The term "climate tech" has been the umbrella phrase for companies and technologies focused on minimizing and reversing humanity's impact on the environment. However, as the industry continues to evolve, the need for a more accurate and encompassing term has become apparent. The search for a new label is driven by the desire to distance oneself from the politicized connotations of "climate" and to better capture the scope of innovations addressing humanity's impact on the planet.

The precursor to climate tech, "clean tech," was deemed too vague, as it could be applied to various industries, including household supplies. Climate tech, on the other hand, has been a more effective descriptor, but its limitations are becoming increasingly apparent. The term's scope has expanded to encompass a broad range of technologies, making it difficult to define and categorize.

One of the early alternatives to emerge is "planetary health," a term coined in 2014 by the medical journal The Lancet. This phrase has gained traction among some investors, as it addresses the issue of scope creep and encompasses companies focused on technologies that mitigate humanity's impact on the planet, beyond just carbon pollution.

However, the election of Donald Trump has led to a growing desire to distance oneself from the term "climate," with many anticipating a shift towards a new label within the next five years. This has sparked a flurry of alternative terms, including "frontier tech," "critical infrastructure," and "deep tech." While these phrases have their appeal, they often overlap with or are too broad to effectively capture the essence of climate tech.

The latest proposal, "growth tech," has been met with skepticism, as it is deemed too generic and fails to convey the specific focus of climate tech startups. In response, the author suggests "resilience tech" as a potential successor, arguing that it effectively captures the industry's goal of making both the world and humanity more resilient.

The search for a new term is not merely a semantic exercise; it has significant implications for the industry's identity, marketing, and funding. As climate tech continues to evolve, finding a term that accurately reflects its scope and mission will be crucial for attracting investment, talent, and public support.

Ultimately, the quest for the perfect term is a reflection of the industry's growth and maturation. As climate tech startups continue to push the boundaries of innovation, their terminology must adapt to keep pace. Whether "resilience tech" or another term emerges as the winner, one thing is clear: the industry's commitment to addressing humanity's impact on the planet remains unwavering.