Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins Heatmap’s Annual Climate Insiders Survey Is Here
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Jan 14, 2026 This discussion dives into the annual Insiders Survey, revealing insights from climactic leaders. They tackle industrial decarbonization challenges, spotlight promising clean heat companies, and critique misleading hydrogen terminology. The impact of AI on electricity demand raises concerns over decarbonization efforts. Notably, the hosts debate the U.S. EV industry's troubles and China’s dual role in emissions. Predictions suggest global emissions peaking by 2030, while the likelihood of solar radiation management deployment this decade remains grim.
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Hardest Frontier: Industrial Decarbonization
- Industrial decarbonization remains the hardest frontier, especially petrochemicals, steel, and cement.
- Existing pathways often assume abundant clean hydrogen or carbon capture and thus understate the challenge.
Clean Heat Offers Quick Wins
- Clean-heat companies are especially promising because heat is low-grade and readily replaceable.
- Jesse highlights firms working on geothermal heating, advanced heat pumps, and heat batteries that could scale in 2026.
Ditch The Hydrogen Rainbow Labels
- Stop using hydrogen 'rainbow' labels because they obscure important distinctions.
- Use precise terms like electrolytic, renewable, or biomass-based hydrogen instead.
