Tanya Khotin

Awesome to see public-private partnerships like this coming to life with USDA’s commitment to catalyzing the market-based incentives for impact in agriculture. Ask anyone of the +140 projects in this initiative and they’ll tell you there’s plenty of room for improvements - we agree - but that is the point. From the now 4 projects we’re supporting both directly and indirectly through our services and infrastructure - across row crops, grazing and grassland, and agroforestry- we’re starting to see differentiation and value being created that we believe will be the gold standard for underwriting and rewarding impact in agriculture. There are three common characteristics we see: 1. Economics: Direct payments to farmers and land stewards both on an outcomes and pay for practice (there isn’t a one size fits all incentive) basis that at least meets or goes beyond the cost of adoption and abatement. 2. Science-backed: Rigorous data collection, quantification and verification practices that leads to high integrity environmental claims aligned with latest science and leading standards. 3. Uniqueness and guarantees of origin: buyers and investors want data-backed confidence to know they aren’t inappropriately double-claiming or double-counting the same acres and outcomes. We are here to support those that are interested in moving beyond paper attestations to generate value, mitigate risk and increase operational efficiencies when it comes to generating/trading/claiming environmental assets in ag.

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🇺🇸 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.

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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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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

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🌍💡 Embracing Interoperability: The Evolution of Carbon Markets 💡🌍 The landscape of carbon markets is rapidly evolving, with a significant shift towards fungibility and interoperability. What does this mean? We (at the SoHo Global Climate Fund) spoke with leading climate fund manager, Charles Bedford of Carbon Growth Partners, to shed light on this important trend in the carbon markets. It's about creating seamless connections between compliance and voluntary markets, allowing for the exchange and recognition of carbon credits across borders and sectors. This trend marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts towards combating climate change. By enabling carbon credits to be fungible and interoperable, we're fostering a more efficient and scalable approach to carbon pricing and emissions reduction strategies. Companies and organizations now have greater flexibility to participate in markets that align with their goals. #CarbonMarkets #ClimateAction #Fungibility #Interoperability #Sustainability #Innovation #GlobalImpact

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We just published a new podcast episode of #InOurHands with Nigel Sizer, a globally recognized authority on ecology and development policy, and executive director at Preventing Pandemics at the Source Initiative. We discuss everyone's least favorite but most important topic: the connection between pandemics and climate change. Listen or read to learn more (spoiler: deforestation and forest trade are some of the reasons, and we need to fix this). https://lnkd.in/gsvi_RDW

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Attention all dairy lovers (yep, I see you out there, cheese lovers 🧀 & milk chuggers 🥛): I bet you haven't considered the methane (which is 80x more potent than CO2) that those food choices are pumping into the atmosphere. Methane is responsible for about half of the lifecycle emissions of an average dairy product - all because those dairy cows burp...a lot! Given the adverse impact of methane on climate (with methane emissions causing about a third of the warming we are experiencing today), it is time for the financial sector to focus on encouraging the food and agriculture industry to do more to reduce methane emissions. In the words of my colleagues, there's stuff we can do about it: 1) New solutions are emerging that can have a big effect on livestock methane 2) Measurement is also getting better 3) There is policy support available in many places; and 4) The industry is starting to work together to tackle this issue, such as through the EDF-supported Dairy Methane Action Alliance. So check out our new primer on livestock methane for investors (https://lnkd.in/eA9uhfpC), by Joshua Torres and Andrew Howell, which breaks down the state of play with livestock methane and offers up some key engagement questions investors and other finance providers can raise with food and ag companies to get the conversation started. Also see our blog introducing this work (https://lnkd.in/e4cqw6x3).

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US Carbon Market Principles: A Critical Take 🔍 The new principles for voluntary carbon markets by the US Administration have been well received. But beyond the applause, what do these guidelines really mean? Where do they shine and where do they fall short? Here’s my take: Why it matters: 💠 The largest corporate buyers are in the US. 💠 Fortune 500: $46.4 trillion market cap, with 65% US-based—significant clout for driving climate action. Where it exceeds expectations: ✅ "High-Integrity" Markets: Strong focus on transparency and accountability to combat greenwashing. ✅ Comprehensive Approach: Emphasizes the need for both avoidance and removals, highlighting the urgency of scaling nature-based solutions and fostering tech innovation. ✅ Robust Verification: Calls for stringent verification to ensure credits represent real emission reductions. ✅ Inclusivity and Equity: Involves local communities and indigenous groups, ensuring benefits for those most affected by climate change. Where it falls short: ❔ Economic Impact: Optimistic about job creation and innovation but lacks specifics on implementation. ❔ Detail Deficiency: Strong on principles, but needs more on enforcement and monitoring. ❔ Global Leadership: Positions the US as a leader but lacks emphasis on international collaboration and setting global standards. Overall, the guidelines are strong on integrity and inclusivity but need more detail on enforcement and global cooperation. I’ll be posting more on where we go from here tomorrow. 👉🏼 Follow my profile for part 2 and more posts on carbon markets and natural capital investing. Read the full fact sheet from The White House below: https://lnkd.in/ghKfRV4A #voluntarycarbonmarkets #naturalcapital #carboncredits

