Or how I ended up talking about beer in a Harvard course…
When you think of climate change, your brain probably doesn’t jump straight to beer. Or business. Or Harvard Business School, for that matter.
But here I am currently deep in the Business and Climate Change course at HBS, learning how climate risks are actually reshaping the way smart companies operate. And yes, beer is part of the syllabus (well, kind of).
A carbon-neutral pint, anyone?
One story that blew my mind (🤯) is about New Belgium Brewing. Their Fat Tire Ale became the first nationally distributed carbon-neutral beer in the U.S. That’s not just impressive for a brewery, it’s a business case in disguise.
How did they do it?
☀️ Switched to solar energy
⚡ Invested in energy efficiency
♻️ Reduced waste through recycling and composting
🌾 Used sustainable ingredients
🌍 Offset what they couldn’t eliminate
And they didn’t stop there. They even published a Carbon Neutral Toolkit to help other breweries follow suit. That’s what I call a pioneer (or trailblazer, pathfinder, visionary… pick your favorite 🤔).
So… why does this matter?
Because it flips the script. Climate change isn’t just a risk, it’s a strategic challenge, a creativity driver, and yes, even a market opportunity.
Companies that treat sustainability as an innovation playground (not a checkbox) are the ones that are going to thrive. Whether you’re brewing beer or building software, the question is no longer “Should we care?” but “How fast can we adapt?”
What I'm learning at HBS
The course, taught by Professors Mike Toffel and Forest Reinhardt, isn’t about guilt-tripping businesses. It’s about equipping them. It’s practical, data-driven, and rooted in real-world examples. Like New Belgium. Like IKEA. Like Patagonia.
Every lecture is another reminder: the future of business is green. And bold.
Over to you
I’d love to know:
What’s the most surprising example of climate innovation you’ve seen in business lately?
Let’s share ideas—there’s so much happening out there, and we’re just getting started.
—Morena
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This article is foundational to understanding Adaptation + Mitigation and ties into investment strategies in The LIFE Programme: Where Climate Action Meets Smart Investment.
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