Brynn Esterly, M.S.

We've been working under the hood at LIVSN on the execution behind the word "sustainability" and what it means to put our money where our mouth is. And by "we" I mean Abby Hollis and Wyatt Rice - who have gone above and beyond in this pursuit. I hope you take some time to read the article linked below for context on the how.

21

1 Comment

Wondering what goes into all of the DOE's climate tech investments? We spoke with folks at different offices inside the agencies for our latest newsletter, "The Investor's Guide to the DOE," out now: https://lnkd.in/gT8a56cK We dive into the DOE's strategic funding decisions and due diligence processes behind them for commercial-scale projects, private investors can navigate this key piece in the climate capital stack. From investment theses to check sizes, from risk analyses to returns, this guide can help investors understand what different awards and loans mean, and help founders know what to put into their applications. A massive thank you to Katheryn Scott, Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes, Rachel Gould, Richard Matsui, and more for speaking to us for this piece. #ClimateTech #CleanEnergy #DOE #Investment #Innovation #Sustainability #ClimateAction #PublicPrivatePartnerships #FOAK #GreenTech

103

3 Comments

The embattled voluntary carbon market has found an unlikely and influential ally in the US government.  But will these measures help in restoring confidence in a market yearning for high-integrity? https://lnkd.in/e5bbGGRB #voluntarycarbonmarket #OCTT #ClimateChange #VCM #carbonmarkets

14

This morning, the Biden Administration released a joint policy statement providing guidance around voluntary carbon markets, acknowledging the importance of VCMs in a holistic approach to tackling the climate crisis. Pollination is thrilled to see continued momentum in the voluntary carbon market space, and we remain committed to advising corporates, governments, and philanthropies on strategic pathways to reach net zero. “With this new guidance, the U.S. Government has affirmed the critical role of high-integrity VCMs in mobilizing capital toward climate solutions, recognizing that well-constructed markets are a key part of achieving the emissions reductions and removals the world needs to meet science-driven, Paris-aligned outcomes,” stated Richard Saines, head of Pollination’s carbon advisory practice. “Pollination will continue to engage in building market solutions that are consistent with the principles outlined today, and we look forward to working with all those who are focused on achieving a net-zero, nature-positive future." Read the full statement: https://lnkd.in/eVuJQaJa #voluntarycarbonmarkets #climateaction

95

1 Comment

Slides from our New York Climate Week session on Climate Startup Exits - https://hubs.ly/Q02QRVQB0 Thanks again to Dan Coyne and Greg Kantrowitz for adding their expert perspectives.

10

At the spate of voluntary carbon events scattered in high-rises across New York this week, one topic persisted: how does the market evolve into the trustworthy, functioning, and effective global climate finance driver, and unleash the billions of corporate dollars, needed for net zero. The biggest problem facing developers is trust – and the prevalent lack of it in the market. Corporates are still too scared to enter a market that has been ripped up by scandals in recent years. Big banks say they can't put institutional capital into 'science projects' that have yet to be proven at the commercial scale. Yet, everyone seems to agree that the world needs a functioning, trustworthy carbon market to reach net zero emissions - especially to fund the billions of tonnes of CO2 removals needed in the coming decades. My story from a packed week of bouncing around Manhattan (also my birthland and one-time home) https://lnkd.in/dVvtvkSK

19

1 Comment

Like Kathy Kearns in her attached piece at illuminem I would welcome a conversation focused on transitioning from "setbacks to solutions" in the carbon offsets space. But what does that really mean? It can't just mean rehashing all the same talking points about the importance of the voluntary offset market. As Albert Einstein said: "If I had an hour to solve a problem, I'd spend 55 minutes ⏰ understanding the problem, and 5 minutes thinking about a solution." 💡 We don't do that with offsets. We simply focus on the "solution" of "high quality offsets." But if high quality offsets are the solution to 20 years of voluntary offset market challenges, what was (is) the problem ⁉ ❓ ❓ THAT is what Albert Einstein would have spent 55 minutes understanding 💡 💡 💡 , and that is what's entirely missing from the attached piece. So what would Einstein have done in this situation? 1. He would have dug into the topic of "small world model thinking" and its importance to human decision-making through the link in the comments. 2. He would have explored carbon offsets as an example of "small world thinking" through the link in the comments. 3. He would have dug deeper into our experience with carbon offsets, and potential solutions to the probems, through the link in the comments. And even if you're not Albert Einstein, you can do what he would do if you're goal is to move from "setbacks to solutions" for carbon offsets. All via the links in the comments! 😉

9

4 Comments

So much of climate messaging is designed to appeal to the better angels of our nature, but for corporations – especially publicly traded companies – the bottom line is that there’s a bottom line. I’ve been thinking a lot about the intersection of climate and business since #ClimateWeekNYC, and I came across this new research from Potential Energy Coalition, We Mean Business Coalition, and maslansky + partners that helps to quantify my own qualitative observations. According to the study, the key to appealing to the broadest set of corporate stakeholders is to reframe climate action around materiality – not morality. In other words, responsible businesses should invest in climate-related efforts not just because they’re good, but because they’re good for business. Effective communications meet people where they are and focus on "what's in it for them." Senior leadership, investors, and business partners care about the bottom line, so framing corporate action through the financial materiality of climate-related risks and opportunities gets through to this important audience. “A responsible business is a successful business.” (The full study is available for download at the link below.)

