Gillian D. Francis

🇺🇸 The U.S. Federal departments and offices have just released the "Voluntary Carbon Markets Joint Policy Statement and Principles”. We at International Carbon Registry celebrate more clarity on the direction of this important market and its role in the climate crisis. Notable developments include: • The emergence of multi-stakeholder initiatives that have set out standards and principles for high-integrity credit development and responsible credit use; • Improvements to key crediting methodologies, their guiding standards, and tracking systems; • New and improved analytical products and services that aim to strengthen credit transparency and quality comparability, such as carbon credit rating services; • Technologies to support robust measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV); • Multilateral rules, guidance, and procedures developed under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the international aviation sector's global carbon market-based measure, which shape certified emissions reductions and removals that often find their home in VCMs'; and • Advances in the development of market infrastructure to improve transparency and liquidity, as well as the integrity of market transactions.

9

Released today at #COP29, WWF’s Watering Resilience report highlights the power of nature-based solutions in tackling the climate crisis 🌿⬇️ Restoring freshwater and coastal ecosystems not only shields communities from devastating floods, droughts, and storms but also bolsters water security, improves biodiversity, and fosters sustainable development. These solutions work. We’ve seen it. But to scale them and ensure they benefit everyone, we need massive investment and bold leadership. Our planet can’t wait, and neither can we. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/gG7Uzve4 WWF COP29 Azerbaijan Stuart Orr Richard Lee Henk Ovink Christine Colvin Mandy Jean Woods Maheen Khan Claire Baffert Bas Roels Bart Geenen Maria Honig Gretchen Lyons Jeff Opperman Will Sarni Daudi Sumba Sandeep Chamling Rai Adil Najam UN Environment Programme

70

4 Comments

Check out this recent IUCN report on the Regenerative Blue Economy if you are interested in what the future of the blue economy should look like. Below, I share my perspective as a member of the advisory committee of this initiative, on the main message and a couple features I found particularly striking. ✅The main message (as I read it): The report builds a historical perspective to explain why the 'blue economy', or even the 'sustainable blue economy', are not sufficient anymore. As the decline of ocean life has already been so dramatic that there is not much left to sustain or conserve, we need to raise our ambition and aim at a 'Regenerative Blue Economy'. One that actively addresses climate change an biodiversity loss. Alexandra Cousteau first convinced me of this in 2018 and it has guided my efforts in the space since. As a member of the advisory committee of this report, this was the main message I tried to pass on. 🧬The report (page 11, box 1) says the Regenerative Blue Economy is based on "scientifically grounded assessments". Indeed, I believe we will succeed in building a Regenerative Blue Economy only if we can embed science at the core of economic decisions. We need to overhaul our economic governance (shareholder meetings, boards, investment committees, etc...) to achieve this. This is why for example at SWEN Blue Ocean we created an Impact Committee composed of science and conservation experts to help us make the right investment decisions. We need to do this at scale, across the economy. 🌟Pages 30-31 of the report recognizes the potential of the impact framework of the Ocean Impact Navigator, developed by 1000 Ocean Startups, to apply to the economy as a whole, not just startups. I have always believed that, meaning the impact of the Navigator may expand beyond ocean startups at some point. Helping characterize what belongs to the Regenerative Blue Economy is a step in that direction. Congratulations to the lead authors, RAPHAELA LE GOUVELLO, Francois Simard, and the IUCN team. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute. Adrien Vincent Minna Epps https://lnkd.in/eNKPxYZ4

116

4 Comments

The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene is a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate action. As communities rebuild, we must recognize that preventing future disasters requires more than recovery efforts - it calls for investment in climate tech solutions. From renewable energy to advanced forecasting, innovation is key to mitigating the impact of extreme weather events. Now is the time to support technologies that can protect our planet and safeguard lives. Let’s prioritize climate resilience and sustainability to ensure a safer future for all. I'd also like to mention how proud I am of the Camber Creek portfolio companies aiding in recovery efforts. For instance, PetScreening is serving as a collection point for supplies in its hometown in North Carolina. And it has a free service, available across the country, to help owners find lost pets, the Fido Alert National Network. More information about Fido Alert in the comments.  #climatetech #sustainability #resilience #proptech #puptech

