Gain expert perspectives on climate with Jennifer Oomen, Senior Director, Technical Excellence of Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, Habitat for Humanity.

What is the state of the sector according to you?

When it comes to climate-friendly solutions, the affordable housing sector sits at a pivotal moment. It holds immense potential to drive climate-friendly innovation, proving that sustainable homes don’t have to come at the expense of our planet. Yet, as climate change intensifies, traditional building methods struggle to keep pace. The sector stands at a crossroads – one where the urgency for change is clear, but gaps in innovation, financing, and policy still hold the industry back.

There’s growing recognition that housing must be built to last: designed for resilience, minimizing environmental impact, and improving quality of life. However, outdated construction methods and fragmented efforts have slowed the momentum needed for widespread change. This is where forward-thinking initiatives are making a real difference.

How do you see the C&E Learning Lab as an opportunity for the ecosystem?

Scaling climate-resilient solutions is not just an option – it is urgent. The C&E Learning Lab is a prime example of a community-driven approach that responds effectively to existing challenges. The Lab provides a platform for diverse ecosystem stakeholders and SGBs supporting climate and environment to collaborate and succeed. By leaning into these collaborative spaces, we can identify points of intersection, share learnings and find unexpected synergies between corporations, entrepreneurship-focused entities of all sizes, financing organizations, academia, and more. The Learning Lab demonstrates how ANDE members across the globe can delve deep with one another and apply collective learning towards integrated action.

What are Habitat for Humanity's ongoing programs supporting entrepreneurship and how can others collaborate with you?

For Habitat for Humanity, housing is a climate issue. Climate change is also a housing issue. Scalability needs inclusive markets that work. As the Terwilliger Center’s work demonstrates, we need to look at the construction sector, which is highly fragmented, through a systemic lens that brings these disparate pieces together for scaling – investment, finance, materials, access to information, services, and regulations. We are committed to climate-resilient SGB-driven solutions at scale that help low-income households access affordable, decent housing.

With surging demand for affordable resilient housing, the opportunity to build a future that benefits both people and the planet has never been greater. The work being done today not only addresses pressing challenges but also unlocks exciting possibilities for a more resilient and inclusive tomorrow.

At the heart of this movement is ShelterTech, our program designed to foster innovation in housing and climate resilience. By partnering with a diverse network of incubators, accelerators, corporates, government agencies, and investors, we create a robust support system for early-stage startups. To date, we’ve empowered over 130 startups worldwide, equipping them with the tools, funding, and connections needed to scale their impact.

In India, ShelterTech is fueling a dynamic ecosystem where startups, investors, and key stakeholders collaborate to drive sustainability and impact. Our approach includes:

• Catalytic Grants: funding that enables ventures to develop demonstrable pilots—crucial first steps in proving their innovative solutions.
• Scale-up support: one-on-one strategic and tactical advisory, market linkages, and tailored fundraising and scaling opportunities.
• Building ShelterTech Ecosystem: a systemic approach that builds an interconnected marketplace where startups, investors, ecosystem partners, and stakeholders align around shared goals.

Through these efforts, we are not only empowering entrepreneurs tackling affordable housing challenges but also creating lasting value for collaborators who believe in the power of innovation for good.

What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to create environmentally conscious businesses?

1. Identify sectors with aligned environmental impact and market demand. The most successful sustainable businesses address urgent problems while tapping into growing markets. Climate resilience, waste management, circular economy models, and green energy solutions all hold massive potential. Entrepreneurs should assess market trends, understand consumer pain points, and craft solutions that align with long-term environmental goals.
2. Leverage research and data to guide strategies and measure impact. Sustainability efforts should be backed by evidence and clear metrics, not just good intentions. Tracking metrics such as carbon footprint, resource consumption, and supply chain efficiency ensures accountability and continuous improvement. Investors and customers are increasingly drawn to businesses with clear impact goals, so having measurable targets, such as reducing water usage by a certain percentage or sourcing recycled materials, can differentiate your business from competitors.
3. Incorporate human-centered design principles. Climate resilience is top of mind as communities face heat stress, disasters, and climate migration. By directly involving end-users in the design process, businesses can meet both environmental goals and customer expectations. Co-designing solutions with users, gathering continuous feedback, and iterating based on real-world needs can lead to more effective and sustainable outcomes.

The intersection of climate action and entrepreneurship is where the future is being built – one solution at a time. For those ready to take on the challenge, the opportunities to create lasting change have never been greater.