Here’s how our climate team picked 10 promising companies to watch
As the team at MIT Technology Review set out to choose companies for this year’s edition of our annual list of Climate Tech Companies to Watch, the challenge felt more daunting than any year since we started compiling the list in 2023. This year is shaping up to be one of the hottest ever recorded.…
The MIT Technology Review's climate team faced a daunting task in selecting companies for their annual list of Climate Tech Companies to Watch. The year 2026 is experiencing one of the hottest recorded temperatures, with the world urgently needing to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to combat the climate crisis. Extreme weather events, such as wildfires and floods, are causing significant loss of life and economic damage.
Despite political shifts and international conflict, particularly in the United States, innovation remains crucial in addressing climate change. The team sought out companies developing technologies that can help mitigate greenhouse-gas emissions and reduce the dangers associated with extreme weather events.
The team solicited nominations from their reporters and editors, considering experts' suggestions and reaching out to academics, researchers, investors, and analysts. They evaluated each company based on its technology, business, and potential fit within the overall list. The goal was to represent a range of industries and stages of development, balancing well-established firms with emerging ones.
China emerged as a hotspot for technological innovation in energy and climate, with two Chinese companies making the list: WeLion, which develops semi-solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, and Envision Energy, which installs wind power and energy storage systems globally. Several sectors stood out, including energy storage, driven by the rising demand for electricity due to AI data centers.
Companies like Energy Dome, Moment Energy, and Form Energy were included for their advancements in long-duration energy storage.
The list features a wide range of technologies, from mobile flood barriers to next-generation nuclear reactors. Some companies may have been previously covered, while others are emerging and less known. The climate team believes these companies are making significant strides in tackling the climate crisis despite weakened political will.
Written by urgent.news from MIT Technology Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