10

2 Comments

Climate Capital Guidebook: The Biden-Harris Administration is releasing a new Climate Capital Guidebook to provide a simple, comprehensive map of capital programs across the federal government that are available to climate-related start-ups, small- and medium-sized businesses, and their investors. While larger, institutionally-backed climate companies may have the resources to identify and access federal funding opportunities, smaller enterprises may face greater challenges in navigating these federal programs. https://lnkd.in/eJ3QV4Fw #climatechange #climatetech

19

This online resource provides access to an interactive map that tracks how the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are encouraging historic levels of private sector investments across the country. This increase in funding is creating many jobs and opportunities in the clean energy sector while inspiring the development of new projects as well. #CleanEnergy #InflationReductionAct #Impact

12

Where to Build Your Climate Tech Startup: Goldman's $74Trillion Green Tech Roadmap? In the fast-evolving climate tech landscape, knowing where to focus your entrepreneurial energy can be the difference between building the next breakthrough solution and getting lost in the noise. A new Goldman Sachs Research report has just mapped out a $74 trillion investment opportunity through 2070 - and for green entrepreneurs, it's essentially a treasure map of where capital will flow over the coming decades. https://lnkd.in/gHMdMrHA

3

2024 could be world's hottest year, and heatwaves are one of the most direct and well-observed consequences of a changing climate. The single most important way to slow climate change right now is to cut emissions of #methane, a highly potent, short-term greenhouse gas. To do that, we need to see the total picture — from space. Watch Millie Chu Baird, who leads innovative projects at Environmental Defense Fund, as she shares our MethaneSAT story in this #TEDTalk of how an audacious idea turned into a groundbreaking science effort. Our methane-detecting satellite, which launched in March 2024, was designed to provide government regulators, companies and nonprofit groups the information and incentive they need to fulfill their commitments to cut methane emissions.

7

On panels and pollinators Just read this thought-provoking piece in The New Yorker on how solar PV installations can also be used to address biodiversity collapse by providing an environment that's friendly to pollinators. This might be especially interesting to large scale infrastructure investors looking for additional impact - and indeed prospectively additional revenues (or lower costs). As always, the Pottinger team is here to help! How to Address Two Environmental Crises at Once https://lnkd.in/emypP5F4

5

Honored to represent Simple Thread at the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Finance Forum in NYC. I really enjoyed the discussion with Gina McCarthy former climate advisor to the White House. My takeaways from her comments: - IRA was a game-changer because it allowed the “de-risking” of renewables and took away the “big P Politics of renewables” - Don’t worry about political futures at this point … because it makes too much sense “money is money” - Nuclear and hydrogen will be part of the future but unclear how much. Worries about siting of nuclear specifically - On permitting: “we have to get real about tradeoffs … we cannot let perfection be the enemy of the good.” - The success of the IRA is evident; over $350B already deployed - Constraints from supply side incentives like interconnection queue backlogs, supply chain constraints, and permitting require continued attention to resolve. #acorefinanceforum #renewableenergy #cleanenergy #policy #solar #wind #storage #transmission #finance

16

1 Comment

It was so great to be 65 people and take action on climate. 💡 I learned something new - that without increased transmission capacity, it will be difficult to transition to a 100% clean power grid. Battery storage alone is not enough to adequately and efficiently balance a grid with significant solar and wind generation, we need to add total capacity and improve interregional transmission across the entire U.S. power grid.

