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Al Gore’s Just Climate fund raises $175M from Microsoft and CalSTRS fornature-based climate investments
Al Gore's Just Climate fund raised $175 million from Microsoft and CalSTRS to invest in nature-based climate solutions, addressing a significant funding gap compared to traditional climate investments. The fund focuses on projects like reforestation and biological solutions to combat emissions and restore biodiversity, aiming to tackle 15% of global greenhouse emissions from agriculture and land-use changes.
Key points
- Just Climate raised $175 million from Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund and CalSTRS.
- Nature-based solutions currently receive limited investment, with only $35 billion in 2022 compared to $1.46 trillion in other climate financing.
- The fund aims to focus on projects in agriculture, forestry, and land-use, targeting approximately 15% of global emissions.
- Nature-based solutions can also help eliminate existing atmospheric carbon dioxide through projects like reforestation.
- Examples of potential investments include biological fertilizers, restoration finance platforms, and carbon verification technologies.
- Just Climate's first investment was in NatureMetrics, which uses eDNA to assess site biodiversity.
Why it matters
- The trend of increasing investment in nature-based solutions aligns with global climate commitments from major corporations.
- As of 2025, there is a growing awareness of the need for diversified climate finance beyond technology-driven solutions.
- This investment shift reflects a broader trend in responsible investing, emphasizing sustainability and environmental impact.
This funding marks a pivotal shift towards recognizing the importance of nature-based solutions in combating climate change and restoring biodiversity, setting a precedent for future investments in sustainable practices.