Can biology help fix the climate?

Hi everyone,

This week, I’ve been learning more about a climate technology sector that isn’t discussed as much as it probably should be: biotechnology.

We typically associate climate tech solutions with solar panels, electric vehicles, or smart home tech. But biology is quietly becoming one of the most powerful tools we have to fight climate change. From engineered crops to carbon-hungry algae, biotech is starting to do some serious heavy lifting in decarbonisation, waste reduction, and ecosystem restoration.

Here are a few of the most interesting developments happening right now:

Bioengineered Trees That Store More Carbon

Forests are already one of the planet’s best carbon sinks, locking away astronomical amounts of carbon, but what if we could make them even more effective?

That’s what companies like Living Carbon are working on. They’ve developed genetically modified trees that can grow faster and absorb more CO₂ than their natural counterparts. By enhancing photosynthesis and boosting root depth (which helps to store more carbon underground), these trees could supercharge reforestation and restore degraded land.

Living Carbon is also working on producing genetically modified trees tailored to biomass, allowing for fast, efficient and environmentally friendly Biomass production.

Microbes That Clean Up Pollution

Microorganisms certainly aren’t new to cleaning things up, they’ve been doing so for millions of years. But now we’re giving them a bit of a technological boost.

In biotech labs, researchers are training microbes to break down oil spills, absorb heavy metals, and even digest methane. These are all exciting prospects, but breaking down methane is a massive win, as methane is significantly more harmful than carbon dioxide in the short term when it comes to climate change.

Plastic-Eating Enzymes

Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins that break down specific molecules. In recent years, scientists have managed to engineer enzymes that can digest plastic, breaking it down into its base materials so it can be reused.

Companies like Carbios are leading this space with enzymes that can degrade PET (a common plastic) in just hours.

When it comes to plastic pollution and trying to create a more circular recycling system, this is nothing short of game-changing.

Algae as a Climate Ally

Algae is possibly one of nature’s most efficient carbon capture tools. It grows fast, doesn’t need arable land, and sucks up CO₂ during photosynthesis in impressive quantities.

Several startups are cultivating algae in desert ponds, harvesting and storing it to keep the captured carbon out of the atmosphere. Others are turning algae into biofuels and bioplastics.

Climate-Ready Crops

Agriculture is a major contributor to emissions, whilst also being one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate change due to the challenges faced in growing crops in an ever-changing climate.

Biotech is helping here, too. Scientists are developing more drought-resistant crops that require less fertiliser and have deeper roots that pull more carbon into the soil.

Biotech doesn’t always look flashy when deployed to the real world. You won’t see it glowing on rooftops or driving down roads. But it’s working behind the scenes in ways that could be profoundly important.

And the best part is that most of these innovations work with nature, not against it. They show that climate tech isn’t just about machines and infrastructure, it’s about smart solutions that restore and regenerate what we already have.

Catch you next week,
James