Our commitment

In January 2020, we announced a bold new environmental sustainability strategy focusing on carbon, water, waste, and ecosystems. As part of our commitment, we are investing $1 billion over the next four years in new technologies and innovative sustainability solutions.

Learn about our commitments Read our carbon blog

Our approach

The Climate Innovation Fund will accelerate technology development and new innovations by investing in project finance, debt, and equity capital. We’ll focus our funding on investments primarily based on four criteria:

Climate impact

Meaningful, measurable climate solutions in the areas of carbon, water, waste, and ecosystems.

Underfunded markets

Investing where the capital need for climate solutions is not being met.

Shared alignment

Technologies that are relevant to Microsoft’s core business and that of our customers.

Climate equity

Ensuring developing economies and underserved communities benefit from climate solutions.

 

About the Climate Innovation Fund

We will primarily invest in climate solutions that have been developed and need capital to scale in the market. We aim to make investments that will accelerate existing climate solutions and create new technologies. We’ll invest directly in companies and into investment funds, to scale new innovative solutions in the market, to demonstrate the viability of new technologies, and to partner with other investors to meet the world’s climate objectives.

 

We’ll focus on areas such as direct carbon removal, digital optimization, advanced energy systems, industrial materials, circular economy, water technologies, sustainable agriculture, and business strategies for nature-based markets.

 

An investment will be prioritized if it ensures developing economies and underserved communities will benefit from the climate solution. We understand that this is just a fraction of the investment needed, and we hope that more governments and companies invest in new ways as well.

 

Microsoft is managing the Fund and will periodically leverage external experts and investment managers. We will seek an economic return as well as consider the environmental return on each investment.

Apply for funding

Please complete our Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund form for consideration.

Submit an inquiry