The climate transition requires not just allocating trillions of dollars to scale new technologies, build new infrastructure, and transform incumbent industries – it requires getting the right mix of capital to develop, grow, and eventually scale innovations. 

In the world of climate, promising technologies too often don’t find the growth-stage capital that’s needed before large institutional investors can finance reaching scale. Addressing this missing middle is a structural challenge that requires more attention, and today’s episode is the first in a series of discussions on the missing middle in climate, developed in partnership with Spring Lane Capital. 

In this conversation, I’m joined by Jason Scott, a long-time climate investor who is Partner in Residence at Spring Lane Capital and also Board Chair of CREO Syndicate, and Régine Clément, CEO at CREO Syndicate. Spring Lane has been investing for years in the missing middle and has unique expertise in the challenges and opportunities it holds. If you haven’t heard of CREO, this is a group you should know. CREO works to help family offices invest more in climate. Families hold over $10 trillion in assets and can bring versatility and resilience that can help improve climate finance. CREO is working to mobilize $1 trillion for climate in the coming years. We talk about insights from their recent report on the missing middle, how climate investing has evolved in recent years, the role of catalytic capital, whether investors are backing away from climate amidst changing policy and macro-factors, and much more.

This was a great kick-off for our Deep Dive: Missing Middle in Climate Tech series, and I hope it piques your interest in the other episodes as well. And, if it piques your interest about partnering on a topical series of your own, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

What You'll Learn

• What the "missing middle" is and why it's crucial for climate progress
• How climate financing has evolved over the past decade and what gaps remain
• The unique role family offices play in addressing climate investment gaps
• Why growth-stage capital is especially scarce despite strong returns in climate investing
• How policy uncertainty and structural market issues impact climate finance
• Strategic approaches to mobilize trillions for climate solutions by 2030

In today’s episode, we cover:

• 03:12 - Régine’s background and CREO Syndicate's work
• 06:08 - Jason’s background and Spring Lane Capital’s work
• 08:22 - Defining the "missing middle" in climate finance
• 13:19 - Analysis of climate investment trends and current market dynamics
• 17:43 - The 6x financing gap needed to reach climate goals by 2030
• 19:57 - Why the missing middle in climate is more complex than in other sectors
• 24:49 - Structural challenges with fund sizes and misaligned investor incentives
• 30:33 - The surprising finding that only 18% of self-proclaimed climate funds invest >50% in climate
• 34:05 - Perspective on progress despite policy uncertainty and market fluctuations
• 37:47 - The economic case for climate investing beyond environmental benefits
• 41:27 - The unique role of family offices in catalyzing climate capital

Resources Mentioned

The voluntary carbon markets have been a source of curiosity for me. There’s been a lot of hope that the market would mature and offer a reliable way to offset emissions that otherwise could not be eliminated. Reliability has been the problem, however. Not knowing which carbon reduction projects are additive and truly remove or reduce carbon has held this market back, and I’ve been excited to learn about how new technologies will enable the reliability that’s needed. 

There are many people working on this problem. Dr. Allister Furey, Founder and CEO of Sylvera is one, and I was excited to learn about his company’s approach to removing carbon market bottlenecks and accelerating the investment in carbon projects. As he says it’s a mix of software, data, AI, and analysis that have helped Sylvera work with large clients and unlock enormous investments. Hope you learn as much as I did. Enjoy.

• [03:37] Allister’s background and entrepreneurial journey
• [05:54] Sylvera's founding and initial business concept
• [10:42] Exploration of the desert greening concept
• [11:27] Sylvera's current business offerings
• [17:10] Sylvera’s progress, reach, and client base
• [20:24] Corporate climate commitment trends
• [22:44] Corporate demand for carbon projects
• [26:12] Policy market expectations
• [29:07] Climate investor sentiment
• [30:33] Future outlook for carbon markets

•  Sylvera 

• Allister Furey
• Jason Rissman

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What 2025 will bring for climate tech is pretty hard to predict. We’ve seen a slowdown in investments at the same time as we see a continued flood of talent into the space, maturing technologies, and a boom in AI that could be transformative for climate solutions. The new administration? Nobody really knows how they’ll orient around climate tech, or how private investors will respond.

There’s a lot of uncertainty, but of course, pros who have been in this game for decades and who study early-stage climate technology closely have some ideas of where we’re headed. So I was thrilled to get to catch up with Andrew Beebe, Managing Director of Obvious Ventures. We spoke about Andrew’s background as an entrepreneur and the parallels he sees between the Internet's and climate tech's early days. We talked about where climate tech is today, 5 predictions he has for 2025, generative science, technologies he’s most excited about, what needs to change to address the climate crisis, and more. Andrew brings the nuance and clarity of someone who’s been working closely with energy and climate entrepreneurs every day for a long time. We didn’t solve all the mysteries of what this year will bring, but I think Andrew shared some great food for thought and real opportunities.

