Here are 10 innovative startups using AI to fight climate change - driving impact through clean energy, reforestation, biodiversity monitoring, water management, and circular economy solutions:
1. Felt (USA)
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What it does: AI-powered geospatial mapping platform for environmental monitoring - wildfire and flood risk, deforestation, air quality, and infrastructure planning.
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Why it matters: Enables climate and energy organizations to monitor risk visually and in real time.
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Founder / News Quote: “Felt’s platform enables users to create custom‑tailored maps with natural language prompts … monitoring assets, project planning, and environmental metrics” (blog.google, Business Insider)
2. ECOshifter (France)
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What it does: SaaS climate adaptation platform using AI, digital twins, and interactive maps to simulate local climate risks and adaptation strategies.
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Impact: Helps regions and businesses prioritize resilience investments. (StartUs Insights)
3. refinq (Austria)
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What it does: Its GaiaGuide platform uses machine learning and geospatial data to assess biodiversity and climate risk at specific business locations.
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Alignment: Supports frameworks like TNFD and CSRD. (StartUs Insights)
4. Kilimo (Argentina)
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What it does: AI-driven irrigation recommendations using satellite, weather, and crop data to optimize water use in farming.
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Real‑world impact: Reduced water use by up to 20% while maintaining yields; saved 72 million m³ of water in Latin America. (The Sustainable Agency)
5. Greyparrot (UK)
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What it does: Computer vision solution for sorting waste in recycling plants, identifying up to 89 waste categories in real-time.
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Impact: Scanned over 25 billion items in 2023, diverting millions of tons from landfill. (The Sustainable Agency)
6. Pachama (USA)
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What it does: AI-powered marketplace for nature-based carbon removal credits, using satellite imagery and ML to verify forest projects.
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Goal: Build trust and scalability in carbon markets. (AI Startups)
7. Pano AI (USA / Australia)
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What it does: Deploys 360° high‑def cameras with AI to detect wildfires early, verified by analysts and sent to emergency services.
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Scale: ~100 cameras deployed in US/Australia. (Climate Insider)
8. CarbonChain (UK)
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What it does: AI platform automating carbon emissions tracking across supply chains, enabling businesses to manage climate impact for net-zero. (AI Startups)
9. Treefera (UK)
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What it does: AI-driven forest data platform focused on reliable carbon credit development and nature-based solutions. (AI Startups)
10. Cervest (UK)
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What it does: Building an AI-first platform that predicts and guides responses to climate volatility for businesses, governments, and growers.
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Purpose: Enhance long-term resilience amid climate uncertainty. (AI Startups)
Summary Table
| Startup | Use Case | Key Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Felt | Risk mapping & monitoring | Wildfire, flood, deforestation tracking |
| ECOshifter | Climate adaptation planning | Local resilience modeling |
| refinq | Biodiversity and climate risk analysis | TNFD/CSRD compliance |
| Kilimo | Smart irrigation | Up to 20% water savings |
| Greyparrot | AI-powered waste sorting | Diverted waste at scale |
| Pachama | Verified carbon credits | Scalable nature-based carbon markets |
| Pano AI | Wildfire detection | Rapid alerts to improve response |
| CarbonChain | Supply chain emissions analytics | Net-zero strategy enablement |
| Treefera | Forest conservation & carbon mapping | Trustworthy carbon credit infrastructure |
| Cervest | Climate risk forecasting | Business and ecosystem resilience planning |
Why This Matters
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Scalable Solutions: These AI tools can operate at national and global scale, amplifying climate impact.
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Action-Ready: Real-world application - from farmers in Latin America to recycling plants in Europe.
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Investor & Policy Alignment: Several align with frameworks like TNFD, CSRD, and carbon markets.