Climate tech fund to invest 350 million euros in startups

BERLIN Reuters - A recently launched climate technology fund, which says its mission is to solve the problem of climate change, aims to raise a total of 350 million euros $407 million to invest in startups whose innovations could avert the global crisis.

World Fund, initiated by green search engine Ecosia, said on Tuesday that it had begun making its first investments and more than half of its investment target had been committed. It didn't name any of the beneficiaries.

If it reaches its target, World Fund, which has already attracted some 60 investors, would be the largest climate tech fund in Europe.

Our goal is to solve the problem of climate change, Ecosia founder Christian Kroll told Reuters TV.

Ecosia is a Berlin-based non-profit search engine that uses its ad revenue to finance tree planting projects worldwide.

World Fund said it would use its own methodology to evaluate which companies show the potential to reduce at least 100 megatons of carbon dioxide emissions annually in industries including food, transport, construction and energy.

The overall goal is to save 2 gigatons of emissions by 2040, said the fund.