Heat Pump Water Heaters: Winner For The Climate
Via Canary Media, a report on heat pump water hearts whose tech costs more than conventional options upfront, but federal tax credits, new 120V models and strong savings have made them more appealing [...]
Are These Cities Ready To Become Climate Havens?
Courtesy of National Geographic, a look at how – in the future – cities that survive climate change could be full of green spaces, smart buildings, and compact neighborhoods: For decades [...]
It’s Time to Invest in Climate Adaptation
Via HBR, commentary on the need to invest in adaptation: Companies around the world are increasingly committing to climate change mitigation, pledging to reduce carbon emissions and water consumption [...]
The Heat Pump Manufacturing Boom is About to Begin
Via HeatMap, a look at the Biden administration’s recent announcement of $169 million in grants to boost production of the technology in America. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, [...]
Green Concrete is Foundational to Building Climate Solutions at Scale
Via Green Money, an article on the importance of green concrete to building climate solutions at scale: Climate heavy hitters in industry and finance are betting on clean concrete.  Above image: [...]
Climate Change Will Test Tokyo’s World-Class Flood Defenses
Via Bloomberg, a look at how Japan has financed enormously expensive infrastructure projects to protect cities from catastrophe, but old adaptation plans may not be enough against increasingly heavy [...]

ABOUT
BLACK SWANS GREEN SHOOTS
Black Swans / Green Shoots examines the collision between urbanization and resource scarcity in a world affected by climate change, identifying opportunities to build sustainable cities and resilient infrastructure through the use of revolutionary capital, increased awareness, innovative technologies, and smart design to make a difference in the face of global and local climate perils.

'Black Swans' are highly improbable events that come as a surprise, have major disruptive effects, and that are often rationalized after the fact as if they had been predictable to begin with. In our rapidly warming world, such events are occurring ever more frequently and include wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and drought.

'Green Shoots' is a term used to describe signs of economic recovery or positive data during a downturn. It references a period of growth and recovery, when plants start to show signs of health and life, and, therefore, has been employed as a metaphor for a recovering economy.

It is my hope that Black Swans / Green Shoots will help readers understand both climate-activated risk and opportunity so that you may invest in, advise, or lead organizations in the context of increasing pressures of global urbanization, resource scarcity, and perils relating to climate change. I believe that the tools of business and finance can help individuals, businesses, and global society make informed choices about who and what to protect, and I hope that this blog provides some insight into the policy and private sector tools used to assess investments in resilient reinforcement, response, or recovery.