Scoping
Technology for the climate transition
Carbon Critical is a non-profit R&D lab. We use maths, software, and data science to build digital tools and platforms that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Our mission
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time.
Addressing it will require not only policy and investment, but also new tools, better data, and practical solutions that help people make lower-emission choices.
Carbon Critical was created to contribute to this effort using the tools we know best: mathematics, software, and scientific thinking. We focus on building digital systems that make climate solutions easier to understand, implement, and scale.
Our work centres on problems where better information, modelling, or technology can unlock meaningful climate impact. This includes developing new tools, testing ideas through prototypes, and supporting initiatives that can accelerate the transition to a lower-emissions world.
Our long-term aim is simple: to develop technologies and platforms that enable measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and to make those tools available where they can have the greatest impact.
What we are building
We are working on several practical initiatives to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Scoping
Live
Net Zero Fund
High impact giving A tax-efficient pathway for Kiwis to donate to highly effective global climate charities. Hosted by The Gift Trust, with over $500k donated so far.
Read more
Beta
Forest Carbon
Measure what matters An innovative prototype for estimating biomass using low-cost drones, AI and elevation data. Designed with a focus on small farms and indigenous forests.
Read more
Meet the founder
Jamie Heather spent over two decades solving hard technical problems — developing algorithms, building machine learning systems, and turning complex mathematics into real-world products.
In 2014, he co-founded Algorithm Team, a technical consultancy specialising in computer vision and AI. In 2018, the team invented the ZOZOSUIT — a full-body 3D scanning solution for Japan's largest fashion e-commerce platform. At launch it attracted 1.7 million users and was named one of Time magazine's 50 Best Inventions of 2018.
After exiting in 2021, Jamie turned his attention to a harder problem: climate change. He founded Carbon Critical with a simple conviction — that the same skills used to build successful commercial products can and should be applied to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Not through awareness campaigns or advocacy, but by actually building things that work.
Clients & partners
We work with a diversity of clients to create digital tools, prototypes and initiatives that support a better future.
Selected client projects
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Whenua Futures Website
An interactive website designed to inform discussions on land-use on the East Coast. Users can explore long-term economic and environmental trade-offs for different combinations of exotic and native forestry.
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Multispecies Dashboard
An interactive web tool designed to encourage Kiwi forest growers to explore alternatives to planting radiata pine. Built using Scion's powerful tree growth models, the Dashboard provides long-term projections to help inform grower decision making.
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Te Pūnaha Taonga Website
A web platform that supports kaitiaki to register interests in taonga species and work together on their protection and use. The platform offers practical tools for group discussion and decision making.
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Freshwater Modelling
A mathematical model linking river flows to lake level changes based on historical observations. Developed to assist with the management of fertiliser flows and algal blooms in Aotearoa's freshwater systems.
Organisations we have worked with
“Jamie was a pleasure to work with. He is very professional, with timely communication, attention to detail and the highest integrity of information. The project was very reasonably priced and delivered within agreed timeframes to a very high standard. The Carbon Critical team contributed additional ideas to improve the outcome and we are more than satisfied with the result.”
Te Weu Tairāwhiti
Support our work
Carbon Critical is not a traditional non-profit.
We don't run awareness campaigns or produce reports. We build things — platforms, tools, and systems designed to make climate action faster, better coordinated, and more durable.
Our operating model is deliberately lean. Our founder's technical contracting work provides core funding, which means we are not dependent on philanthropic support to survive. What external funding does is change the pace and ambition of what we can build.
Right now, we are seeking seed funding to develop Coesiv—our Action Conversion Engine for turning climate discussion into coordinated, time-bound initiatives in Aotearoa. A grant of $20,000-$35,000 would allow us to commit fully to building and piloting a functional prototype within six months, with a curated cohort of Kiwi climate leaders.
If you're a funder who backs builders over bureaucracies, we'd like to hear from you.
What we offer
- Proven R&D track record
- Lean ops with low overhead
- Transparent outcome reporting
- Long-term self-sustainability
Current ask
- Coesiv platform pilot
- $20k-$35k seed funding
- NZ climate leader cohort
- Expressions of interest
We are keen to talk to climate leaders and funders who are interested in Coesiv—whether you want to help shape the pilot, join a cohort conversation, or explore seed funding.