Ellen Jackowski

🌱 Opportunities for Financing Landscapes & Nature-Based Solutions (NbS)! 🌍 The 2024 State of Blended Finance Climate Edition highlights how to mobilize private capital for large-scale NbS and Landscape projects (see here - https://lnkd.in/eJiG-nm5) The top insights from this report for financing landscapes and driving impactful change include: 📊 1. Power of Blended Finance in NbS Blended finance unlocks private capital for high-impact NbS initiatives, with $3.2 billion invested across 27 deals since 2018. This model de-risks investment, enabling reforestation and ecosystem restoration projects. 💸 2. Aggregated Funding Models Using bonds and funds to pool projects diversifies risk and scales impact. Aggregation models combine multiple smaller projects, creating a robust project portfolio that’s more attractive to investors. 🤝 3. The Role of Guarantees in Agriculture Guarantees reduce investment risks in climate-resilient agriculture, drawing private investors into this critical sector. With guarantees, projects gain stability, making agriculture projects viable for scaled investment. 📈 4. Rising Private Sector Interest Private investment in climate-blended finance soared 200% in 2023, especially in single-region or single-project investments, led by DFIs and MDBs to catalyze larger deals. 🌿 5. Strategies for Landscape Financing Success To scale NbS, focus on standardizing deal structures, demonstrating measurable outcomes (like carbon credits), and creating clear frameworks that attract private capital to adaptation and landscape initiatives. Blended finance is transforming the future of large scale NBS and landscape initiatives! It’s an exciting time to engage the private sector in scaling up climate resilience and sustainable agriculture 🌍 #ClimateFinance #SustainableInvesting #NatureBasedSolutions #BlendedFinance #LandscapeRestoration IDH Earthworm Foundation Landscape Finance Lab Proforest Pollination Gold Standard Convergence Blended Finance Mauricio Benitez ISEAL

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One of the key elements to accelerating the transition is organizing new constituencies invested in the net-zero economy. The launch of the U.S. Green Bank 50 is therefore a major milestone in making the transition durable, effective, and organized!

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🌍 Advancing Adaptation Finance for Resilient Futures💚 “For every $1 spent on adaptation this decade, an economic benefit of $12 could be generated.” In the face of escalating climate impacts and fast escalating costs of physical risks, the importance of adaptation finance has never been more crucial. Emerging markets in particular, which are often the most vulnerable to climate change, require robust financial mechanisms to adapt and build resilience. Adaptation finance helps communities to: - Develop infrastructure that withstands climate shocks. - Implement sustainable agricultural practices to ensure food security. - Strengthen healthcare systems to respond to climate-related health issues. - Enhance disaster risk management and early warning systems. A heartfelt thank you to the Green Finance Institute Ingrid Holmes and Standard Chartered Alex Kennedy for convening a truly insightful meeting on mainstreaming adaptation finance in emerging markets. Together, we can make significant strides in protecting our planet while delivering long term value for economies and societies. Every step towards resilience is a step towards a sustainable future. #ClimateFinance #AdaptationFinance #SustainableDevelopment #EmergingMarkets #GreenFinance #SustainableFinance #LondonClimateActionWeek #LCAW

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I think this article is very important. Considerable funds are spent on nature protection and restoration which is great. However, that $2.6 trillion are spent on subsidies that harm nature and cause climate change is both very contra-productive to solve the climate & biodiversity crises and probably new to many. Read more in this article with Eva Zabey from Business for Nature.

