[Event Report] Can Climate Tech Startups Become Storytellers of Hope? – Study Session for Media Professionals
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A study session titled “Climate Tech in the World’s Spotlight” was held on August 7, 2024, at City Lab TOKYO, attracting nearly 200 pre-registrations. About 30 media professionals attended in person, while approximately 100 participants, including non-media professionals, joined online. This report provides an overview of the event with photographs.
The event consisted of a keynote lecture on climate tech, followed by reports from media practitioners and a panel discussion.
Takaaki Umada / Director of FoundX, University of Tokyo
Keynote Lecture: Current State and Potential of Climate Tech
Takaaki Umada, Director of The University of Tokyo FoundX, delivered a 20-minute keynote lecture on the current state and potential of climate tech, discussing its importance as both a solution to climate change and a business opportunity. He emphasized the media’s crucial role in communicating climate change issues and fostering dialogue. He noted that many people in Japan perceive climate change countermeasures as threatening their quality of life, often associating them with “sacrifice” and “burden.” However, he delivered a powerful message suggesting that climate tech could become a “storyteller of hope” when portrayed in the media as a future-oriented opportunity and solution.
▶ A blog post related to this presentation is available here:
“Climate Tech Startups as ‘Storytellers of Hope'” [July 7, 2024]
https://blog.takaumada.com/entry/climate-tech-as-a-hope
▶ Climate tech trends and interviews with investors and entrepreneurs are regularly shared on the FoundX YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM1brf5obS3ej448DVAMU3A
Reports from Media Practitioners
Three media professionals who cover climate tech shared their approaches and challenges.
Yuzuha Oka / NewsPicks
Ms. Oka introduced her podcast “Economic Program Green Business.” The program emphasizes the perspective that “Green can be profitable” and strives to communicate climate tech as a positive business opportunity. She discussed specific aspects of running the program, including audience demographics, operational structure, popular topics, challenges, and profitability. She also shared insights about the appeal and potential of podcasts as an audio medium, providing practical tips for those interested in podcasting or program content.
“We found that many of our listeners work for large corporations and show high interest in startup-related topics,” Oka noted. She also provided valuable information about the importance of sound quality, pre-recording preparation, and podcast production know-how.
Economic Program Green Business [NewsPicks] – Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
https://newspicks.com/movie-series/133/
*The program ended in August 2024
Keisuke Katori / The Asahi Shimbun
Mr. Katori reported on the current state and challenges of climate tech coverage in general newspapers. He shared his experience covering the Paris Agreement signing at the COP venue and his observations during his U.S. posting about private companies and startups driving technological innovation for social problem-solving, which sparked his personal interest in climate tech’s potential and appeal.
He also discussed various challenges in covering climate tech as a national newspaper topic. “One challenge is developing the expertise to evaluate the reliability and impact of new technologies and companies,” Mr. Katori noted. He also emphasized the importance of viewing climate tech not just as an environmental issue but as industrial structural transformation.
▶ Climate tech-related articles published in The Asahi Shimbun:
“The Biggest Transform Since the Industrial Revolution” – Why Climate Tech is Drawing Attention [September 4, 2023, Asahi Shimbun🔏]
Global Focus on Climate Tech, Battle for Massive Support – New Market Opportunities for Japan [September 4, 2023, Asahi Shimbun🔏]
Interview with the “Nordic Ninja” on Evaluating Climate Tech – European Strategic Approach [September 4, 2023, Asahi Shimbun🔏]
Takashi Mitsumura, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Business Insider Japan
Mr. Mitsumura shared his experience as a journalist specializing in science and technology, writing and editing for the online business media Business Insider Japan. He has covered a wide range of topics including decarbonization, climate change, ESG, sustainability, and deep tech.
He introduced various article themes including hydrogen supply chains, weather data-based power generation prediction systems, manufacturing process decarbonization, sustainable aviation fuel, perovskite solar power, DAC/CCS, nuclear fusion, and carbon accounting.