17

Attending NY Climate Week for the first time, just nine months after starting RAMO Earth — a climate tech venture to accelerate project origination — was both validating and motivating. Being relatively new to the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), I hadn't spent enough time with like-minded individuals in person. The energy and the emergence of ideas was an excellent reminder of the broader commitment of the professional community to climate. The VCM Feels Determined Yet Fragile Determined—Seasoned experts are innovating, asking crucial questions, and pushing forward. People who've worked for a quarter-century on carbon markets are at the intersection of market dynamics and solutions. They are not giving up, and more and more folks are joining them. I heard an eye-opening story from Campbell Moore from the The Nature Conservancy on the development of dynamic baselines - take away "lock yourself in a room with other motivated people and miracles happen". I met Pedro Martins Barata (who shares a love for Ericeria, Portugal!) and Julia (Osterman) Strong who gave me a 'New Hope' with the marching orders "everything everywhere all at once" Fragile—Despite the determination, the VCM is tiny and has faced bad press, bad math, and bad actors. Issues like the Paris Agreement's Article 6 seemingly conflicting with the VCM, and recent indictments of carbon credit developers, pose challenges. Yet, I believe what doesn't kill the VCM makes it stronger, with collective energy turning toward climate solutions. What About Africa? Spending most of my professional life in Africa, I was able to hear from folks in Uganda and Kenya working with community conservancies showed that the VCM is serving real communities and democratizing funding. I was grateful to see José Monteiro from Mozambique who just launched Data4Angola. He shared about the concept of "Community Information Systems" as a counterpoint to GIS. Reflecting on Mozambique and Angola, the contrast is striking. Mozambique has over 30 projects registering for district-level REDD projects, while Angola has no policy or projects yet. I'm curious if there's an audience interested in the Lusophone NBS world—I want to know more. What if there was a substack for this? I was moved by the stories, people, and energy of NY Climate Week. I always thought that I needed more time in the field, but I should also balance that by being around more professionals in Climate. It was incredible to be part of an open-to-the-public state of the union on climate. Meeting the veterans of the VCM and soaking in the energy was inspiring. This week I'm in #DC for another week catching up with new and old friends. Let's connect!

21

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

Those are big numbers - may governments around the world take heed (and it looks like Canada's on a good path): 🌳Nature-based solutions can provide 37% of the emissions reductions needed by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement targets. 🌳 Nature restoration can decrease the intensity of climate hazards globally by 26%.

5

The graphic lists the 20 largest public utilities in the U.S. and which ones have the cleanest fuel mixes. So which public utilities contribute the most to the U.S. power grid? https://lnkd.in/g9UQVA8b #largest #publicutilities #unitedstates #powergeneration

1

This may come as a surprising finding for those of us tracking investments in the climatetech and renewables space. On the two year anniversary mark of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), it turns out the Red States (Republican) are ironically benefitting more than the Blue States (Democrat) based on a latest study, given that the IRA is associated closely with the Biden Administration. I understand cumbersome regulations and approval delays in Red States are some of the contributing causes which also illustrates another point - beyond good intent, it boils down to a supportive regulatory environment. Whatever President Trump’s views are on the IRA and more broadly, climate change, green jobs are being created in the US through these tax credits. This is fundamentally not unaligned with Trump’s overall efforts to attract manufacturing back to the US albeit in the green economy to “make America great again”. So if nothing else prevails, perhaps some pragmatism will :-) #IRA #climatetech #renewables #MAGA #sustainability #greeneconomy

12

2 Comments

A fascinating piece in the NY Times-Breaking News today using research and data enumerating the impacts of #climatechange...not just the #enviornmental impacts we all see and feel, but the social and economic. An excerpt..."an empirically nuanced understanding of climate damages makes it even clearer that reducing emissions aggressively makes cost-benefit sense, not only because we want to insure against total ecological breakdown (cue “extinction rebellion” and “tipping points”), but also because the economic costs of even “noncatastrophic” warming may be considerable." #Recommended reading for today: https://lnkd.in/g3StXccV #decarbonization #gigacorn #gigacornhunter #optimist

11

1 Comment