Robert Gardner

🌿 Solving the Carbon Market Integrity Crisis🌿 I strongly recommend Simon Mundy's latest article in the Financial Times on the integrity crisis plaguing the voluntary carbon market. The piece echoes a report I wrote with Cara Howse for BeZero Carbon last year called "Quality isn't Binary" (Read here: https://lnkd.in/eauB6feK). His piece highlights the urgent need for robust standards, carbon ratings and transparency to ensure that carbon credits genuinely contribute to climate goals. Some highlights: 🔐 Securities, not commodities. By viewing carbon credits more like securities—akin to stocks and bonds—rather than a fungible commodity, we can enhance their reliability and effectiveness. As Tommy Ricketts rightly points out, carbon credits are an imperfect asset, not a pure commodity. This perspective is crucial for understanding their role and potential. 👨‍💻 Demand for durable removals needs to grow. Tech companies like Microsoft and Stripe are leading the growth of the durable carbon removal market. These expensive, higher quality credits are easier to use as a direct emission offset. 📉 Adopting internal carbon pricing mechanisms can further incentivize companies to maximize their climate impact. This approach shifts the focus from cheap offsetting to meaningful contributions, ensuring funds are directed towards projects with the highest environmental benefit. 📘 Read his article here: https://lnkd.in/e4Ntv-xf

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The United States has been actively involved in promoting the approval of a corporate carbon offset plan.  The US is set to launch guidelines for the use of carbon offsets inside and outside of government to build confidence in the market and ensure credits reflect real emissions cuts. This follows a 2022 move by the State Department, along with two philanthropies, to launch a carbon offset programme known as the Energy Transition Accelerator to generate private finance to help developing countries transition to clean energy. The guidelines will require assurance that carbon credits represent real, additional, permanent emissions reductions, and that emissions accounting happens at the sectoral level.   On the demand side, companies’ use of carbon credits should not substitute or delay efforts to invest directly in reducing their emissions. Advisers to former US climate envoy, John Forbes Kerry, lobbied the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to accept carbon credits as part of corporate climate strategies. This could significantly affect global carbon markets and corporate emission strategies. The decision by SBTi could lead to wider acceptance and use of carbon credits among corporations, potentially shaping future climate policies and the overall approach to achieving carbon neutrality. This is a significant development in the field of environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility.   The plan will create a new class of carbon offsets that represent investments in projects that help accelerate renewable energy projects or build climate change resilience in a developing country. If codified, organisations will be required to disclose the amount of carbon reduction represented by offsets, the source and cost of those offsets, and details on project origin, registry integration, and other authentication methods. Many offset projects, particularly in developing countries, have faced criticism for neglecting the impact they have on displacing local communities, infringing on land rights, and contributing to a neocolonialist approach to climate action. Offsetting projects in the voluntary market simply do not deliver what we need – a reduction in the carbon emissions entering the atmosphere.  Instead, they are a distraction from the real solutions to climate change. In some cases, offsetting projects may even lead to ecological and environmental damage. The sector is wrestling with human rights concerns, evidence that many carbon credits are largely worthless, and a lack of clarity about financial flows. Terence Nunis Terence K. J. Nunis, Consultant President, Red Sycamore Global

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Join me today as I chat with Maria Eugenia Filmanovic, Co-Founder of Abatable. In our conversation, Maria explains the various players in #forestcarbon markets. From Abatable’s extensive market intel, Maria describes what types of forest carbon projects are generating the most demand and provides some thoughts on #carbonpricing, risks and so much more. “With the new definition of quality comes potentially more conservative carbon credit estimation […], and for the same implementation costs of these activities, less carbon credits. This means the prices will need to increase for the market at the same time.” 🔗 Link to the episode 🎧 is in the comments below 👇 #ForestInvestPodcast

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Have you ridden the #carbon credibility rollercoaster? Well, if your business is in any way related to #carbonmarkets – my guess is that you’re in the middle of a very long ride! Check out this article where I look at the SBTi’s evolving #NetZero Standard and how I think #timber can be built into a solution in the carbon credibility crisis. #naturebasedsolutions #climatefinance #VCM #forestinvestment #timberlandinvestment #sustainableforestmanagement

