The Transition at a Crossroads: What Will America Choose to Build?
From impact entrepreneurship and climate finance to a changing global order—the story behind a picture and a message carried from India.
It was 2010 when I started working on entrepreneurship in India, focused on impact entrepreneurship.
At that time, impact entrepreneurship was emerging as an issue to be addressed as per my eyes. CSR was coming into its prime. The terms sustainability, ESG and Net Zero were unheard of.
As years passed, so did the growing research around several climate calamities. The emphasis on the environment grew, and the proactive citizens who were affected by the repercussions of climate change started finding solutions, understanding the genesis and holding the culprits responsible.
The business of doing business remains to this day, but the energies changed.
Laws and regulations became stringent. From employees to shareholders and families of business owners, questions were raised by all.
Developed countries and investors started investing in businesses that were more responsible — to the extent that BlackRock’s Chairman issued a letter that led to changing waves globally.
Yes, this all happened in front of me.
I witnessed the rise of climate-tech company investors. I still do.
I witnessed the evolution of carbon markets/carbon trade, corporate accelerators supporting impact entrepreneurship.
And then came 2025, when the most powerful country in the world voted for the messiah of the oil & gas, arms & ammunition lobbyists.
It isn’t their representatives, but the people, lobbyists, and businesses who voted for the messiah in — in the venge of losing their businesses and going slack.
I heard from the PE investors in NYC concerns about continuing to support climate ventures and losing their sheen in the short-term/mid-term.
Yes, I witnessed that in the full room of climate investors @ NYCW – 2024.
It was then, and it is now.
Fast forward to Jan 2026. I could see the bridge built for the transition economy progressing, only a brick per month in comparison to per day; the velocity reduced. The pace of transition reduced, but some things increased.
The prices of oil, groceries, and day-to-day products have increased manifold. A lemon in India is now 10 cents. I remember having 10 for 10 just a year back and $2 per gallon of gas in the USA.
The bombing of schools has increased, with no one having the gumption to take responsibility, and apologise to the departed innocent souls.
The selling of cross-border arms & ammunition, R&D in innovative ways of destruction and investments in those companies have increased as the whole world is left unsafe.
Realising this reality, and coming to terms with the fact that the transition economy bridge may collapse and we may end up two decades behind, I decided to visit the USA and meet the most rational representative in the ecosystem who could stabilise, lead the next regime and bring about the norms of development of humanity.
I understand the crimes done today and in these times can’t be undone; the profits made on the lives of humans shall survive momentarily, and the energies, the momentum and acceleration created before these times would take some more time to return.
But I lay my hope in one of the most promising candidates of the free world to stand and fight back these lobbyists.
That’s when I wrote to Gov. Newsom.
When I reached SF, he joined us for a discussion, and I had the opportunity to meet him at the Accelerating the Transition (ATT) conference by John Berger just before my panel discussion.
I conveyed my message:
“The entire onus of climate action is on your shoulders. I’ve travelled from India to convey this message, and you need to lead the change.”
I can’t change the grim realities of the world where my American friend's money and my tax money are going to destroy another civilisation that hasn’t even thrown a stone at them; it’s just a theory to create social unrest.
So this time, when you vote, my dear American friends, think about how your tax money will be used.
To the wars or to support an entrepreneur?
Because that’s the America we know — “Entrepreneurs’ Paradise.”
Thank you for the letter, Sir. It means a lot.
Blog by Harsha Saxena, Founder and CEO, IICSR Group
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