“Beyond technology itself, it’s important to consider how it will be implemented in society,” Mr. Mitsumura stated, suggesting the media’s potential role as a bridge between academia and industry.
▶ Articles written by Mitsumura for Business Insider Japan:
https://www.businessinsider.jp/author/takashi-mitsumura/
Panel Discussion: The Future of Climate Tech Reporting
Following the keynote and case presentations, all speakers participated in a panel discussion and Q&A session. Active discussions about the challenges and possibilities of climate tech reporting included questions such as:
● What areas of climate tech can leverage Japan’s strengths?
● What recent coverage has been most memorable or interesting?
● What strategies are used when covering climate tech within companies or editorial departments?
● What solutions exist for domestic climate tech startups seeking to scale up and raise more funding?
● What types of articles and episodes tend to be well-received?
Finally, Mr. Nishida, Co-Lead/Director of Media is Hope, asked, “What message would you give to media professionals considering covering climate tech?”
Mr. Katori stated, “There are many interesting climate tech startup entrepreneurs tackling global challenges with a sense of mission who can provide inspiring energy. Please interview them.” He cited the example of “Ocean Cleanup,” an NPO founded by teenagers, emphasizing the potential impact on younger generations. He advised climate tech startups that “showing blueprints of products and services might make it easier for media coverage.”
Mr. Mitsumura discussed the challenges of interviewing climate tech entrepreneurs and researchers, noting that “many speak passionately with gleaming eyes.” He suggested the possibility of conveying compelling stories through personal angles. However, he also noted that “sometimes technologies that were initially promising don’t work out,” emphasizing the importance of responsible science and technology innovation reporting that considers both positive and negative aspects.
Ms. Oka pointed out that “not just success stories but failure experiences are valuable information.” She emphasized the importance of media following up from multiple perspectives on “why things didn’t work and what could have been done differently.”
Mr. Umada touched on the political aspects of climate change issues, stating that “media has a very significant role in facilitating and generating dialogue.” He pointed out how news and article sharing can create topics and communities, emphasizing that “media not only conveys information but also has the function of changing people.” He also mentioned the importance of new communication methods and dialogue spaces focused on climate change issues and climate tech.
Summary and Future Outlook
In closing, Mr. Nishida of MEDIA IS HOPE Inc., who moderated the event, provided a summary. He stated, “Climate tech startups hold great potential not just as businesses but as bearers of social change. The media has an important role in broadly communicating this potential and promoting social understanding and support.” He also expressed future aspirations, saying, “by continuing to provide such discussion forums, we hope to deepen understanding of climate tech and encourage more effective reporting.”
The networking session following the event showed active interaction among participants, reaffirming the high level of interest in climate tech.
Conclusion
This event reinforced the recognition that climate tech is not merely environmental technology but an important field with the potential to transform society as a whole. It also highlighted the crucial role of the media in communicating this potential to society.
Climate tech startups indeed have the potential to become “storytellers of hope.” However, realizing this hope requires not just technological development but also social understanding and support. The media’s role as a bridge-builder will become increasingly important. We hope this event will help deepen understanding of climate tech and lead to more effective reporting.
Text by: Hiroyasu Ichikawa (Co-organized by: SocialCompany, Inc. / “Climate Curation“)
Climate Tech in the World’s Spotlight ~We Explore How Japanese Media Should Cover It with Media Representatives and Experts~
■ Date: 8/7/2024 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM (There will be time for social interaction at the venue after the event.)
