I fear we've lost the plot. By we, I mean (at minimum) those of us who self-proclaimedly work in climate. I'm in this category: 13 years ago I went to college to study Environmental Engineering, and my career has been oriented towards maximum climate impact ever since. For the last five years I've been working at a thematic venture capital firm investing in clean energy technologies. And yet, I never talk about climate. Like really, never…. Not even in the many hours of external calls I'm a part of every week with other folks who likely also consider themselves as working in climate. An "Aha" moment for me occurred in the early months of 2026, when I read that 2025 was the first year that the three-year global average temperature reached the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels. You know, that big line we've all been told about all this time to be worried about crossing? Turns out we've already crossed it! I didn't know that fact before that moment, and realizing how devoid my work and thinking is from this North Star felt embarrassing. And I don't think I'm alone in this sentiment.

That's what I mean by we've lost the plot: those of us working in climate are engaged with some aspect of climate — largely technology development — but are very disconnected from the motivation and present-day reality of the climate. Nor are we spending much time questioning the premise of our work towards the climate end goal. The status quo — what most of our climate career work is predicated on — is an economics-first, technology-based approach: develop technologies that reduce, abate, or reverse emissions, but only those that will generate sufficient returns. This standpoint ignores the urgency and magnitude of the climate crisis, as well as the political and economic power structures that dictate the development and deployment of these technologies. We must dispel techno-optimism, the idea that technology alone will be a silver bullet. The truth is, we have yet to mitigate our emissions and reduce the CO₂ levels in our atmosphere, despite having developed many technologies, even many cost effective ones, that can solve these problems. Meanwhile, climate is instead being "reframed" towards national security, warfare, artificial intelligence, etc.: industries that are fundamentally not pro-climate and in many ways actually promote anti-climate action and systems.

So that's why I'm starting "Lost the Plot" Fridays. It's a monthly seminar series — Fridays during your lunch break — where folks can come hear talks about climate. The focus is boundary-pushing talks that show the status of the climate (and its effects on the living world it supports) and/or debate the real causes and solutions to this generation-defining challenge. The main goal is to get the conversation going and make sure we are all rightly uncomfortable with the state of the world. I know the world feels very bleak these days, and folks are looking for glimmers of hope. Frankly, I don't think we have been doom and gloom enough when it comes to climate — so be warned that this will be a space that digs deeper into the dark and alarming realities of the climate and the power structures contributing to its demise. Nonetheless, my hope is that this space will empower folks to ask these questions and have these discussions in addition to — or despite — the limitations of our climate careers. Remember, it is ok to be grateful for and try our best to make change within our jobs, while also simultaneously questioning whether that system serves the end goal.

So join me, once or every month.

I hope to see you there,