He cites the example of portfolio company Ecofy, a green finance solutions company co-founded by Rajashree Nambiar. “Ecofy tackles one of the biggest barriers to climate action — access to finance. By focussing exclusively on green lending, Ecofy is empowering businesses and individuals to transition to a low-carbon economy. Its innovative approach, execution strength, and scalable vision have positioned it as a key enabler in sectors such as EV adoption, rooftop solar, and energy efficiency. By supporting high-impact businesses like this, we aim to accelerate climate action while fostering a more inclusive investment landscape,” Jhaveri adds.
“Digital financial platforms tailored for green financing are helping scale climate-smart solutions by facilitating better access to credit and financial tools,” shares Rajashree Nambiar, co-founder, MD and CEO, Ecof. Ecofy Finance has built one of its kind, tech-first, green-only NBFC. They are a digital lending platform offering loans to retail consumers in the space of electric vehicles, roof-top solar panels and green equipment financing. “With our unique perspective, we partner with people and businesses who want to reduce their carbon footprint and restore balance to the planet,” she adds.
India’s climate-tech space is witnessing a surge in women-led ventures, with 39% startups in the sector being female-founded. But access to finance remains a key hurdle. Despite this growth, women receive only 7% of venture capital funding compared to male-led startups. “Women innovate in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and circular economy solutions, but they struggle to secure funding due to biases in investment frameworks,” says Angela Chaudhuri, chief catalyst at Swasti, a public health platform.
“When women gain access to credit, they can invest in initiatives that not only help communities adapt to environmental stress, but also reduce household energy costs and create income-generating opportunities,” says Naghma Mulla, CEO, EdelGive Foundation. For too long, women’s contributions to climate action have been undervalued. Their leadership in adaptation and resilience needs to be recognised, funded, and integrated into climate policy. A 2021 UN report found that women’s leadership in climate programmes increases project effectiveness by 35%. “Traditional financial systems have long excluded women, making it harder for them to secure credit, land, or resources,” says Mulla. “Expanding gender-responsive climate finance in India could unlock greater innovation and impact.”
As the world races towards a climate-resilient future, countries that fail to integrate women into their climate policies will find themselves fighting an uphill battle. Women-led businesses are driving meaningful change — like GreenGrahi, which turns food waste into sustainable farming inputs, or BharatAgri, an AI-powered platform offering climate-smart farming advice. Then there’s Swayam Shikshan Prayog, which has trained 80,000 women in climate-resilient agriculture, helping boost farmer incomes by 30%.
“Financial inclusion not only boosts women’s self-confidence but also gives them a voice in decision-making processes related to climate initiatives,” says Anvesha Thakker, co-lead, energy transition, global decarbonisation hub, and partner, KPMG in India.
“When combined with capacity building or training programmes, it can create deep-rooted transformation, enabling women to lead and benefit from climate solutions,” she adds.
For India’s climate future, ensuring women’s full participation is no longer a choice — it’s imperative. The silent climate warriors must now take centre-stage in shaping a more resilient and sustainable world.
Source:https://fortuneindia-web.quintype.io/long-reads/the-invisible-climate-warriors-how-indias-women-are-solving-the-crisis-nobody-sees/121709