batteries Panel Event: Wed, Feb 15
Events This Week
🌾 Environmental Forum: Investing in Farmers, Building Resilience, and Creating Markets for Climate-Smart Agriculture
When: Wed, Jan 18th from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Where: Y2E2 Building, 299 473 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305
Please join the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and the Center on Food Security and the Environment for a forum with the USDA's Farm Service Agency Administrator, Zach Ducheneaux. Ducheneaux was appointed Administrator for USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) on February 22, 2021. In this role, he provides leadership and direction on agricultural policy, including the administration of FSA's farm loan, conservation, commodity, disaster, and farm marketing programs through a national network of offices. This event is open to Stanford faculty, graduate students, postdocs, and staff.
🇨🇳 The Impacts of China’s Carbon Market on Firms
When: Wed, Jan 18th from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Where: Encina Hall, Philippines Conference Room, 616 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305
The carbon emission trading system (ETS) is China's cornerstone climate policy instrument. However, it is still largely unknown how the ETS affects firm competitiveness. Using firm-level data such as tax records, industrial surveys, and financial disclosures, guest speaker Junjie Zhang comprehensively assesses the impacts of China's regional ETS pilots on firm environmental and economic performance. The results show that China's ETS reduces carbon emissions despite low carbon prices and infrequent trading. The findings offer no evidence that the ETS negatively affects firm profitability and productivity, but rather directs firm innovation towards climate-friendly technologies, reducing regulatory compliance costs. However, Zhang also explains unambiguous evidence that China's regionally segmented ETS pilots can cause carbon leakage among firms in the same ownership network.
🎉 Work on Climate SF Meet Up
When: Wed, Jan 18th from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: San Francisco (RSVP for exact location)
Come hang out with people who work (or want to work!) on climate 🌱 from the Work on Climate Slack group.
🧪 IndieBio SF - Demo Day Batch 13 (2023)
When: Thu, Jan 19th from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Where: Online & 479 Jessie St, San Francisco, CA 94103
10:00 - 11:00 AM - We've elevated the Demo Day by making it more like a start-up film festival. Each company will have a 2.5 minute nano-documentary made by the IndieBio team. They're fun, they're short, they're perfect with your morning coffee or late lunch (for East coast). 4:00 - 7:00 PM - in-person investor only event to meet our founders at our office, have meetings, see demos, etc. Food, drinks, and meeting areas will be available for all investors.
🖼 Climate Leadership & the Arts @ Fog Design+Arts
When: Thu, Jan 19th from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Where: Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, San Francisco
Todd Hosfelt, gallerist Claudia Schmuckli, Curator-in-Charge Contemporary Art and Programming, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Moderated by Jodi Roberts, Art Historian, Curator, and Co-founder and Managing Director at Art + Climate Action The past two years have seen a groundswell of climate-focused initiatives led by artists and arts professionals. Together, these campaigns call for a cultural sector that is a model of environmental responsibility. Join us for a conversation about the concrete steps art fairs, museums, and galleries can take to improve their environmental impact, as well as the resources available to support meaningful change. As a community of thought-leaders and innovators, the Bay Area and its arts organizations have a responsibility to take a leadership role in ensuring our practices align with our values.
🌱 Community Happy Hour: Climate Activists!
When: Thu, Jan 19th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Where: Manny's, 3092 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Have you been wanting to meet others who have similar interests or work in a similar field? Well, we got you covered! This year we are doing something new. Each month we will have a happy hour with a different community group each month. To start off the year we will be hosting climate activists and those who work in the environmental sector. Are you someone who works in the environmental sector? Join us at Manny's for 50% off of drinks and community! If you have any questions, please reach out to angelina@welcometomannys.com
🌁 Urban Environmentalists January Happy Hour
When: Thu, Jan 19th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: The Page, 298 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA, 94117
Please join Urban Environmentalists for our January Happy Hour-- kicking off rotating monthly socials for the New Year. We'll have a few pitchers of beer to get things started, along with the opportunity to get to know fellow pro-housing, transit, environmental, and urbanism activists from in and around SF. And if you're feeling galvanized to get more engaged, we'll help you get connected to fulfilling volunteering opportunities on the issues you care about.
🤖 Hardware Social Meetup
When: Thu, Jan 19th from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: Port Labs, 2044 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94612
The Bay Area has countless tech meet-ups and events, but where's all the hardware love? We want to bring together a strong community of folks eager to build businesses with physical products in Oakland and the larger East Bay. Whether you're an engineer, designer, CEO, investor, or anyone interested in being a part of the hardware eco-system, come join us and let's create an amazing addition to the tech scene in the Bay Area. This meetup will feature Port Labs members, Salient Energy, as our featured speakers. Salient is making safe, sustainable, and affordable zinc-ion batteries to power the clean energy revolution.
🏳️🌈 Out in Climate - Bay Area/SF: Ocean Beach Walk & Picnic Hangout
When: Sat, Jan 21st from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Where: Ocean Beach, 1400 Great Hwy San Francisco, CA 94122
We will meet at Java Beach Cafe at the corner of Judah and La Playa Streets and plan on walking for ~45 minutes in an out and back loop. We are excited to meet new people, make connections, and ~vibe~ with fellow Out in Climate folks while getting some vitamin C 🙂 Dogs and picnic blankets are welcome! Please reach out to 401-699-9224 if you have trouble finding us day-of.
Join the Fun!
Submit Events
We know all of you are cooking up great events across the SF Bay Area that highlight the latest and greatest in our collective effort to save our city - and our planet! 🌍 We would love to spread the word. Please share any event details and we'll add them to the list.
Share Your Ideas
We're excited to grow the Climate Tech community in cities across the globe! What started as an 8-person mid-pandemic outdoor dinner has since morphed into a 2,500+ strong and ever-growing group of rockstars trying to change the world. We aim to be a community resource - built for and by our community. Share your thoughts!
I just wanted to thank you for creating this round up of events. It's super helpful!