🔮 My 8 Reflections on 2024.

8 Key Reflections on What Shaped 2024. From market shifts to emerging trends, these insights aim to prepare you for what’s next.

👋 Hi, I’m Djoann Fal. I’m fascinated by our planet, our changing weather, and peaceful, green technological utopias. Welcome to my monthly newsletter.

2024 was a year defined by extreme climate disasters, AI breakthroughs, political turbulence with Trump’s re-election, Elon Musk’s growing political influence, record tech valuations, and rising social tensions driven by technological unemployment and wealth inequality.

Let’s dip into the oracle pool, just for fun, and predict what 2025 could have in store for us within the realm of technology and climate. 🚀🌍

1.📈 Tech Officially Ate the World: Entering an Era of Tech Dominance

In 2024, technology cemented itself as the undisputed driver of global economic growth and cultural influence, reshaping industries, financial markets, and societal norms on a scale never seen before.

• The Magnificent 7 tech companies—Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Alphabet, Meta, and Tesla—collectively added over $3 trillion in market capitalization in 2024, surpassing the GDP of countries like France and the UK. Their stock performance outperformed every other asset class globally, solidifying tech's dominance in the financial markets.

• Apple's valuation soared to $4 trillion, fueled by its AI-powered ecosystem, strong hardware sales, and high-margin services sector. Analysts predict Apple will surpass $5 trillion by 2025, making it the first company in history to reach such a valuation.

• Tech Investments Broke Records: Global venture capital investment in AI and tech startups crossed $500 billion in 2024, with the U.S. and China leading the charge.

In 2024, technology will no longer be a sector—it will be the bloodstream of the global economy. The tech industry’s contribution to global GDP is projected to surpass 15% by 2025, with AI, cloud computing, and robotics driving much of this growth.

2.🌍 Adaptation Took Center Stage Amid Historic Climate Disasters

2024 will be remembered as the year the world faced an unrelenting wave of climate disasters, pushing adaptation to the forefront of global conversations.

• In the United States, Hurricane Helene devastated coastal regions, causing billions in economic losses and resulting in 200+ tragic deaths.

• Thailand and Vietnam experienced catastrophic floods and typhoons, leading to an estimated $1.4 billion in damages and triggering mass population temporary migrations from heavily affected regions.

• Spain endured a relentless series of climate-induced disasters, including record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires, and historic flash floods in Valencia. These events caused immense property damage, political turmoil, and loss of life.

• In French Polynesia, a massive typhoon not only displaced thousands but also created political instability as local governments struggled to respond effectively.

In 2024, adaptation finally emerged from the shadows of mitigation to stand as an equal pillar in the global fight against climate change.

2.💡 From Moonshots to Earthshots: Pragmatic Investments Took Over

In 2024, the climate investment landscape reflected a decisive shift from high-risk moonshot technologies to scalable, pragmatic solutions.

• The Rise of "Not-So-Green" Green Tech: In the rush to deploy pragmatic, scalable solutions, some technologies have been fast-tracked despite questionable environmental benefits:

• As a response, more tangible Clean Tech investments are now receiving favors:

2024 proved that investors increasingly prioritize tangible, scalable solutions over speculative bets. Earthshots—solutions that drive measurable impact today—are winning the race against moonshots that promise future miracles.

3.🤖 AI Became the Backbone of the Tech Race

2024 was the year AI became the undisputed engine of technological dominance across every sector.

• Technological Advancements and AI Investments: Companies like OpenAI secured record-breaking funding rounds, while strong competitors like Mistral and Meta's LLaMA emerged as serious contenders in the AI race. The battle for AI supremacy intensified, driving massive investments across the industry.

• Corporate Adoption Skyrocketed: AI adoption (mainly through OpenAI platforms) reached 72% of corporate executives globally, signaling that the future of work is no longer a distant concept but a present reality. AI isn’t a tool anymore—it’s the engine behind decision-making in the world's largest companies.

