Data is increasingly shaping how climate and nature action is financed and how solutions are designed. The availability of data and the capacity to analyse this information is becoming a foundation of trust between communities, investors, and funders. From digital twins in agriculture to blockchain-based biodiversity monitoring, data-driven tools are opening new pathways to channel finance where it is most needed.

The sixth episode of The Big Shift: The Climate Finance Revolution explores how digitalisation, from data, artificial intelligence, to digital platforms can help unlock financing for climate and nature finance projects. The talk features two major examples in community-based conservation and climate-resilient agriculture. This episode is part of the Youth Voice series, which provides a platform for students and young professionals to discuss key climate finance topics, bring fresh perspectives, and foster critical thinking.

The episode is moderated by Jina Yazdanpanah, sustainability data and research specialist at Ethic and consulting product manager for the Coldtivate app. With a background in industrial engineering and specialisations in AI and humanitarian engineering, Jina brings a systems perspective to the discussion.

She is joined by Niña Cerilla, Founder’s Associate at GainForest, a non-profit working at the intersection of technology, biodiversity, and community-led conservation.

Together, they explore how data can act as a “currency of trust”, helping projects demonstrate impact, reduce risk, and access finance.

Why data matters

To understand the role of data, it is key to first grasp what “data” really means in the context of climate finance. A key distinction discussed is between data analytics and data science. Data analytics looks backwards, helping projects understand what has already happened by analysing past performance, trends, and outcomes. Data science, by contrast, is forward-looking: it uses predictive models, algorithms, and artificial intelligence to anticipate future scenarios, risks, and opportunities.

In climate finance, reliable data helps projects move from assumptions to evidence, reducing uncertainty for investors and funders. Rather than serving only technical or operational purposes, data can directly influence access to finance by showing whether a project performs as promised and whether it can generate stable returns or measurable benefits.

The discussion also highlights the diversity of digital tools, leveraging both data analytics and data science, available to support climate action. These range from digital twins that simulate physical systems and predict outcomes, to impact dashboards that aggregate and visualise results, and automated processes that reduce manual intervention and human error. Other tools discussed include marketplace platforms that connect buyers and sellers, price projections that help producers make informed decisions, as well as satellite imagery, blockchain technologies, and decentralised ledgers, which enable transparent monitoring of environmental outcomes.Crucially, the episode emphasises that the real value of data lies in how it is used: to empower communities with inclusive practices and project design, improve decision-making with clear information, and align incentives between local actors, implementers, and financiers. When designed responsibly, digital tools can strengthen both climate mitigation efforts – such as energy efficiency and decarbonisation – and nature preservation, by making conservation and restoration outcomes visible, verifiable, and therefore better financeable.

From digital agriculture to biodiversity finance

The conversation is grounded in two concrete examples:

Your Virtual Cold Chain Assistant (YourVCCA)

A project developed by BASE and EMPA, addresses post-harvest losses in fruit and vegetable supply chains. Through the Coldtivate app, farmers and cold room operators gain access to digital decision-making tools, including digital twins that predict crop degradation, remote monitoring of cold storage, and streamlined operations under Cooling-as-a-Service models. Importantly, aggregated data from impact dashboards can help micro-entrepreneurs build a case for future loans or credit access.

GainForest

GainForest uses AI, satellite imagery, and blockchain to monitor biodiversity and enable transparent conservation finance. Its EcoCert platform allows donors to fund communities directly, while ensuring that local nature stewards retain ownership of their environmental data and narratives. By turning conservation outcomes into trackable transactions, the model reduces bureaucracy and strengthens trust.

Key questions explored in the episode

• How can data reduce risk and unlock climate finance for small-scale and community-led projects?
  
• What is the difference between data analytics and data science and why does it matter for financing?
  
• How can digital tools support both climate mitigation and nature conservation?

• What are the risks of over-engineering solutions, and where does simplicity still matter?

🎧 Listen to the full episode here

Subscribe to The Big Shift: The Climate Finance Revolution on Spotify to stay updated on new episodes exploring innovative climate finance solutions. You can also revisit earlier episodes covering climate mitigation and adaptation, sustainable cooling, agricultural resilience, and clean energy and mobility in emerging markets.

You can also revisit Episode 5 of The Big Shift, which focuses on Cooling-as-a-Service for buildings and provides additional insights into how servitisation and digital tools can accelerate the adoption of efficient cooling solutions across sectors.