The sleek, fuel-saving airplanes coated with synthetic shark skin

Achieving net-zero carbon emissions is a massive challenge for every industry, but some have it harder than others. This week, Bloomberg Green senior reporter Akshat Rathi spoke with two Australian startups that are tackling carbon emissions in sectors whose carbon footprints are particularly intractable. Inspired by shark skin, MicroTau is creating a plastic film that makes airplanes more aerodynamic, reducing their fuel consumption. Novalith, meanwhile, is redesigning lithium battery manufacturing to make it cleaner. Both have received funding from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation in Australia. Rathi sat down with MicroTau founder Henry Bilinsky and Novalith Chief Executive Officer Steven Vassiloudis to understand the challenges their startups face and where they find optimism. Explore further: • Past episode with Australia Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) chief executive officer, Ian Learmonth • Past episode about carbon-removal startups with Nan Ransohoff, head of climate at Stripe • Past episode with Bill Gates about investing in nuclear power and other green energy plants Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producers are Mythili Rao, Oscar Boyd, Tiffany Tsoi, Sommer Saadi and Magnus Henriksson. Special thanks this week to Kira Bindrim, Will Mathis. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.

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