• Obvious Ventures

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To address climate change, there's little doubt that we need to replace gas powered cars with electric vehicles. But is owning an EV actually needed? What if rather than buying a car that remains parked most of the time, electric vehicles could just appear when we need them. That's the bold vision of Anand Nandakumar, Founder of the startup Halo.car. The company provides a solution enabled by technology and a team of remote pilots that offers the convenience of Lyft or Uber, combined with the freedom of Zipcar. I had a blast talking to Anand and think you will enjoy his big thinking and great insights to transportation, cities, urban design, the future and more. So buckle up. Here we go. 

• [2:45] What is Halo.car and what problem is it aiming to solve
• [6:36] Anand’s story and what led him to start Halo.car
• [10:30] The innovation behind what makes Halo.car special
• [12:48] Overcoming the technical and regulatory challenges of a new market
• [18:44] The process for selecting and training remote pilots
• [21:29] Halo.car’s launch in Las Vegas and growth plans
• [28:16] The global market opportunity and insights into opportunities in India
• [30:38] A vision for the future of mobility and urban design
• [36:44] Looking forward towards autonomous vehicles
• [43:09] Being a climate entrepreneur in this current moment
• [47:07] Practicing minimalism for climate impact

• Halo.car

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The thing that's most exciting for us working in climate is that we are witnessing one of the largest societal transformations that we'll probably ever see. And we're right at the start of it. 

Over the next decade, we're going to see an explosion of growth and opportunity in this space. Last year, over $40 billion in venture capital went to over 900 climate tech companies. To put that in context, that's double what it was just the year before. And yet, this is just a fraction of climate entrepreneurship. In addition to these hundreds of venture backed startups, there's hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of small businesses, turning their sights to climate impact. Most are not a fit for or interested in venture capital, but they still have financing needs.

This is the market that Dimitry Gershenson and Erin Davis are serving with their startup, Enduring Planet. They offer non-dilutive funding on founder-friendly terms. While there's a ton of coverage of the venture capital market, Dimitry and Erin bring unique perspectives to the incredibly diverse and expansive field of climate entrepreneurship. Full disclosure: I'm a big fan of Enduring Planet and recently made a small investment in their seed round. I think you'll see why I'm so excited by their potential. Here we go.

• [4:30] What is Enduring Planet and what problem is it aiming to solve
• [6:02] The type of companies that Enduring Planet is looking to invest in
• [8:05] What it means to be founder-friendly and the experience founders can expect
• [10:36] What is non-dilutive funding and why might it be the best option
• [11:08] The market size and exciting areas for non-dilutive climate investments
• [15:06] How many companies Enduring Planet is looking at and the current reach
• [19:24] Serving underrepresented founders through corporate DNA
• [24:12] The breadth of companies emerging and the generational shift
• [27:37] Fixed income intermediaries as a missing piece of the climate innovation puzzle
• [31:18] What is revenue-based financing, how it works, and why it’s the first product
• [35:26] What revenue-based financing means for business and viability
• [39:04] Using technology to improve the process of evaluating investment opportunities
• [41:09] Enduring Planet’s growth goals for the next 3-5 years
• [44:30] Advice for individual investors interested in climate

• Enduring Planet
• AngelList
• Carbon Collective

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Bienvenidos and welcome. Latin America is one of my favorite places in the world to visit and so I was thrilled to get to learn about the state of climate tech investing in Latin America for this episode. Today you’ll get to hear three interesting perspectives – a climate tech investor, a startup founder and a car designer rethinking mobility and urban design. Diego Serebrisky is a climate tech investor based in Mexico City. He’s the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of a firm called Dalus Capital. Jose Manuel Moller is the founder and CEO of a growing circular economy startup called Algramo. And Fernando Ocaña is a car designer and founder of the firm VEU Auto. 

Lots of fascinating insights to the climate tech we’ll need in the future and to building climate solutions in Latin America. Hope you learn as much as I did. Enjoy.