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Last post from Climate Week NYC! The theme of the day was innovation in adaptation. I spoke at a Milken Institute workshop on climate finance, we hosted our event on heat & health innovation, and I joined conversations with partners at Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), Climate Policy Initiative, Global Adaptation & Resilience Investment Working Group (GARI) and Systemiq Ltd. that all focused, one way or another, on how we can accelerate private sector investments in adaptation. Here’s what I see. 🌐 Adaptation investment opportunities are a much wider universe than many realize. The Tailwind taxonomy (below) defines eight broad themes, 35 sectors, and provides hundreds of examples of investable innovative solutions in data analytics, physical solutions, insurance and financial instruments. GARI, Bezos Earth Fund and MSCI Sustainability Institute made a compelling argument that you can even invest in adaptation in public equity (the “unavoidable opportunity”) by picking companies who are smart about new market opportunities like 3M or Xylem, with a good ROI and positive externalities. You just need to look in the right place. 🛠 We need to stop using 19th century technology to address 21st century risks. Sandbags and generators and trees can do a great deal, but not enough. We need is to apply human ingenuity to this immense challenge that is climate adaptation. We need to leverage advances in materials science, we need to make water out thin air, to utilize chemical engineering and biochemistry to build differently, to grow food differently, to take care of our health differently. No reason we can’t do cheaper, faster, better for climate resilience. 💸 Saying that mitigation is investable but adaptation is not is a fallacy, and demonstrate short memory. Adaptation finance is 10-15 years behind mitigation finance. Renewable energy and clean tech received massive amounts of subsidies, blended capital, de-risking mechanisms and guarantees, policy enablers that helped bend the curve of technology costs to reach cost parity or profitability against fossil fuels, to establish the right business models. We can do the same for many adaptation opportunities! 🌪 The problem is: we don’t have time. We don’t have 10-15 years. We need adaptation now. We need public and private funders to rally and deploy capital to protect lives and economics assets. That’s exactly why we founded Tailwind. We’re going to keep advocating, educating, and putting out money where our mouth is. How about you? Katie MacDonald David Babikian Brooke Zhang Verena Radulovic Jay Koh Lori Collins Linda-Eling Lee Paul Bodnar Ricardo (Rick) Nogueira Dan Carol Vikram Widge Barbara Buchner Morgan Richmond Katherine Stodulka Kathy Baughman McLeod Reece Pacheco Stacy A. Swann Pallavi Sherikar Josh Sawislak Robert Kay Jeff Levine Amy Bailey Molly Wood Nicholas (Nick) A. Shufro

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Ara Partners was delighted to join the coalition of investors advancing the gold standard in measuring #decarbonization. The latest guidance on estimating #GHGemissions reduction impact is the result of consensus-driven collaboration - 22 months of work, involving 31 Content Working Group Members, 36 focus group participants, and external reviewers. Congratulations to the Project Frame core team and Prime Coalition on the release! Looking forward to the next year of collaboration at the Methodology Working Group with 2150, AENU, Allianz Global Investors, APG, Azolla Ventures, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Bridges, Carbon 13, Carbon Equity, Ceres, Inc., Clean Energy Ventures, Climate Dividends, Climate Investments, Driftwood Climate, Energy Impact Partners, Emerald Technology Ventures, Energy Environment Investments, EQT Group, Future Energy Ventures, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Generate Capital, Generation Investment Management, Helios LLP, JTNL Advisory, Just Climate, Lightrock, MoreScope, PGGM, Planet A, Prime Coalition, Siemens-Energy, Power Sustainable, The Roda Group, TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P., Trill Impact, Venture Climate Alliance, Vidia Equity, WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development, World Fund, and Zero Carbon Capital.

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CDP's 2023 Climate Transition Plan Disclosure is out! Here are the key takeaways: - Climate transition plan indicators are converging across major frameworks like CDP, International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)'s IFRS S2 (TCFD), EU's ESRS, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Climate rules, UK's TPT, GRI, and Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). - Sectors that inherently focus on long-term strategic planning and sustainable returns, such as power generation (32%), financial services (30%), and infrastructure (24%), are leading in climate transition disclosures. - Climate transition plans appear to be a higher priority for companies that are publicly listed. Europe's FTSEurofirst 300 (77%) and Korea's KOSPI 200 (74%) are top-performing climate transition disclosure indexes. - The companies that disclosed to CDP that they would develop a climate transition plan in 2021, only 44% established a plan by 2023, with just 25 disclosing plans credibly. We are in the most critical decade of environmental action. Companies are grappling on how to take meaningful climate action and be Paris aligned. Do you think the convergence of climate transition frameworks will accelerate the rate of companies to develop climate transition plans in the next year? #CDP #ClimateChange #ClimateStrategy

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Closing the US$700 billion biodiversity finance gap is crucial for a nature-positive future. The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) calls for urgent action to redirect capital from harmful activities and scale up investments in nature-positive initiatives. Financial institutions, as intermediaries of the real economy, hold the key to this transformation. However, a major barrier remains: nature finance is often perceived as low-return conservation finance. This must change. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) highlights the need for private capital to play a larger role. By aligning financial strategies with GBF goals, we could unlock US$10.1 trillion in opportunities. Private finance can and must be part of the solution. Let's build a future where halting and reversing nature loss becomes a priority. 📝 Access the report here: https://ow.ly/JO8h50TB0JK Lead authors Sara Taaffe (CISL), Corinne Martin (CISL), Robert Barker (CISL), with significant contributions from A-Track consortium partners Capitals Coalition UNEP-WCMC IDEEA Group and TECNALIA Research & Innovation Hashtags: #SustainableFinance #Biodiversity #NaturePositive #PrivateFinance #GlobalBiodiversityFramework