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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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I'm really excited to be facilitating this panel at RFSI focusing on the different types of capital being made available to producers. There are many promising opportunities to invest in regenerative agriculture -- e.g. real assets and venture capital are categories that are well-represented at RFSI. But if we want to facilitate regeneration on acreage at scale -- not just scalable financial returns -- we have to get capital to producers who are doing the hard work on-the-ground, facing tight margins and an uncertain future. Finding models that support producers while delivering returns and impact that meet LPs' targets is absolutely critical. cc Jacob Israelow, Cortney Renton, Brandon Welch, Regenerative Food Systems Investment #regenerativeagriculture #agfinance #soilhealth

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The annual Thrive Global Impact Summit is one of my favorite AgTech events, and the 2024 Summit on November 6th and 7th did not disappoint. John Hartnett, Helen Hartnett and SVG Ventures | THRIVE team always do a fantastic job of bringing together key stakeholders throughout the food & agriculture ecosystem, especially farmers, to discuss real-world challenges and actionable solutions. The main strength of the Summit is the significant number of corporations on stage and in attendance, which is not surprising as SVG Ventures | THRIVE, the group organizing the event, has developed an incredible network of agriculture and food corporations, with whom it works closely to support the next generation of AgTech and FoodTech innovators. Corporations are essential to drive product adoption on the farm and likely key technology acquirors that will provide valuable exits for entrepreneurs and investors. Many of the corporate speakers provided valuable advice to entrepreneurs and start-up companies about the best ways to approach established corporates to develop joint ventures, strategic partnerships and other relationships that can be mutually beneficial, especially helping with product distribution and market traction, often the major challenges faced by start-ups. As most AgTech and FoodTech exits will be through M&A transactions rather than IPOs, start-up companies should not wait too long to establish relationships with corporates.      I participated on the “Value Chain Transformation” panel, moderated by Danny O'Brien, SVG Ventures | THRIVE, along with panelists Bryon McGregor, Alto Ingredients, Inc.; Lisa Kissick, UFA; and Trevor Mecham, Valmont Industries, Inc.; where we explored the profound impact of digital transformation across every stage of the value chain. Although the agriculture sector remains one of the least digitized sectors, progress is being made, and all the panelists believe that technology adoption (AI, automation, data analytics, machine learning, robotics) will gather speed, even if it takes longer than other industries, given that many farmers are more risk adverse than technology purchasers in other sectors.  In addition to my panel, I greatly enjoying watching the other panels: “AI's Transformative Potential in Agriculture” “The Future of Agrifood Tech Investments” “Driving Agri-Food Innovation through Global Collaboration” “Dairy's Vital Role in Methane Mitigation” “Soil Health” Another advantage of the Summit is the opportunity to hear about the latest technology innovations, with pitches from a variety of companies competing to be chosen as the best in class in the following categories: Food Security & Waste Reduction; Nutrition & Health; Reducing GHG Emissions; Soil Health; and Water & Energy with EF Polymer Global being the overall winner. 2024/#:~:text=We%E2%80%99ll%20gather%20in%20the%20vibrant%20hub%20of%20Silicon EcoTech Capital Cy Obert #agtech; #foodtech; #agriculture; #food; #sustanableag

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TAKE ACTION WITH CLIMATE FINANCE! With the recent hurricane season, the Southern United States is experiencing the devastating consequences of the warming of our oceans, particularly the rising water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico. Recent readings put the warmth of the water above 85 degrees Fahrenheit as Hurricane Milton rapidly strengthened across the Gulf of Mexico in early October with winds of 180 mph. It became the second most intense Atlantic hurricane, a Category 5 storm. These destructive weather events are becoming more frequent. It is imperative that we address climate change and focus on solutions rather than mitigation. We must transition to a Net Zero Emissions by 2050 and achieve the goals of the Paris Treaty of a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030. Climate Finance is one of the action steps that we can take. We must mobilize our resources and money towards investment vehicles and financial instruments which can tackle getting to net zero. Climate Finance Action involves: - Investing in Renewable and Clean Energy such as Wind, Solar and Thermal - Investing in Smart Food Systems to Increase Food Security and Reducing Food Waste - Building Green Eco-Friendly Affordable Housing - Financing Green Transportation and Production of Electrical Vehicles - Investing in Pollution Control Technologies and Environmental Services - Carbon Reduction Projects and Purchasing Carbon Credits Now is the Time to Take Action on climate change. Ways to get directly involved include starting a sustainable investment stock portfolio, buying an electrical vehicle, investing in green bonds, and focusing on impact investing in the affordable housing sector. Collectively, our efforts can reduce harmful, toxic air pollutants in the atmosphere. This article does not provide a complete statement of all information necessary for making an investment decision and is not a recommendation or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. The investments and strategies mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Nothing herein, nor any attachment, shall be considered to constitute (i) an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any security, or (ii) tax or legal advice. Consult with an Advisor of our firm to obtain specific investment recommendations related to your individual needs. Advisory services offered through MRA Advisory Group (“MRA”), A Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Please read the firm’s ADV Brochure for additional information on applicable risks and fees. FL (10/2024) Photo: Presentation at Columbia Climate School Showcase on September 25, 2024

