9 Innovators Under 35 Are Solving Climate Problems Now

The next generation isn't just worried about climate change. They're fixing it.

MIT Technology Review has spotlighted nine innovators under 35 who are tackling some of the biggest obstacles standing between us and a cleaner future. Their work spans from the materials we desperately need to the industries that are hardest to green.

Take steel production, one of the world's dirtiest industrial processes. One young innovator built a new type of furnace that makes steel both cleaner and cheaper, proving that environmental solutions don't have to break the bank.

Another is revolutionizing how we extract lithium, the critical mineral powering electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. As demand skyrockets, finding cleaner ways to source these materials could determine how quickly we can transition away from fossil fuels.

The innovations get creative too. One researcher figured out how to turn invasive weeds and food waste into useful materials, solving two problems at once. Another developed solid refrigerants that could slash energy consumption in cooling systems worldwide.

Some are working behind the scenes on problems most of us never think about. One innovator is making artificial intelligence more energy efficient, addressing the hidden climate cost of our digital lives. Another created better tools to track pollution, because you can't fix what you can't measure.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this group special isn't just their individual breakthroughs. Together, they're attacking climate change from every angle: clean energy, sustainable materials, efficient technology, and environmental monitoring.

Their work shows where climate tech is heading. The focus has shifted from asking whether we can solve these problems to actually building the solutions. These aren't pie-in-the-sky ideas for 2050. These are innovations entering the real world now.

Young innovators are proving that climate solutions can be practical, affordable, and ready for deployment today.