VIBRANT DATA LABS + the climate finance tracker
here’s how to save the world
The brainchild of Eric Berlow—an ecologist and data scientist who specializes in creating order from apparent chaos—the Climate Finance Tracker is a map for mindful investors looking to truly make a difference as our species responds to climate change. Whether it’s mitigation or adaptability you’re interested in, the CFT is the only tool currently available that can show you both the big picture and the essential details when it comes to the climate change investment landscape. What it reveals is that it’s not a landscape—it’s an ecosystem. And like any ecosystem, all of its parts need to have their needs fulfilled or it will not survive. If investors are investing without knowing where investment is truly needed, we will not solve the climate crisis. Full stop.
Most investors like to invest in the things that grab headlines and promise massive returns—things like electric vehicles and solar power. One of the major points that the CFT drives home is that the affordability and equitable distribution of these technologies is a crucial component that is largely overlooked as an investment opportunity. Which is unfortunate. For those with the right intentions—and the right map—this is an exciting arena of emerging markets and timely opportunities. There are current systems to be supported and new ones to be built—essential components of an investment ecosystem that can help right our actual ecosystem and, yes, provide significant returns for investors of all kinds.
The CFT uses AI to to review the websites of over 6,000 US-based companies and nonprofits whose descriptions mention terms relating to climate mitigation or climate adaptation to create the first visually searchable ecosystem of over $230B in private investment and philanthropic grants. The open source framework for creating the CFT, and other trackers like it, is being developed by Vibrant Data Labs and a growing ecosystem of collaborators. I occasionally offer language, design, and general storytelling tips for outreach and presentations of this extraordinary tool.
The Climate Finance Tracker in action.