■ Location: City Lab TOKYO 3-1-1, TOKYO SQARE GARDEN 6F, Kyobashi Chuo city, Tokyo *This ceremony will also be streamed on ZOOM
■ Host: MEDIA IS HOPE.Inc
■ Supported by: SocialCompany, Inc., Japanese Forum of Environmental Journalists
■ Speakers:
Takaaki Umada / Director of FoundX, University of Tokyo
After working at Microsoft Japan, he joined the University of Tokyo in 2016. At the University of Tokyo, he launched and managed Hongo Tech Garage. Since 2019, he has been working as the director of FoundX, supporting startups and educating entrepreneurs. He provides information for startups through slides and blogs. He has written widely on the subject of startups, such as “Gyakusetsuno Start-up Shikou (Paradoxical start-up thinking)” “Seikousuru Kigyoukaha Ibasyowo Erabu (Successful entrepreneurs choose where to stay)” “Miraiwo Zissousuru (Implementing the future)” and “Kaizoudowo Ageru (Increase the resolution).”
Yuzuha Oka / NewsPicks Editorial Department Reporter / Podcast “Keizai Bangumi Green Business（Economic Programs Green Business）”
She is a journalist for the economic media NewsPicks. After graduating from College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo, she joined NewsPicks. She currently covers the climate change section and broadcasts the podcast “Keizai Bangumi Green Business（Economic Programs Green Business）” among other programs.
Keisuke Katori / Associate Editor, Science and Technology News Section, The Asahi Shimbun
Mr. Katori joined the Asahi Shimbun in 2002. After working in the Nagano and Saitama bureaus and in the International News section, he moved to his current position in 2022. He has been covering climate change for more than a decade. He covered the international negotiations leading to the adoption of the Paris Agreement at COP21. He has been a correspondent in Washington DC between 2017-2021, covering the United States under the Trump administration. His areas of expertise and interest are climate change and environment, technology, science policy, and international relations.
Takashi Mitsumura / Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Business Insider Japan
His specialities are science and technology. He has been involved in science communication since his student days due to his interest in social implementation of science. After working in the editorial department of the science magazine Newton, he joined Business Insider Japan in 2019. He has extensive experiences in covering DeepTech companies while reporting on how science is used in the business world.
■ Moderator: Hiroyasu Ichikawa / Media Consultant, SocialCompany, Inc.
He has been publishing a free weekly newsletter, Climate Curation, in English and Japanese since 2022 on the theme of digital media and climate change, decarbonization, climate tech, and other topics. He focuses on bridging the information gap between overseas and domestic sources through research and consulting activities. After working for NGOs, publishing companies, and human resources firms, he established his own company in 2010. Based on domestic and international digital media trends, he provides consulting services to large corporations, government agencies, media companies, NPOs, and other organizations. HP：https://climatecuration.theletter.jp
■Co-organised by: Japanese Forum of Environmental Journalists（JFEJ）
JFEJ has editors from publishing companies and writers who work on a freelance basis,
in addition to newspaper, TV, and magazine journalists.
The association aims to learn more about environmental issues by inviting experts in various fields to hold study sessions, as well as to promote exchanges among journalists.
HP：http://jfej.org
■ Host: MEDIA IS HOPE Inc.
Media is Hope is non-profit organization that provides various support to strengthen the media coverage of climate change, based on the belief that correct knowledge of climate change is the first step to create a common awareness in Japan and to promote behavioral change in order to realize a society that can solve climate change. With the vision of “media creators and consumers alike taking responsibility for cultivating fair and impartial free media and a sustainable society”, the organization serves as a bridge for media, citizens, corporations , and all stakeholders to build a co-creative relationship in order to achieve essential solutions to climate change.
In addition, the organization operates the Climate Media Initiative, a media collaboration platform that transcends media outlets and affiliations.
Media is Hope also provide spaces for various stakeholders to connect and co-create, such as by hosting the Climate Change Media Symposium , where media professionals, international organizations such as the United Nations, experts, practitioners, citizens and young people discuss the type of reporting required to solve climate change, and “ Let’s Make It Together! Renewable Energy Day ” supported by the Ministry of the Environment.
HP: http://media-is-hope.org
[Study Session for Media] Study Session on Climate Tech Will Be Held on Wednesday, August 7