Rethinking Climate Action with Tom Chi

What if climate action and economic growth aren’t at odds—but actually deeply aligned? In this episode, Kate O’Neill sits down with Tom Chi to challenge conventional thinking about climate solutions, innovation, and the future of planetary restoration. Topics Covered: The emotional impact of witnessing coral reef collapse Reimagining climate action through the lens of both ecology and economy Lessons from Google X: rapid prototyping and low-cost innovation How Google Glass shaped the understanding of visual information and human experience Insights into planetary restoration and urgent timelines for action The concept of “Climate Capital” and investment strategies for sustainability Aligning ecological wins with economic incentives Overcoming barriers in climate-tech: capex inertia and effective policy Interconnectedness and its influence on business and technology Innovative approaches for sustainable material management Connect with Tom Chi:LinkedInAt One Ventures Website Episode Chapters: 00:00:05 – Welcome & Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show 00:00:15 – Tom Chi on Reef Collapse and Global Tragedy 00:00:43 – Rethinking Climate Action: Ecology vs. Economy 00:02:15 – Conversation Kickoff: Meet Tom Chi 00:02:36 – Google X, Rapid Prototyping, and Hardware Innovation 00:06:24 – Augmenting Human Vision: Google Glass Discoveries 00:13:08 – From Tech Innovator to Planetary Restoration 00:16:33 – The Gravity of Coral Loss & Civilization-Scale Decisions 00:19:47 – Becoming Net Positive to Nature: NE Ventures Approach 00:21:01 – What “Climate Capital” Really Means 00:27:01 – Structuring Climate-Tech Investments & Timelines 00:28:57 – Advice for Funders: Overcoming Green Premiums 00:33:15 – Interconnectedness: Tech, Nature, and Business 00:38:43 – Building Lasting Systems with Nature 00:39:13 – The One Law to Accelerate Climate Solutions 00:47:21 – Empowering Change: Rates Not States 00:47:30 – Book Release: Climate Capital 00:48:17 – Closing Remarks & How to Connect