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🚨 NEW REPORT ALERT: Scaling carbon removals is essential to meet Paris Agreement goals 🌍 According to the latest University of Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment - University of Oxford report, carbon removal is crucial for limiting global warming to 1.5°C – but we're not scaling fast enough ⏳ 💡 Key Findings: - Investment gap: We need much more private-sector capital to boost carbon removal capacity. "Only 0.5% of companies with science-based targets have purchased durable carbon removal" - Delays in durable removal deliveries: Up to 11 years delay from purchase to deliver for some credits - "of the 11 million tonnes that have been sold, only 2.9% have been delivered" - Private sector to the rescue: With public budgets stretched, the private sector can play a decisive role in scaling carbon removal. - New financing options: green bonds, insetting and direct investment into carbon removal companies are all options that should be explored. 🔑 The bottom line: It’s time for private businesses to step up investment in carbon removal projects, drive innovation, and shape the future of carbon markets. Check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eAk5Qcgu Ben Caldecott Dr Injy Johnstone Steve Smith Robert Höglund Eve Tamme Sebastian Manhart Niall Mac Dowell Mai Bui Julio Friedmann Solène Chiquier Josh Burke FRSA #CarbonRemoval #NetZero

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I'm an impact investor and aggregator of alternative funding models; here are key points to consider regarding supporting the transformation of regional regenerative systems with a focus on equitable outcomes: The regenerative agriculture investment landscape is growing, with $321.1 billion in managed assets integrating sustainable food criteria and $47.5 billion related explicitly to regenerative agriculture. (1) Emerging asset classes like farmland, cash, and fixed income are ripe for rapid development to enable regenerative agriculture. (1) As an impact investor, you can support the growth of these alternative financing models while also advocating for mechanisms that prioritize equitable access and community-led initiatives. (1,2) Partnering with local organizations, credit unions, and mission-aligned financial partners can help channel capital to the farmers and communities most in need. (1) Ultimately, transforming regional food systems requires a systems-level approach considering interconnected social, environmental, and economic factors. (2) As an impact investor, you provide patient, flexible capital and technical assistance to enable this holistic, equitable transition. (1,2) 1. https://lnkd.in/gM8GUu2x 2.https://lnkd.in/gvBibV4H

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Nature needs more investment in order to sustain us. Financing that investment ought to happen just like we finance roads, bridges, ports and other built infrastructure. Philanthropy and government funding are necessary but not sufficient to maintain all of natures services. One of the proven ways to ensure that development "pays its own way" is habitat banking. Habitat banks compensate for habitat lost in the development approval process--counterbalancing ecological disruptions caused by human activities with restoration of lands and waters in the same ecosystem. They've been around a long time but now need to scale to become the norm for infrastructure regulators and lenders everywhere. In this article we dive into the practice and theory of nature finance as infrastructure, and how to replicate the systemic funding of nature that is now common in Colombia, the UK and the US. https://lnkd.in/gSPJm9Tj

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"Around 43% of properties are likely to be affected by subsidence in London by 2030." This is of course getting lots of press and the matter is clearly urgent as in just 5 more summers 43% of all Greater London's properties will be "affected" by subsidence. As Bowie said - we've 5 years that's all we've got... I am calling today for a taskforce for insurers to start buying up vacant offices and vape shops to act as community claim liaison centres for insurers and for a major scheme of rehousing and resettlement away from London to maybe Wales or Guildford. Wait...wait, just reading the document - source, yes lets read the references, ah, 72, ref 72, so that's: https://lnkd.in/edQCvqgy I am sure the author and team have a real mission to warn in a modern way about why London isn't prepared for climate change. But on this issue this is a complete mis-reading not only of the science but just of the web story. Here is what BGS says: "Experts at the BGS, the UK’s geoscientific advisor which helps to advance our knowledge about changes in the environment, warns that the number of properties in Great Britain facing subsidence issues and damage to property from shrink-swell is on the rise, with figures of just 3 per cent in 1990 likely to reach 10 per cent by 2070. Projections suggest that the number of properties in London likely to be affected by climate will rise from 20 per cent in 1990, to 43 per cent by 2030, and almost 3 times 1990 values (57 per cent) by 2070." Of course affected by climate might mean flooding, heat impacts, higher retrofit costs and adaptations and subsidence, including sinkholes, landslides etc etc etc This is needed work and reporting and most of it good sense and sensible recommendations - but dragging the wrong sentence from a speculative piece of work online is the road to bad policy. #subsidence #claims #property #London #lossadjusters #insurers Did you know by the way the UK is the first Islamist state with nuclear weapons - didn't know that did you? https://lnkd.in/efcYJkTm

