Investing in Climate Tech: A Crucial Step Towards Net-Zero Emissions

European Venture Capital Must Align with Emissions to Drive Climate Innovation

To achieve the ambitious goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, experts argue that a significant increase in capital investment in climate tech is imperative. Daria Saharova, managing partner at VC World Fund, emphasizes that European funds, despite managing trillions of euros, need to invest at least €1 trillion annually. While Europe leads the world in climate technology patent applications, there is a misalignment between venture capital investment and emissions. Saharova highlights the need to redirect funding towards underfunded sectors such as manufacturing, food and agriculture, and the built environment, which contribute significantly to global emissions.

The Misalignment of Venture Capital and Emissions

Saharova points out that 48 percent of venture capital investments in 2022 were directed towards mobility technology, which accounts for only 15 percent of emissions. In contrast, more polluting industries receive insufficient funding. This misalignment results in 85 percent of emissions receiving only 52 percent of funding. Saharova emphasizes that personal behavior change can only reduce 4.3 percent of emissions, while existing technologies in the market can address 49.8 percent. The remaining 46 percent, which requires yet-to-be-developed technologies, necessitates increased venture capital investment.

The Need for Venture Capital in Climate Tech

Despite the potential for high returns, venture capital has been cautious due to previous failures in climate tech investments. Saharova highlights that between 2008 and 2013, significant investments resulted in numerous failures. Currently, climate tech funding is distributed with 35 percent allocated to research and development, 37 percent to private equity, and only 13 percent to venture capital. However, the rise of private equity investments in climate tech demonstrates the enormous opportunity for venture capitalists.

Overcoming Investment Challenges with Climate Performance Potential (CPP)

To navigate the complexities of climate tech investments, World Fund has developed a benchmarking system called Climate Performance Potential (CPP). This model assesses a startup’s potential to reduce emissions, disregards the startup’s own predictions, and evaluates the Total Addressable Market (TAM) or Total Avoidable Emissions. By focusing on the technology rather than the company, the CPP model enables the measurement of a technology’s impact on the carbon market compared to others, facilitating predictions of success. This approach can be applied to both startups and large organizations.

Conclusion:

Investing in climate tech is crucial for achieving net-zero emissions by 2030. While Europe leads in climate technology patents, there is a misalignment between venture capital investment and emissions. Redirecting funding towards underfunded sectors and increasing venture capital investment are essential. The Climate Performance Potential (CPP) model provides a framework for assessing the potential impact of climate tech investments. By leveraging private and public capital, we can drive the development and deployment of innovative technologies to address the urgent challenge of climate change.