5

1 Comment

Very excited to share my latest piece in Forbes - "Adaptation and resilience in corporate climate agendas" If any of the below resonates, esp. with those working on adaptation + resilience and/or corporate climate + sustainability - our team at Riffle Ventures would love to hear from you! Main idea - climate adaptation and resilience can be an innovation driver for companies and we need to accelerate this agenda. 🏭 Most discussions around corporations and their climate agendas focus on if, how, and how quickly, big businesses are reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, as well as decreasing their own negative externalities on the natural environment. 💰 However, in parallel climate change is creating growing financial, infrastructure, health and other risks that could disrupt large companies, some of which is already happening. While the tools and strategies for decarbonization are fairly well-covered, we are only scratching the surface when it comes to building resilience and adapting to a warming planet. 🈺 Of course, emissions and corporate sustainability targets need urgent attention and commitment, but in parallel we need to make sure companies writ large are adapting to and building resilience against climate risks - e.g. droughts, floods, fires, grid instability and weakening infrastructure - are all a growing reality on a warming planet. 🆘 Corporations, regardless of industry and geography will require support across the board in navigating climate change's most pressing threats. The risk of not doing so could have near-term, material impacts on protecting critical infrastructure as well as access to necessary products and services - food and medicine - and could also negatively impact human's themselves - heat stress, job loss, etc. 🤖 There is a growing technology solution set focusing on climate adaptation and resilience, and we need to bridge the gap between between these climate tech startups and the corporate sector. In turn, corporations can have an enormous impact in helping to scale climate innovations and bolster the surrounding ecosystem. Many thanks to Jackie Roberts for providing time and insight for the article, Dhruv Jesrani for being the design wizard and to Suma Reddy Connie Bowen Abrar Chaudhury Alhan Fakhr Laith Kawar Madeleine Futterman Emmanuelle Palikuca Omar Saif Andrew Chang Hope Petraro Tom K. Deepa Lounsbury for their guidance along the way while we did the research for this, and for Dahna Goldstein for being the connection to Jackie! #ClimateAction #SustainableBusiness #CorporateResponsibility #SustainabilityGoals #ClimateLeadership #CorporateSustainability #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateInnovation #ClimateChangeAdaptation #ResilienceStrategies #SustainableSolutions #ClimateResilience #BuildingResilience #ClimateChangeResponse #AdaptationStrategies

83

7 Comments

For those at #COP16, join BSR's Erin Leitheiser for a panel discussion that will unpack ‘high-integrity’ carbon credits and what it will take to finance them at scale. #sustainablefinance #nature #naturebasedsolutions #sustainablebusiness

7

1 Comment

Puro partner Patch has released a new playbook for Chief Sustainability Officers looking to make smart investments in the voluntary carbon market with carbon credit purchases! The playbook contains actionable guidance for CSOs on: ➡ Decarbonization ➡ Setting strategic goals for carbon credits ➡ Policy and regulatory compliance ➡ Carbon credit strategy ➡ Market acceleration ➡ Budgeting So, if you’re a CSO looking to level up your climate impact, download the playbook: https://hubs.ly/Q02RbBKP0 #ClimateAction #CSO #Sustainability

106

2 Comments

While a new Administration always ushers in changes, climatetech VCs like CEV are well-prepared to continue to support their existing portfolio through the transition and remain optimistic about sector growth. Here’s CEV’s David Miller and Ted Dillon's take: 🎢 Climatetech will withstand policy changes: David shared his perspective with Bloomberg, noting that “policy goes up and down. It's a rollercoaster,” but the sector will be resilient with or without supporting policies.  💸 VC will double down on climate investing: In a conversation with Fast Company, David shared that no matter the administration, the VC sector “remains bullish on investing in climate tech companies.”  💡 Climate will see radical innovation: Ted met with Latitude Media to dive into how climate will see technologies that “can shift the entire landscape” over the next four years to meet climate targets. Check out the pieces in the comments!

