Minding the Gaps: A groundbreaking report revealing major imbalances in climate finance

One Earth, in partnership with Vibrant Data Labs, has released Minding the Gaps, a groundbreaking new report and interactive tool that offers the most comprehensive analysis to date of US private climate finance.

By tracking nearly $400 billion in private investment and philanthropic capital from 2018 to 2024, the report reveals where money is flowing across the climate solutions landscape, and where urgent gaps remain.

A first-of-its-kind analysis

Minding the Gaps is the first report to examine philanthropic and investment flows side-by-side. By analyzing more than 10,000 US-based companies and nonprofits, the report shows how capital is being distributed across the three pillars of One Earth’s Solutions Framework: Energy Transition, Nature Conservation, and Regenerative Agriculture.

The findings expose stark imbalances. While the Energy sector receives the vast majority of funding, Nature Conservation and Regenerative Agriculture—the very systems that sustain life on Earth—are dramatically underfunded.

“What this data shows is where gaps exist, and where investment could be deployed more powerfully. Minding the Gaps is the start of a conversation—data that can drive collaboration between funders, mobilize action, and help build a more effective movement.” –Justin Winters, Co-founder and Executive Director of One Earth.

Key findings

• 🔌 Energy dominates. 89% of tracked climate funding goes to Energy Transition. But half of it is concentrated in Solar Photovoltaic alone, leaving a major gap for other critical solutions, including geothermal, wave energy, storage, and efficiency.
• 🌳 Nature is neglected. Only 4% of tracked climate funding supports Nature Conservation. And less than 6% of philanthropic capital for Nature Conservation reaches Indigenous-led land tenure efforts, despite its proven effectiveness in protecting ecosystems.
• 🌾 Agriculture is overlooked. Regenerative agriculture receives only 7% of total climate finance, and the majority of capital is flowing to Meat-Free proteins and plant-based food products. But less than 2.5% flows to the very regenerative cropland practices that are necessary to draw down carbon and restore our soil.

These numbers highlight not only the risks of an unbalanced approach but, also the opportunities to fund high-impact, overlooked solutions that can accelerate climate action.

Why it matters

Nature plays a central role in stabilizing the climate, yet conservation receives only a fraction of global funding. Indigenous peoples steward 39% of Earth’s remaining intact ecosystems, but their efforts remain chronically underfunded.

At the same time, Regenerative Agriculture offers a powerful pathway to rebuild soils, protect biodiversity, and increase resilience. Despite its benefits, it continues to be sidelined in favor of market-driven alternatives that often fail to support long-term ecological health.

Energy Transition is the most well-funded pillar, but funding is overly concentrated in a narrow set of technologies. Achieving 100% renewable energy will require a more diverse mix of solutions that meet the needs of communities across different geographies.

By bringing clarity to how climate funding is distributed, Minding the Gaps provides a foundation for more informed decisions. Rebalancing these flows is not just about filling in the blanks. It’s about unlocking the full potential of climate action by investing in the places, people, and practices that can drive real and lasting change.

“Nature is noisy, and as ecologists we look for signals that help break through. In many ways, that’s what this report does—signal to funders where and how they need to make the most impact. By applying rigorous, science-based methods to tens of thousands of grants and investments, Minding the Gaps cuts through the noise. The takeaway: no single silver bullet will solve this crisis—collaboration across all solutions is what’s needed.” — Eric Berlow, CEO of Vibrant Data Labs.

A living tool for collective action

Minding the Gaps is more than a report. It’s a dynamic tool built to support coordinated efforts across the climate movement.

The interactive component, the Solutions Finance Tracker, brings this data to life. This open-source platform allows users to explore philanthropic and investment flows across One Earth’s 75+ climate solutions, with filters for geography, sector, and type of funding. Updated regularly, it empowers funders, investors, and advocates to identify gaps, discover opportunities, and take targeted action.

Explore the report

The challenge is no longer whether solutions exist; they do. The real question is whether we will fund them in time.

Dive into Minding the Gaps and discover how we can align capital with the solutions that will shape a just and vibrant future.