International Financiers Seek Climate-Related Investments Abroad: Poll
In the wake of political changes, global investors have shown a growing interest in climate-related investments, targeting portfolio decarbonization through scalable clean technologies like renewables, e-mobility, energy storage, and climate tech innovation. This shift reflects broader investor preferences for mature, capital-intensive renewable energy assets and venture capital backing high-growth, innovative climate tech [1].
Private equity has largely favoured renewables due to their mature and stable profile, while venture capitalists have expanded investments in e-mobility, which showed a 93% year-over-year increase in 2024 deal value in India alone. Emerging themes like energy storage and energy efficiency are also gaining traction, supported by government decarbonization pushes and technological advancements [1].
However, the financial commitment to climate change mitigation remains substantial but falls short of what’s needed. For instance, $4.6 trillion annually by the early 2030s is required to reach net-zero by 2050, but clean energy investment stands at about $2 trillion annually, roughly half the target [2]. Despite political challenges, including policies from the Trump administration such as tariffs and supply chain uncertainties, investors remain committed to embedding climate objectives into their portfolios [2].
This commitment is reflected in increased attention to carbon cost mapping and emissions disclosure, which are reshaping investment and corporate strategies [2]. Sustainability-focused technologies, including AI for energy demand optimization and supply chain emissions tracking, have become increasingly central to achieving decarbonization goals, integrating sustainability deeply into business operations [4].
The United States, after the Trump era, continues to advance climate investment primarily through legislative actions like the Influsion Reduction Act of 2022 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocate billions toward renewable energy, carbon capture, and infrastructure projects aligned with climate goals [3].
Despite the optimism, 53% of respondents believe that new U.S. government policy is likely to slow down their progress on decarbonizing investment portfolios, but that the impact will only be short-term [5]. In response, 58% of European investors and 62% of Asia Pacific investors plan to look outside of the U.S. for investments in areas such as climate solutions, transitioning companies, and renewable energy [5].
Less than a third of investors expect the new U.S. policies to have an adverse impact on reaching net zero in investment portfolios, and 56% of investors expect that U.S. policy will setback global progress towards net zero, but believe momentum will recover when President Trump leaves office [5].
However, 47% of investors lack suitable investment products for investing in climate adaptation and resilience, and 42% of investors report it is hard to identify credible climate adaptation companies [6]. Despite these challenges, 39% of investors plan to invest more in climate solutions [6].
The surveyed investors represent more than $31 trillion in assets under management, with over 300 institutional and wholesale investors surveyed by international asset manager Robeco for the "Global Climate Investing Survey 2025" [7]. Electricity grid modernization is also a targeted climate mitigation solution for increased investment [8].
In conclusion, global investors are increasingly prioritizing portfolio decarbonization through investments in renewables, e-mobility, energy storage, and climate tech innovation, despite political uncertainties. This shift reflects a sustained commitment to decarbonization goals, driven by evolving government policies and technologies that help meet climate targets and adapt to supply chain and regulatory risks.
References: [1] Global Climate Investing Survey 2025, Robeco, 2025 [2] Climate Policy and Investment: The Role of Financial Markets, World Bank, 2024 [3] Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, U.S. Congress, 2022 [4] The Future of Climate-Related Risk Disclosures, Financial Stability Board, 2023 [5] Global Climate Investing Survey 2025, Robeco, 2025 [6] Climate Adaptation and Resilience Investment Gap Report, UNEP, 2024 [7] Global Climate Investing Survey 2025, Robeco, 2025 [8] Electricity Grid Modernization: A Climate Mitigation Strategy, International Energy Agency, 2024
Investors are focusing on integrating climate objectives into their portfolios by increasing investments in scalable clean technologies, such as renewables, e-mobility, energy storage, and climate tech innovation [1]. The financial commitment to climate change mitigation remains substantial yet inadequate, with annual clean energy investment standing at about half of the required $4.6 trillion annually to reach net-zero by 2050 [2]. To adapt to climate change and meet climate targets, sustainability-focused technologies, including AI for energy demand optimization and supply chain emissions tracking, have become crucial [4].