65

5 Comments

Carbon credits and offsets are on everyone's mind at #NewYorkClimateWeek. Bellowing cloud or ray of sunshine? The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) is how #CarbonCredits get around, facilitating investment in “climate-friendly” projects of all kinds. Between 2022 and 2023, scepticism of the impact these projects has drove down the VCM market estimate from $2bn to $700m. It's expected that during #ClimateWeekNYC numerous VCM leaders will work to summon intrigue for the markets potential role in the #NetZeroTransition, despite assertions that some use the system to avoid reducing their own #Emissions and are in effect “paying to pollute”. The IPCC has highlighted #CarbonRemovals and #Offsets as critical in tackling hard to abate emissions, like those emitted by many heavy industries. The VCM is regulated by the “Integrity Council for the VCM” that ensures involved projects are compliant and the “VCM Integrity Initiative” that helps buyers understand best use of credits as a part of their #NetZeroJourney. The US has also given new guidelines recently however, experts such as Barbara Haya, Director of the Berkeley Carbon Trading Project at the University of California, Berkeley said: “We don’t know how they’re going to address some of the more difficult project types and how stringent they really will be,”. There's points made either side of the perception with some concerned the reforms to not curb “low-quality” projects sufficiently while other say that a purge of “legacy” project practises is already underway. Co-founder and CEO of Puro.earth, Antti Vihavainen, noted: “Everybody can do emissions reductions, and they should not be outsourced.... However, not everybody can do carbon removals,” As well as CEO of South Pole, Daniel Klier calling the market a "mechanism to mobilize finance.”. Klier also called for standardisation across the globe on carbon credit trading with the United Nations bringing the (separate and distinct) international carbon market under review soon as required by article 6 of the Paris agreement, saying: ““It will be the worst thing if the U.N. has rules that are very different from where we’re going.... Because then the same confusion occurs that we have at the moment,” The quantities of capital in the market are less major than what we are starting to see in other #Decarbonisation investments but offsets will form an appreciable part of some organisations transitions and the easier it is for them to navigate, the quicker they'll get Net Zero. If your company is targetting carbon, trying to understand the markets and see real reductions in your #SupplyChain and #Scope3Emissions. Set your sights on GreenBridge Associates! Our expert consultations, cutting-edge #CarbonAccounting tools and expanding network are all here to help connect your business to it's Net Zero goals, meaningfully. E&E News by POLITICO Article: https://lnkd.in/emkGZCqU

1

Several U.S. government agencies have released the Voluntary Carbon Markets Joint Policy Statement and Principles. The statement demonstrates support for high‑integrity voluntary carbon credit markets to advance decarbonization. Find out what companies should know. Ashley Conrad Walter | Lana Le Hir | Avani Panchal #Decarbonization #CarbonMarkets #VoluntaryCarbonMarkets #CarbonCredits #EnergyTransition #EnergyTech #Sustainability #ESG #VCM #Climate #ClimateChange https://lnkd.in/ehpRGcE7

15

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

17

Follow the data on bias and echo chambers This is a call to action for Degrowthers Climate scientists Environmental policy specialists Climate finance experts Sustainability professionals There is no excuse I spent a couple hours providing a public service Reminding the folks operating in the Euro American sphere that they are performing erasure and this is not neutral. The harmful effects of not relying on all the world's knowledge is that humans are slowing down our response to the polycrisis. #solutions #knowledgesharing #worldviews

42

10 Comments

🌍✨ Dynamic Carbon Credits: Aligning with Federal Guidelines for Carbon Market Integrity ✨🌍 We are excited to share that Dynamic Carbon Credits meets all the criteria outlined by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in her recent address about the carbon offset market. Yellen emphasized the importance of transparency, high standards, and genuine environmental impact in carbon credits. At Dynamic Carbon Credits, we pride ourselves on ensuring our projects deliver real, measurable, and lasting benefits for the environment. Our commitment to these principles reflects the rigorous standards and integrity that Yellen advocates for, driving true climate progress. Join us in supporting a sustainable and trustworthy carbon market. Together, we can pioneer a future of sustainable progress. 🌱💚 #CarbonCredits #Sustainability #ClimateAction #GreenEconomy #DynamicCarbonCredits #EnvironmentalIntegrity 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ghECW8r5

2

1 Comment

This year’s #COP29 is focusing on how we can collaborate to finance climate action. AFF is inviting private landowners into the voluntary carbon market - acting as a bridge between the corporation and the individual – and innovative partnerships like these are needed to scale carbon projects that deliver lasting impact. AFF Policy Director Maya Solomon described this partnership as a panelist for the “Baku, Belem, and Beyond: Forests” event, “We're leveraging the VCM to direct private climate finance to help landowners get a forest management plan, to talk with a forester, receive incentive payments – all to help them create a more resilient forest. We're also creating a community of landowners to learn about resilient forest management together." #VoluntaryCarbonMarket #NaturalClimateSolutions #FamilyForests

7