COMET: A Startup Story at the Intersection of Climate, Community, and Design

When we think about innovation for climate action, energy access often gets left out of the picture. Yet, without reliable and inclusive energy systems, there can be no just or resilient future. This session tells the story of COMET (Community Energy Toolkit) an unconventional startup working to close the energy access gap for rural communities through participatory design and systems thinking. Participants will hear how COMET emerged from grassroots work in underserved areas, and how designing tools for community energy planning has opened up new ways of thinking about climate resilience, justice, and inclusive innovation.