As we grapple with a staggering increase in extreme weather disasters both nationally and globally, see an international push for collaboration towards net-zero emissions targets, and realize technology breakthroughs that could be mobilized for positive climate change, it’s all hands on deck -- philanthropic and policy solutions can only solve part of the problem.

When looking at ways to provide catalytic capital to commercially-viable companies and solutions, venture capital pops as an effective start. Able to fund and aid in developing solutions across a variety of sectors -- from transportation, mobility, and energy, to real estate and the built environment, to agriculture and our food systems -- venture capital funds can evaluate the economic viability of seed- to growth-stage companies, while forcing an impact lens in the form of climate adaptation and mitigation.

Climate investing, and particularly in clean- or climate-tech solutions, has been turbocharged over the past few years. By midway through 2021, global investors had already closed as many climate-focused funds as were raised during the previous five years. The enthusiasm we’ve seen recently for climate-related investments represents a turning point in an investment thesis that was considered by many early skeptics to be just a fringe strategy.