In another example, Toyota, the maker of the Prius, has sold bonds whose proceeds were used to promote its hybrid technology.

Here are three ways to consider climate change as a criterion for making investments:

Tap public markets for green investing

Investing in publicly traded equity and debt is an easy way to express a view on climate change. And their availability, along with the increasing number and size of mutual funds with a focus on the environment, offer plenty of choices.

Yet these investments, like any other, carry risk. “You still have to do your homework,” said Lloyd Kurtz, head of social impact investing for Wells Fargo Private Bank. “If you buy an expensive stock with bad fundamentals, it could be green but it’s still going to perform badly.”

That was the case with many early solar investments and the selections that early green energy funds made, Mr. Kurtz said. But he said the case for renewable energy had been bolstered by companies, like Apple and Google, that adopted these sources to power their operations in the United States.

The debt market has developed to a level that there are offerings for retail investors.

Louise Herrle, managing director and head of socially responsible investing at Incapital, which underwrites bond offerings, said she had seen an increased interest from baby boomers who want a portfolio aligned with their values. This could mean offerings from the World Bank to fund water projects or bonds like the one from Toyota.

“Retail is going to drive this,” she said. “They want to put their money where their mouth is. People are talking about the financial return and the social return.”

Seek companies expanding responsible business

Constructing sustainable buildings is a major source of green investment, as are wind farms and solar arrays. But there are plenty of companies in a middle ground, working to retrofit buildings or using alternative energy to add to existing power sources.