Climate Tech Pivots to Critical Minerals as Online Safety Faces Threats

Tech researchers are suing the Trump administration over the future of online safety, as climate tech companies find new ways to survive and thrive in a shifting political landscape.

For months, the Trump administration has been going after researchers who study and try to counter hate speech, harassment, propaganda, and disinformation online. Now, some of those researchers are fighting back, seeking to strike down a visa restriction policy that they say violates the speech and due process rights of foreign-born workers whose "work supports greater moderation of content on the [tech] platforms."

Meanwhile, climate tech companies are pivoting to focus on critical minerals, rather than just decarbonization efforts. One example is Boston Metal, which has raised $75 million to produce these essential materials. While the company is best known for its efforts to clean up steel production, this new focus and fresh funds could help it survive a period of waning support for industrial decarbonization in the US.

The shift in strategy for climate tech companies reflects the challenging political environment they face, with support for climate causes in the US remaining weak under the second Trump administration. By reframing their missions and diversifying their focus, these companies are finding ways to not just survive, but thrive, in this new reality.