The number of acutely food insecure individuals surged from 149 million before the COVID-19 pandemic to 333 million in 2023, driven by extreme weather events.

Additionally, global mean sea levels reached a new high in 2023, reflecting ongoing ocean warming and melting ice, with the rate of rise over the past decade more than double that of the 1993-2002 period.

These extreme weather events, including major floods and droughts, have significantly worsened socio-economic conditions worldwide, exacerbating food insecurity.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported that 2023 set records for greenhouse gas emissions, ocean heat, and extreme weather events.

In stark contrast to the urgent need for green investments, fossil fuel sectors have seen an increase in long bets from hedge funds, highlighting a divide in investment sentiment amid the climate crisis.

A Bloomberg report from October 2023 indicates that hedge funds are increasingly betting against the green economy, revealing skepticism about the viability of green investments.

Concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide reached unprecedented levels in 2022 and continued to rise in 2023, with CO2 levels now 50% higher than pre-industrial levels.

This year also saw the global mean near-surface temperature recorded at 1.45°C above the 1850-1900 average, making it the warmest year on record.

Data shows that more hedge funds are net short on green sectors like solar and electric vehicles than are net long, further illustrating this skepticism.

Despite these challenges, companies like Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) are being evaluated alongside other top climate change stocks in light of the current climate crisis.

The impact of these climate changes has been severe, with displacement due to climate hazards affecting 1.8 million people in East Africa, compounded by ongoing droughts that displaced an additional 3 million.