Climate Salad - ✈️ Private jets and take away coffee cups

I wrote the below on LinkedIn a few weeks ago in response to negative comments about Mike Cannon-Brookes having a private jet. I’m not defending him, though he does a lot more for the climate than most billionaires. I’m saying that we will not get to nature positive if the only steps we take are perfect ones. There are a lot of transitionary steps, a lot of mess and we will make a lot of mistakes. That’s fine. That’s ok. It’s not an excuse to do bad or not act. We should and will hold ourselves to a high standard and we can do that while we all act to build solutions.

From me:

“It’s OK to Be a Climate Hypocrite.

In fact it's all we can be right now.

I'm definitely a climate hypocrite.

I drive an ICE car because I barely use it. I eat red meat sometimes because I've got kids, go to events and like an occasional spag bol. I’m not perfect—but that doesn’t mean I’m not doing good. My next car will definitely be an EV. I eat 95% less red meat than I used to.

Too often, climate action gets tangled up in purity tests. But the reality is, no one is perfect. We’re all on a journey—learning, improving, and making better choices where we can. Small steps matter. Hypocrisy isn’t failing; it’s proof that we’re human, navigating a complex world while still pushing for change.

So, take action where you can. Advocate for big systemic shifts. Invest time and money when you can. And don’t let the fear of imperfection stop you from making a difference, and don't expect it in others, else we'll never get anywhere.”

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There were some really good responses and it’s worth sharing to keep debating these complex issues:

“I'm all about forgiving mis-steps in myself and others. But if this post is about who/what I think it's about, I just can't do it on this occasion Mick ☺️

I'm not asking for perfection. But this is a person with almost unlimited resources at hand. Such a wide array of options in front of them. And this is the one they choose? It just sends a really terrible message.” - Maxine Sherrin

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“This is so true. But there are two challenges with this observation:

a) how does this observation impact how we approach “non believers”; maybe we should no longer adopt the moral argument (“bad people”) given we are now saying self interest is a consideration, and

b) where do we draw the line with this thinking (surely there is one?). I reflect upon the arguably tone deaf post by a well-known tech leader cum climate evangelist claiming. “I need to have a private jet so that I can be a present dad”.

Yes brother that’s how we ended up in this situation, everyone acts in their own interests.

And there is no self-interest test for morals. They are immutable." - Jamie Camidge

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“Big yes - 'too often, climate action gets tangled in purity tests'.

The easiest thing in the world to do is point the finger at someone/thing else for being 'bad'. We've got to leave room for grace, or to just be human. We cannot do 100% of the things 100% of the time.” - Samantha J. Wood

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What do you think? Add to the conversation here.

From Mick Liubinskas

P.S. This is our new newsletter format - hit reply and tell us what you think and also if you have ideas for stories?

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‍ 🎤 Events

April 30, SYD | Sunrise Australia 2025
‍April 30, MEL | Australian Cleantech Showcase
‍May 14, SYD | Climate Tech Meetup in Byron Bay
May 14, MEL | Women Investors in Climate Tech by Melbourne Climate Network and Energy Lab. ft. Joanna Lee @ Giant Leap, Roo Harris @ Scale Investors, Emma Jenkins @ Kilara Capital
Sep 10, SYD | Cicada x Tech23. Interested in being one 23 deep tech start-ups pitching? Apply by the 30th of April.

📡 News

Nourish Ingredients and CABIO Biotech: First-ever global commercial scale for precision fermentation fats.

In partnership with CABIO Biotech, Nourish Ingredients has achieved a major milestone with the successful completion of our first commercial production of Tastilux®, its potent meaty fat. This marks a breakthrough in precision fermentation, establishing Nourish Ingredients as the first fat company to achieve commercial-scale validation while maintaining a low cost of production. Read more.

Have a squizz of NSW Investment's Innovation Ecosystem Navigator -- a comprehensive list of resources covering grants, investors, incubators/accelerators, and upcoming events.

NSW Investment have just released their Innovation Blueprint, their 10-year plan on growing NSW's innovation ecosystem.

Cut Through Ventures released their quarterly review for Q1 of 2025. Some highlights:

Climate/Cleantech startups accounted for over a quarter of total funding over Q1
Excitement from investors in the climate sector has dropped sharply from the end of 2024 to now, according to Cut Through's investor sentiment survey.

Wokelo (an AI investment research platform) analysed >1700 climate companies to report on the funding trends in the USA and Europe (spoiler: it's dropping).

🌿 Climate Salad Member Updates

DNA Energy have released their new product Flex+ in partnership with Hachiko. The software connects into battery energy storage systems -- say from the energy stored by solar panels -- leading to 75% higher revenues compared to non-optimised batteries.Avani Solutions was recently featured on the AFR for securing a $4.4M investment led by EG Funds.Have news? Flick a message to evan@climatesalad.com

⭐️ Opportunities

EnergyLab's Climate Tech Charge program helps founders with a validated idea to build traction and prepare for fundraising. Apply here.

Info session for UNSW Founder's 10x Accelerator -- a 10 week program providing founders with the skills, capital, and mentorship to get to market.

Applicants require at least one of their founders to have an UNSW affiliation (current student, alumni, researcher). For more information and to apply, click here.

Host an RMIT Analytics student group for a project!

Data Analytics Projects – 120 hours over 10-12 weeks, typically 10 hours a week. The student skillset involves data visualisation, data wrangling, forecasting, machine learning and predictive modelling.
Final year Postgraduate students, teams of 3-4 students.
No payment is required.
Projects must offer a realistic, challenging yet achievable problem or focus area and add real value to existing or anticipated problems in the industry.

Interested? Submit your project description here before the 9th of June.

💻 Jobs

HSE Manager @ Jupiter Ionics (Melbourne, Australia)

🔋 Why Battery Technology Is the Next Big Unlock for Climate Solutions—and Why AI Is the Key

Batteries are the linchpin of the clean energy transition. They store intermittent solar and wind power, stabilise grids, and power electric vehicles. Without scalable, affordable, and efficient storage, renewables can't replace fossil fuels at scale. The global battery market is projected to grow fivefold by 2028, driven by demand for EVs and grid storage.

However, current battery tech faces challenges:

High costs and limited lifespans.
Safety concerns, including fire risks.
Dependence on scarce materials like cobalt and nickel.

Artificial intelligence is accelerating breakthroughs in battery technology:

AI models can predict battery health and optimize charging, enhancing safety and extending lifespan.
Machine learning accelerates the discovery of new materials, such as cobalt-free or seawater-derived batteries, reducing environmental impact.
AI-driven manufacturing processes improve efficiency and adaptability to market demands.

In essence, AI is not just enhancing battery performance; it's revolutionizing the entire lifecycle—from design to deployment—making sustainable energy storage a reality.