• Controversy on AI Life & Death Decisions in the Insurance Industry: In one of the most shocking events of 2024, Luigi Nicholas Mangione, an American man, became infamous for the killing of Brian Thompson, the CEO of a U.S. insurance company. The company had replaced its entire customer service team with AI, which subsequently declined Mangione’s back surgery claim, effectively leaving him without life-saving care. This tragic event sparked a global debate about the ethical boundaries of AI in decision-making, especially in life-and-death scenarios, and raised pressing questions about accountability and oversight in AI systems.

• A New Kind of Warfare: The Ukraine War became a testing ground for a new era of warfare—drone warfare. With $100 off-the-shelf drones, Ukrainian forces managed to disable tanks, eliminate key commanders, and demolish strategic infrastructure, effectively neutralizing an army 10x larger.

In 2024, AI didn’t just power corporate efficiencies—it reshaped geopolitics, warfare, and how nations think about power.

4.🏘️ Community-Driven Climate Fights Proved Their Worth

2024 showcased the power of grassroots movements and local leadership in driving meaningful environmental change:

• 🌳 Amazon Deforestation Reached a Nine-Year Low: Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by more than 30% in the 12 months leading to July 2024, according to INPE data. While 2,428 sq miles (6,288 sq km) of rainforest were still lost—an area larger than Delaware—it marked the lowest annual loss since 2015, despite an 18-fold increase in fires driven by a historic drought.

• 🌊 New Ocean Protections in the Azores: The Azores Archipelago announced one of the world's largest marine protected areas (MPA). Spanning 111,000 sq miles (287,000 sq km), half will be "fully protected"—free from fishing and resource extraction—and the other half will be "highly protected."

• 🌾 Community-Driven Agroforestry Programs in Africa Thrived: In Kenya and Ethiopia, agroforestry initiatives supported by local communities restored over 1 million acres of degraded land in 2024. These programs combined tree planting, sustainable agriculture, and community-led conservation, boosting food security and creating thousands of jobs in rural areas.

• 🌱 India’s Largest Urban Rewilding Project Took Root: In Mumbai, an ambitious urban rewilding initiative turned over 1,500 acres of abandoned industrial land into green corridors and biodiversity hubs. This effort reduced urban heat island effects and improved air quality and flood resilience in vulnerable districts.

These community-driven initiatives remind us that global change often starts with local action, and 2024 proved that the smallest actors can drive outsized impact.

5.🏙️ Singapore Led the World in Urban Climate Adaptation

In 2024, Singapore cemented itself as the global leader in urban resilience, offering a blueprint for climate adaptation in densely populated cities. Amid rising global temperatures, worsening floods, and increasing water scarcity across Southeast Asia, Singapore’s proactive, technology-driven approach stood out as a global case study in urban adaptation success.

• 🌿 Biophilic Architecture: Singapore continued to integrate green urban planning into its infrastructure, with vertical gardens, green rooftops, and biodiversity-rich urban spaces minimizing urban heat islands and improving air quality. Over 50% of Singapore’s urban space is now covered by greenery, a model envied by megacities worldwide.

• 💧 Smart Water Grids: AI-powered water management systems ensured water security amid unpredictable rainfall patterns. Advanced desalination plants and water recycling technologies provided Singapore with self-sufficiency in water resources, a critical edge as Southeast Asia faced prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall.

• ⚡ Aggressive Renewable Targets: Singapore accelerated its plan to source 30% of its electricity from low-carbon energy by 2030. In 2024, floating solar farms expanded across reservoirs, and large-scale battery storage systems became essential components of the national grid.

• 🏢 Cooling Districts: Singapore deployed district cooling systems across commercial hubs, reducing energy consumption by up to 40% compared to traditional cooling methods. These AI-optimized systems became essential tools in combating rising urban temperatures.

• 📊 AI-Driven Climate Monitoring: Real-time climate risk assessment systems powered by machine learning algorithms monitor flood risks, heatwaves, and water levels. These systems inform urban planning decisions and ensure infrastructure is proactively reinforced against climate threats.