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U.S. Government supports high-quality voluntary carbon market :) This morning, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm - released an endorsement of the voluntary carbon market. It came alongside a set of principles adopted from the VCMI (Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity Initiative). Principles for Responsible Participation”, namely: ➡ Focus on High-Quality Credits ➡ Permanence ➡ Robust Monitoring, Reporting, Verification, and Validation (MMRV) ➡ Co-Benefits ➡ Emissions Reduction Priority This positive endorsement of the VCM is a strong signal that the VCM is here to stay. It acknowledges past issues and provides a clear, government-backed, path for how we should adopt and build out the VCM to protect and regenerate global biodiversity. Press Release link: https://lnkd.in/eBtjtF9c

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📢 Check out our latest research on the impact of #Biodiversity at #COP16, #NuclearEnergy, and #LaborMarkets in the Eurozone! Read ⬇️ 🌿 At Biodiversity COP 16 in Cali, the focus is on turning agreements into actions. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to protect vital ecosystems, but 85% of countries have missed their strategy deadlines. Valuing ecosystem services, like inland wetlands valued at USD 71,275 per hectare annually, is crucial. Cali's COP plays a key role in integrating natural capital into economic growth and sustainability. ☢️ Nuclear Energy and Climate Transition: Nuclear power is back on the agenda for achieving net-zero goals. Countries like France are expanding their capacities, while newcomers like Kazakhstan are exploring nuclear energy for the first time. Despite challenges like high costs, nuclear energy is set to double by 2050, offering a reliable low-carbon option. 💼 Eurozone Labor Markets - The "Big Stay" Conundrum: Unemployment is at a historic low of 6.4%, but trends suggest shifts as firms adjust post-pandemic. Declining vacancies and rising wages may increase labor churn. Investing in generative AI could enhance workforce mobility. https://lnkd.in/e5pEHfPN #NetZero #ClimateTransition #Ludonomics #AllianzTrade #Allianz

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There are three problems with this program. 1. It is blatant vote buying (regardless of who is elected), thus the recent acceleration in activity. As the article notes, political appointees make the ultimate decisions for this program. 2. Under the Biden administration, it has doubled down on EVs and solar; this has made the US more reliant on the China-dominated renewables industry 3. Eventually, we will understand what China, Russia, India, Brazil, Ghana, Ukraine, Pakistan, Indonesia, France, Sweden, Finland, the UK, and most of the rest of the world (with the notable exception of Germany) understand. If we want cheap, clean energy, we need to invest in nuclear energy, which this program largely ignores. NB: I don't know how The Wall Street Journal does fact-checking, but a 3% loan default rate is 50-100% above the norm for commercial banks in the US (reporter bias?). Scott P. Amrith Ramkumar Robert Hargraves Ryan Pickering U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) American Nuclear Society Nuclear Energy Institute #nuclear #nuclearenergy #energy #energypolicy #Electricity Doug Houseman Doug Sheridan Matt Alvarez Matt Quist Michael Caravaggio Meredith Angwin #Renewables David Blackmon Oscar L. Martin Renewable Energy Clean Energy #wind #solar #solarenergy #grid #windenergy #renewableenergy #windfarms #electricity #netzero #inflationreductionact https://lnkd.in/ghSGwDRb https://lnkd.in/ghSGwDRb

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I am not in Cali, Colombia, so I will likely not do the traditional "my takeaways" from the event. However, this is what is on my mind this week. It is encouraging to see an increased awareness of the value of water and nature. Now, the question becomes who pays and how to finance solutions. The Biodiversity Finance Factbook is worth reading. It outlines the level of investment that is needed. The estimates are approximately $208 B per year, with $1.15 T needed by 20230. A quote: " Approximately 55% of the global GDP is moderately to highly dependent on nature, but a vastly higher share relies on functioning ecosystems to some degree. Nature-related risks are costing companies and their investors billions of dollars, but many lack sophistication in their approach to managing these risks." The opportunity is now to answer how to increase and finance investments in nature at speed. More to follow on this. #biodiversity #nature #investing #water #climate Earth Finance, Inc. Water Foundry Garrett Kephart Maria Dahrieh Carolina García Arbeláez Michael Alexander James Dalton Rylan Dobson Stuart Orr Alexis Morgan Lauren Steavpack Darin Aldrich James Harvey Sonya Bengali Newsha Ajami, PhD Usha Rao-Monari Avent Bezuidenhoudt Job van Schelven Eliza Roberts

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