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🐝 I'm proud to share Great Yellow’s role in structuring Grosvenor Property UK's investment into Terraformation's #Regenerative #Development of Anlo Wetlands (ReDAW), project in #Ghana. The project will reforest 3,000 hectares of mangroves in the Keta Lagoon, with the potential to expand and go further, whilst focusing on how mangroves can enhance local economic and social resilience through improved aquaculture. 💹 Building capacity in high-integrity projects like ReDaw is essential. This investment acts as a catalyst for such efforts. I'm particularly pleased with how we balanced early funding for key development milestones while finding creative solutions to reduce delivery risk. Addressing the early-stage project finance gap remains a key challenge in the #carbon markets. My hope is that this transaction will serve as an example of how developers and investors can find a way to work through those hurdles together. 🙏 A big thank you to Martin Quach for your support from #Terraformation and Andy Haigh for instructing us on behalf of #GPUK. #VCM projects that deliver both environmental and social benefits are the future. To scale nature restoration, we must see nature as it is —a complex, interconnected system of life. 💪Excited to see what lies ahead as we continue to drive impactful change! 💡 Learn more about the project: https://lnkd.in/enz7v-s2  #Sustainability #CarbonMarket #EnvironmentalImpact #GreatYellow #Terraformation #Reforestation #CommunityDevelopment #ClimateAction #NatureRestoration #RegenAg #NatureFinance

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Cop29 CEO filmed agreeing to facilitate fossil fuel deals at climate summit 🙊 In a shocking twist, Cop29 CEO Elnur Soltanov was filmed allegedly agreeing to facilitate fossil fuel deals in exchange for sponsorship. Once again, fossil fuel interests find a foothold at a climate summit meant to curb emissions and transition to clean energy... This scandal isn’t just about one CEO—it’s about the credibility of Cop itself. If the UNFCCC wants real climate progress, they must ban fossil fuel lobbyists from these talks. #ClimateAction #FossilFreeCOP #Greenwashing #UNFCCC #COP #COP29 #Climate https://lnkd.in/eWHpyrHn

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Having read this twice, I am hearing diplomatic messaging that creates the impression that the #PRI actors are walking on eggshells. The language is confused and deliberately littered with terminology that even I find difficult to follow. This is the product of years of procrastination by politicians blindly or lazily following business leaders who, until only very recently, were at the forefront of climate change denial. PRI and the various bodies it convenes were born in a climate-change-related legislative vacuum. They were trying to achieve what Governments were not willing to. However, trying to please everyone when unanimity is impossible, means the force of law is required. This begs the question where are the leaders, the lawmakers, the politicians with the courage to address the actual problem? This cannot be a balancing act that puts profits ahead of survival. We’ve managed to manoeuvre ourselves into an existential crisis and somehow managed to leave all the tools to deal with it locked in the cupboard of those who think they can survive what’s coming despite the rest of us having no chance. Rebecca Kowalski FPFS, Sustainable Finance specialist Alan Whittle MSc FPFS Clémence Chatelin Laxmi Adrianna Haigh John Alexander Dr Raj T. Adam Winstanley Clover Hogan Ed Gillespie Ed Goodall Greg Jackson Hugh Wheelan Liam Nigh Rachel Hartnell Ian Horne Nicola Blackburn Natalie Kenway Paloma Muñoz Quick Lord Simon Woolley Tim Lamont Antithesis Research Vicky Evans Dr Victoria Hurth Natalia Vasnier

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🌳Developers - Getting to Grips with Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)🌳 As of last month, small developments must now also comply with the requirements for BNG, yet research we shared in our recent white paper shows that 96% of developers are still not confident in what these are and how to achieve them. We've compiled the slides below with some tips and advice for developers on navigating #BiodiversityNetGain, which we hope will help you to see the wood from the trees! Whilst the regulations are good news for the environment, there are obviously substantial cost implications for developers, which are easy to overlook but could easily affect the viability of a deal. From assessing the impact of additional planning delays on project timelines and potentially increased holding costs, to costly habitat creation, which translates to both upfront and long-term financial commitments, to off-site mitigation if required - all of these costs should be taken into consideration when modelling a deal. Developers should be actively integrating the costs of environmental enhancements into their project planning and execution strategies. Anyone can model specialist finance deals on the Brickflow platform free of charge, so do get in touch if you're worried about how BNG compliance might impact a deal and I'd be happy to help.

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Triodos Bank in the UK have just released a white paper, ‘Financing the Nature-based Solutions Sector’, which aims to support other financial institutions to draw up their own investments. It emphasises biodiversity’s critical role in economic stability, noting that more than half of global GDP depends on ecosystem services. According to WWF’s recent Living Planet Report, wildlife vertebrate populations have declined by 73% over the past 50 years, underscoring the urgent need for ecosystem restoration. #Nature #Fintech #NBS #Payments #Investment #Innovation #Crowdfunding #Impactfund #Naturebased #greenfinance

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Good to see more progress from colleagues at The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) in efforts to build end to end integrity in the VCMs. The helps the buyers VCMI focuses on identity high integrity credits. https://lnkd.in/dJMSNxus #carbonmarkets #integrity #climatefinance