In 2024, Singapore didn’t just adapt—it led, offering a vision of what resilient cities of the future can and must look like.

6.🤝 Trump Assassination Attempt, Elon’s Support, and the U.S. Elections Became the Media Event of the Year

In 2024, the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, Elon Musk’s vocal support during the campaign, and the highly charged U.S. presidential elections combined to create the most-watched media event of the year, nearly surpassing global viewership numbers from the Paris Olympic Games.

• The Assassination Attempt: During a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt, emerging bloodied but defiant. The event sent shockwaves across the world, dominating headlines and sparking heightened political tensions in an already polarized America.

• Elon Musk's Funding and Influence: Musk’s financial and vocal support for Trump’s campaign played a pivotal role in the election outcome. Musk became not just a tech figure but a political kingmaker, using platforms like X to shape narratives and rally support among voters.

• A Hyper-Polarized Election Cycle: The months leading up to and following the 2024 U.S. presidential election became a global spectacle. Media coverage was relentless, social media platforms buzzed with misinformation and real-time updates, and streaming networks broke records with live broadcasts of key moments.

The combined viewership from traditional broadcast networks, online platforms, and social media made the Trump-Musk-Election trilogy one of the most consumed media narratives in history, eclipsed only by global sporting events like the Olympic Games.

2024 proved that politics, technology, and media are now inseparable, and the collision of these forces can command global attention on an unprecedented scale. The year will be remembered as a defining chapter in the intersection of power, technology, and media influence.

7.🌊 Extreme Weather Accelerated Corporate Insurance Losses amp; Adaptation Plans

In 2024, the escalating frequency and severity of extreme weather events compelled businesses to intensify their adaptation strategies, focusing on operational resilience. In California, wildfires led to the destruction of 243 structures, prompting the state's insurer of last resort to consider surcharges for homeowners if funds are insufficient to cover catastrophic losses. Insurance Journal

Hurricane Helene inflicted substantial damage across the southeastern United States, with insured losses estimated between $8 billion and $14 billion, encompassing wind, storm surge, and flooding impacts. Carrier Management

The logistics sector faced significant disruptions due to these hurricanes, with the cumulative insured losses from Hurricanes Helene and Milton projected to reach up to $55 billion, underscoring the vulnerability of supply chains to natural disasters. Benzinga

8.🌞 The Sun Reached Its Solar Maximum Amid Milankovitch Cycles

In 2024, the Sun's progression toward its Solar Maximum phase led to a series of significant solar flare events, profoundly impacting Earth:

• Intense Solar Flares and Geomagnetic Storms: The year witnessed over 50 X-class solar flares—the most powerful type of solar flare—marking a highly active period for solar phenomena.

• Disruption of Communication Systems: These solar flares caused disruptions in GPS systems, telecommunications networks, and satellite operations, leading to temporary outages and highlighting vulnerabilities in our technological infrastructure.

• Aurora Displays at Lower Latitudes: The heightened solar activity resulted in auroras being visible at much lower latitudes than usual. For instance, in May 2024, a powerful solar storm produced auroras observable in regions far from the poles.

• Increased Awareness and Monitoring: These events underscored the importance of monitoring space weather, prompting scientists and governments to enhance efforts in predicting and mitigating the impacts of solar activity on Earth's technological systems.

The solar flare events of 2024 reminded us of the Sun's profound influence on our planet, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in the face of space weather phenomena.

In 2024, humanity experienced the dual forces of climate resilience and technological dominance. The world witnessed governments, corporations, and communities unite to drive impactful change.

At Atlas Adaptation Fund, we stood at the intersection of these forces—backing bold founders and scalable technologies building a world resilient to climate chaos and technological disruption.

Learn more about our story and next steps, in this video.

Thanks for reading, Djoann and The Atlas Climate Tech Coalition.