Just Climate, an impact-focused investment firm launched by Al Gore’s Generation Investment Management, has raised $175 million from Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) to support nature-based climate solutions.
While most climate investments have gone to energy and transportation, nature-based solutions—such as sustainable agriculture, forestry, and land restoration—remain underfunded. In 2022, only $35 billion was allocated to these initiatives, compared to $1.46 trillion for other climate sectors.
Just Climate aims to bridge this funding gap by backing projects that:
- Restore biodiversity and sequester carbon through reforestation.
- Develop biological fertilizers and pesticides to reduce chemical pollution.
- Enhance carbon removal verification technologies to ensure transparency.
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First Investment in Biodiversity Tech
Earlier this year, Just Climate led a Series B round for NatureMetrics, a startup using environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis to assess biodiversity in water and soil samples. The technology helps companies measure and mitigate their environmental impact.
Microsoft’s Growing Climate Portfolio
Microsoft has been actively investing in carbon removal and sustainable land use projects. The tech giant recently backed Chestnut Carbon, a startup focused on reforestation-based carbon offsets.
With $175M in new funding, Just Climate is positioning itself as a leader in nature-based climate finance, helping combat biodiversity loss and land-use emissions while driving long-term environmental impact.