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Unlocking the Power of DAFs for Food and Agriculture Impact A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is no longer just a tool for the wealthy. Many organizations offer DAFs with low minimum initial contributions, sometimes as little as $5,000 or less. Anyone can engage in strategic philanthropy and support innovative for-profit companies tackling social and environmental challenges through a DAF. These funds allow you to make charitable contributions, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to causes you care about. DAF sponsors offer impact investing options, enabling donors to recommend investing their DAF assets in companies or funds that generate both financial returns and positive social impact. Your charitable dollars can support mission-driven businesses developing solutions in areas like renewable energy, affordable healthcare, or sustainable agriculture. Here is an exciting opportunity at impact investing and sustainable agriculture intersection. Traditional farming faces unprecedented challenges: • Severe water scarcity in major growing regions • Accelerating soil erosion • Fragile, lengthy supply chains • Growing climate risks Enter Elevate Farms, which is revolutionizing agriculture through vertical farming innovation. What catches my attention as an impact investor: 1. Democratizing Access: Their technology produces leafy greens at market prices ($2.29/lb delivered), making healthy food accessible to all—not just premium consumers. 2. Resource Efficiency: Their advanced photobiology expertise minimizes energy and labor costs, the two biggest hurdles in vertical farming. 3. Location Independence: Their systems work in standard industrial buildings anywhere globally, eliminating reliance on specific climate conditions or water availability. 4. Scalable Impact: Their hub-and-spoke model enables strategic global expansion across the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Here's where DAFs come in as the perfect impact investing vehicle: • Zero Risk Profile: Since funds are already donated, DAF capital can support higher-risk, early-stage innovations that traditional portfolios might avoid. • Perpetual Impact: Returns flow back into the DAF for reinvestment in future impact ventures, creating a sustainable cycle of positive change. • Strategic Alignment: Investments can directly support solutions to critical global challenges such as food security, climate resilience, and agricultural sustainability. DAFs are perfect investment vehicles for supporting transformative solutions that combine meaningful social/environmental impact with sustainable business models. For donors looking to maximize their DAF's impact: Consider how direct investments in agricultural innovation could help build a more sustainable, equitable food system while potentially growing your charitable capital for future giving. #ImpactInvesting #SustainableAgriculture #DAF #FoodSecurity #ClimateAction #SocialImpact #VerticalFarming #Innovation #Philanthropy

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How to provide a stable source of funding for urgently needed climate action? and what role does the voters have in legislation. This is Citizen- Governance 101. Have a read: This is not just a story from California, its every city's woeful journey. Bond funds are an appropriate and very effective way to fund many of the climate change-adaptation actions that many cities in USA are planning right now but don’t have local revenue sources to support. Think about it 'Even a short-term delay in adopting strong climate policies dramatically increases the cost of decarbonization and risks irreversible ecological impacts' #Howtounderwriteclimateresiliencyprojects #buildcommunityresilence #climatechange #voting #investinresilence #generationrestoration

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🌍🌳🐠🪸Thrilled to have been invited by IFC - International Finance Corporation to speak at their Climate Network Breakfast on “Scaling up #NatureFinance and Building #PartnershipsForChange.” It was an excellent opportunity to share BNP Paribas’ perspective on advancing nature and biodiversity finance. At BNP Paribas, nature and biodiversity finance are at the heart of our strategy. We’re committed to setting rigorous market standards, through the ICMA - International Capital Market Association and by contributing to IFC’s Biodiversity Finance Reference Guide & Metrics for Impact Reporting this year, leveraging over a decade of expertise in structuring private sector transactions. The guide is a pragmatic tool for impact measurement and beyond. It helps choose KPIs for sustainability-linked frameworks and structure green or blue bond proceeds, with initiatives ranging from: ➡️ #Mitigation of damaging activities, through existing efficient technologies like nature-smart water treatment ➡️ #Adaption of practices, like naturalised species more resilient to extreme weather ➡️ Implementing #NatureBased solutions like regenerative aquaculture talking both food and climate issues Scaling nature finance requires aligning economic value with community resilience through opportunities like sustainable forestry, biodiversity-linked agriculture, plastic collection, and nature-based tourism. But challenges remain—governance, de-risking mechanisms, off-taking, long-term revenue streams, and measurable impact are all critical enablers. #PublicPrivate partnerships are key, with Multi Development Banks like IFC and the The World Bank playing a pivotal role in de-risking investments, building capacity, and catalyzing private finance. At BNP Paribas CIB, we’re leveraging our structuring expertise and sustainability-focused investor network to drive impactful initiatives like the Coral Bond project, a groundbreaking partnership to protect marine biodiversity in Indonesia. 📖 Read https://lnkd.in/gV8sHGAA And let’s keep building partnerships for change! Thank you, IFC, for fostering this vital dialogue. #Together, we can scale nature finance and create lasting impact. 🌿 #Sustainability #Biodiversity #NatureFinance #IFC #PartnershipsForChange #ClimateAction Paula Alayo Henri Duféÿ Sabina Veksler Laurent Leveque Camille Maclet Nathalie Jaubert Laurence Pessez Anne Pointet

