Why we started Bamboo Notes

Our why behind the value we want to create

Both of us (Yash and Prajay) met as colleagues at Climes, a climate finance startup that connects consumers and businesses (demand) to verified decarbonisation projects (supply). We quickly realised that our values and ethos were grounded in a thirst for learning, a passion for building impactful things, and a desire towards helping people understand climate better. We are both committed to doing impactful work in climate and this blog is an outlet for us to bring positive change at scale. 

The bamboo in its initial stages of growth

Our vision for Bamboo Notes:

• Induce curiosity - Climate change is the biggest battle of our generation. We need more people to put their life's work into climate action. The first step towards that is to stay curious and understand the challenges through first principles.

• Empower through learning - We will look to put out high-signal content that will help people access structured insights on climate change and take deliberate action towards being more sustainable.

• Create a community of climate enablers/leaders - We want Bamboo to become a forum for active dialogue among changemakers - be it consumers, government entities, or businesses - to take charge, ask the right questions, understand different perspectives, and create lasting solutions.

• Serve as a truth mechanism - So many people we've spoken to are curious about climate and want to do their part in building a greener, safer future. Problem is that they don't know how and they don't know what works or what doesn't. Climate change is also viewed as a largely inaccessible concept that only governments or large corporations can really influence on the macro level. Our goal at Bamboo Notes is to help people track our collective progress, break down key concepts in a relatable manner, and reiterate that every bit matters.

Why we named this blog 'Bamboo'

• Growth - The bamboo tree doesn’t break through the ground for the five years of its life. Once it breaks ground, it can grow quickly to become 90 feet tall in as little as five weeks! (Source).

  Just as the bamboo tree builds its roots patiently and then rises rapidly, our work in climate should aim for efficient processes and systems without focusing too heavily on near-term gains. Establishing a sustainable society requires a shift to cleaner fuels, carbon-efficient mobility, and managing our food/water resources better. Abstract concepts must be broken down with hard data and science in order to execute lasting solutions. To be able to do these, we need patience and verifiable conviction.

• Strength - The bamboo is one of the most versatile plants on the planet. It derives its strength largely from its interconnected root system, making it stronger than steel and enabling it to be a trusted construction material.

  Similarly, our climate action needs to be built on strong foundations and developed through first principles. Our generation should display strength in public consciousness, responsible commerce, and effective governance in order to establish robust circular economies.

• Flexibility - Strong winds crack even the stiffest trees, but the bamboo survives by bending with the wind.
  The systems we build must be resilient like the bamboo and adapt to solve the same problem applied in different contexts. Adaptability will prove to be a crucial requirement to address the burgeoning inequality caused by climate change.

• Bamboo as a symbol - The economic importance and varying uses of the bamboo have been well-documented throughout ancient history. It acts as an important carbon sink and is known to produce 35% more oxygen than typical plantations (Source). Countless livelihoods have been created through bamboo cultivation and it also plays an important role as an alternative fuel source for energy production.
  This ancient plant often associated with enlightenment and luck will continue to be this blog's symbol for learning and climate action.

The bamboo when it achieves exponential growth

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