Allison Arnold is a Managing Partner of Opalene Climate Capital that was launched by non-profit by the name of VertueLab.

Below is a summary of her remarks.

A year as a Rotary exchange student in Belgium was one of the most formative experiences of my life. It took me from Oregon into a completely different culture and taught me the value of global understanding and local community. My French may have faded over the years, but my respect for Rotary International has only grown stronger. Rotary’s ability to create meaningful change both globally and locally reflects exactly what healthy communities require: collaboration, vision, and service.

Today, I want to talk about another essential element of healthy communities: protecting and stewarding our natural environment. Building a world where both people and nature can thrive has become the central focus of my professional life.

I serve as managing partner of Opalene Climate Capital, an impact-oriented venture fund launched by VertueLab, a Pacific Northwest nonprofit that has supported early-stage climate technology companies since 2007. VertueLab works to accelerate climate solutions by helping entrepreneurs access resources, supporting innovation, and partnering with underserved communities to create a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Our new fund invests in promising Washington climate-tech companies that can generate environmental, social, and economic impact alongside financial returns.

Climate change is no longer a distant issue. Washington residents are already experiencing its effects through changing weather patterns, wildfire smoke, drought concerns, and stress on ecosystems. Although enormous progress has been made over the last 30 years in renewable energy and electrification, our economy and supply chains remain deeply dependent on fossil fuels. Global emissions have continued to rise.

Yet there is reason for optimism.