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The 1.5°C target has been a rallying cry for climate action, symbolising the urgency and ambition needed to address climate change.  Even if the target is difficult to achieve, keeping it as a goal drives more ambitious actions to mitigate the worst impacts of the climate crisis.  Maintaining the 1.5°C target also keep political and public support for climate action, which is crucial for implementing effective policies.  Many scientists argue that the 1.5°C target is no longer realistic, given current emission trends and the lack of sufficient action.  According to recent studies, the world is already 1.49°C hotter than pre-industrial levels, and it is likely to exceed 1.5°C within the next few years.  Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, with a projected increase of 0.8% in 2024, reaching a record 37.4 billion tonnes of CO2. On the other hand, the cost of not meeting the 1.5°C climate goal is significant and multifaceted.  Higher temperatures lead to more frequent and severe weather events, such as hurricanes, heatwaves, droughts, and floods.  Many species are unable to adapt to rapid climate changes, leading to a loss of biodiversity.  Warming temperatures cause polar ice to melt, contributing to rising sea levels.  These extreme weather events and sea level rise causes significant damage to infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and buildings.  Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns affect crop yields, leading to food shortages and increased food prices.  Food security challenges impact health and quality of life. Higher temperatures and increased air pollution can lead to a rise in heat-related illnesses and respiratory diseases.  The cost of healthcare and the loss of productivity due to illness faces significant inflation.  Climate change forces people to leave their homes due to environmental degradation, natural disasters, and resource scarcity.  This leads to social and political instability, as well as increased pressure on urban areas and services.  The impacts of climate change are felt most acutely by the poorest and most vulnerable communities, exacerbating existing inequalities and social tensions.  We are not ready for this reality. Terence Nunis Terence K. J. Nunis, Consultant President, Red Sycamore Global

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🌹 New government, new removals strategy?🌹 One week in to a Labour Government and we have seen some clear signals on their intent on climate so far, including appointing Chris Stark to lead the path to fossil free power (great appointment btw), lifting the ban on onshore wind and earmarking £7 billion for green technologies. Next, I want to see a new injection of energy into the carbon removal industry in the UK. The UK will rely on removals for a sixth of its abatement, but it has failed to get the appropriate attention in recent years. There's a huge opportunity to propel the UK into a leadership position in carbon removals. I would love Rt Hon Rachel Reeves to have a read of our "Removals for Growth" BeZero Carbon report from 2022, as she seeks to make growth the key mission of the new Government. Quick summary of the report here: 1️⃣ Economic Potential: The carbon removal market could grow into a trillion-pound industry, offering substantial economic benefits. With initiatives like the US Inflation Reduction Act driving significant funding across the pond, the UK must act decisively to retain talent and foster innovation domestically. 2️⃣ Regional Growth: Projects in carbon capture and removal are poised to thrive in the Midlands, North, and Scotland, aligning with the government's core focus on the regions. This presents a unique opportunity to create green jobs and drive regional economic development. 3️⃣ Policy Recommendations: To harness this potential, strong leadership is essential. Establishing a Task Force for Scaling Carbon Removals, enhancing economic support through institutions like the UK Infrastructure Bank, and setting up a regulated Carbon Removal Accelerator are crucial steps. 📕 Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/e36eC5GH #CarbonRemoval #Policy #CDR

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There are so many ways organisations like PWC and their supply chains can help nature. A great way is to support and invest with organisations like Chiltern Rangers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), The Woodland Trust and others to take action in their local areas. Working locally reduces travel and creates a better, more connected landscape. Not only can positive activity sessions like Be a Ranger days help directly e.g. tree planting, river cleans or coppicing in the woods; these days are great for teambuilding, health and well being, giving back to the community and much more. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dmm27gDx What stops your company for booking these sessions and making the difference for people, place and nature??

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Excited to share my latest article "Digitally Transforming Carbon Markets to Restore Trust, Drive Investment and Grow GDP", where I delve into the pivotal role of carbon markets in achieving our climate goals. 🌍🌱 Ensuring the credibility and transparency of carbon market transactions is essential, yet the fragmented nature of voluntary carbon markets and lack of standardisation present significant challenges. This is why a combined approach involving public and private markets, alongside robust technological infrastructure, is necessary to build trust. By fostering digital collaboration across the climate value chain, we can create a positive global impact, balancing environmental responsibility, community well-being, corporate sustainability, and investment returns. 👉🏼 Read the full article on Finextra here: https://lnkd.in/eu3Ek22q #ClimateAction #Sustainability #CarbonMarkets #Innovation #TechnologyForGood #CarbonCredits

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"A number of barriers hamper the flow of private funding into water tech." This is accurate - the availability of money isn't the issue. It's the requirement for rapidly scalable technologies in a market that takes time, often too long for VCs' patience levels! Via: Financial Times #water #climate #climatetech #investment #waterscarcity #innovation https://lnkd.in/g6ynVE-3

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