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🌍 Want to commercialize your climate tech in the United States? Discover how small federal grants can be your stepping stone. In the last 3 years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has transformed. More funding for large-scale demonstrations is now available thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. But did you know small federal grants can be just as impactful? Here's why: - DOE prefers funding companies they know. Small grants help you get on their radar. - Smaller grants are great for learning the ropes of federal funding. It's a practical way to understand the process and requirements. - Success with small grants can lead to bigger opportunities. Proving your capability with smaller projects can open doors to larger funding. Early engagement and consistent interaction with DOE can make a significant difference. Engaging early isn’t just about applying for funds; it's about building a presence and showcasing your potential. The DOE has set up entirely new programs and hired numerous program managers. They’ve run merit review processes for nearly a trillion dollars and selected over 1,000 projects. This transformation means more opportunities than ever, but the competition is fierce. To stand out, consider subrecipient opportunities within larger projects. These can be excellent ways to access federal support without going through the traditional funding process. Annual appropriations also offer smaller dollar awards, which are great for getting your feet wet. 📩 DM me or email [email protected] for expert tips on securing federal funds. #Innovation #Funding #Cleantech

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This is for read carefully. https://lnkd.in/eA8tXyTP

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Targets for adapting to climate change are #meaningless without the means to act. It’s time for a clear adaptation finance goal. https://lnkd.in/eys4-XmM

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If you've not yet seen the just released and much anticipated Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) interopoerability mapping, I've linked the overview below. This is immensely helpful as GRI standards provide the building blocks for transparent reporting, managing risks and opportunities and supporting on strategic decision-making. The detailed mapping is published as a handy excel table download covering correspondences between the TNFD Disclosure Recommendations and metrics and the disclosures of the GRI Standards. The accompanying 15 page overview is an easy read. The list of GRI Standards covered are: 🗻 GRI 1: Foundation 2021 📜 GRI 2: General Disclosures 2021 ✒ GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 🐒 GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 🌎 GRI 301: Materials 2016  ⚗ GRI 303: Water and Effluents 2018 🏭 GRI 305: Emissions 2016 ☢ GRI 306: Effluents and Waste 2016 🗑GRI 306: Waste 2020 🖊GRI 415: Public Policy 2016 🌱 https://lnkd.in/ecvVVtce #biodiversity #nature #reporting #tnfd

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🌍 Can biodiversity credits drive global restoration efforts? The creation of the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB) is a major milestone, expanding perspectives and mobilizing a broad coalition of countries beyond the initial Franco-British framework. The recent #COP16 in Cali demonstrated the growing global interest in this collective effort. The framework established by the IAPB brings crucial international recognition. It defines what a high-quality biodiversity credit should look like. It builds on efforts and contributions from many stakeholders including World Economic Forum and Biodiversity Credit Alliance. It is however only a first step. We now need to address the challenge of market structuring. The demand side is key: the involvement of large companies is essential. I am also convinced that, by often treating carbon and biodiversity credits separately, we are missing an opportunity to promote a « nature credit » model that combines both, as companies are only beginning to grapple with the complexities of carbon credits. The example of the Green Bonds Principles, which have successfully structured a market, offers a compelling model for the next phase of the IAPB's work. #BiodiversityCredits #GreenTransition #SustainableFinance #GreenInnovation #ClimateGoals Sylvie Goulard Dame Amelia Fawcett DBE, CVO David Vaillant Read the #IAPB framework 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/e_Wky7xf

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Debt-for-nature swaps continue to build momentum and make positive outcomes happen. Here’s how you can help —

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As global policymakers assemble here in Washington for the #IMFWorldBank spring meetings, critical topics on the agenda include geopolitics and climate finance. 🌍💼 This conclave provides a platform for discussion, even if little gets done to increase financial support to vulnerable nations facing climate repercussions. In our fragile and fragmenting world, discussions among policymakers can help smooth the transition to the post-Washington-consensus global economy. What do you think about the intersection of global finance, geopolitics, and our climate? Do you believe the #GlobalEconomy can unite to fund a greener, more sustainable future? Leave your insights below and join the conversation toward progress. #ClimateFinance #SustainableDevelopment #EconomicGrowth #PoliticalEconomy

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