• [2:17] Diego's work at Dalus Capital and his insights into the growth of climate investing
• [7:12] Opportunities within Mexico and Latin America
• [9:57] Deal flows that Dalus Capital is seeing
• [11:44] José's work at Algramo and what problems he's aiming to solve
• [14:17] How technology can enable consumer behavior change
• [15:59] Scaling business in the circular economy space
• [17:58] Fernando's work at VEU Auto and his strategy to address mobility issues
• [23:02] Mexico City as a laboratory for urban design and sustainable design
• [26:37] Learning from Mexico and Latin American markets
• [36:23] The state of climate tech in Mexico
• [38:27] The importance of gaining global visibility
• [40:13] The importance of personal choices and policy change

• Dalus Capital
• Algramo
• VEU Auto
• Latam Climate Innovation Summit

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• Connect with Jose
• Connect with Fernando

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Might it be that the climate crisis requires not just technological change but also culture change. Might it be that as a civilization we need profound shifts in how we think, speak and act. If that’s the case, then art and creative expression will be critical to stretching our imaginations and to creating the new narratives, paradigms and mindsets that underpin our society. 

Planning for this episode I became fascinated with the role and potential of artistic movements in creating culture change. I actually recorded this episode with a live audience of designers and creative people at IDEO, the design firm where I work. And so the pressure was on. 

After extensive research, I was thrilled to find Raquel deAnda and Gan Golan. Raquel is an artist, curator and cultural producer involved in many climate and social justice organizations, and she helps lead the US Department of Arts and Culture. Gan Golan artist, activist, creative strategist, and NY Times bestselling author and he is a co-founder of the Climate Clock. 

Raquel and Gan met while designing and organizing the role of art in the 2014 People’s Climate March. That was one of the largest climate mobilizations in history and so they bring really informed perspectives on the power of creativity in the climate movement. We talked about that experience, the work they’re doing now, how artists continue to impact the climate movement and advice for anyone that wants to use their creativity to address climate change. So whether you’re an artist, creatively curious or just eager for that culture change we need – this episode has a lot you’ll enjoy. Here we go.

• [3:11] How Raquel and Gan met
• [4:04] The role of art and creativity at the People's Climate March
• [7:05] The impacts of the March on the climate justice movement
• [10:59] What is actually happening and what is the pushback
• [14:33] What is Climate Clock and what is it aiming to achieve
• [18:41] How can people get involved and utilize Climate Clock's resources
• [19:56] Examples of art as an organizing strategy
• [21:02] What is the US Department of Arts and Culture and what is it aiming to achieve
• [24:32] Traction for supporting artists through local government
• [26:16] Funding barriers for climate creatives and ways to support
• [30:27] How to elevate the urgency of climate in our public discourse
• [33:54] Advice for creatives interested in climate justice work
• [36:19] How to bring climate action into the house as parents
• [39:34] Finding inspiration and emerging ideas
• [43:14] Other climate resources: Like the Waters, We Rise
• [45:37] Lifting up joy in work and activism

• Climate Clock
• US Department of Arts and Culture
• Climate Justice Alliance
• Like the Waters, We Rise

• Connect with Raquel
• Connect with Gan

• https://InvestedInClimate.com 
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• On

Climate tech is a $90 trillion opportunity and synthetic biology is projected to be a $30 trillion opportunity. Both sectors are expected to grow by 100x in the next decade, and we know that more than 60% of the dirty inputs to the global economy can be replaced by inputs made by biology which are more efficient, cleaner and cost effective. So we invest in the intersection of these two markets, both of which are at inflection points.

When it comes to a rapidly decarbonizing world, there's many things we take for granted that we shouldn't. For example, it's easy to assume that coffee and chocolate should always come from beans that grow on trees. Maybe that's the case. Or maybe we'll rely on new tech that's enabling us to create synthetic alternatives that are actually better for the planet. Welcome to the world of synthetic biology. I've been fascinated by the possibility of dramatically reducing emissions across many different sectors through biology. So I sat down with Michael Luciani and Jenny Kan, who are investing in synthetic bio as they build a new fund called Exponential Impact. I learned a ton in this conversation and hope you do too.

• [3:21] What led Jenny and Michael to climate investing
• [9:32] What is syndicate investing and how it works
• [12:36] What is a rolling fund and what type of investors are a good fit
• [15:15] The investment thesis behind Exponential Impact 
• [16:56] The market case for climate tech and biotech investing
• [19:47] How synthetic bio is creating an opportunity for addressing climate change
• [21:34] Examples of investment opportunities available 
• [27:27] How do synthetically made products compare
• [29:06] The economical and ethical critiques of the synthetic bio space
• [32:22] Exponential Impact’s advantages as a firm
• [33:49] Exponential Impact’s ideal investor and minimum investment
• [35:31] Principles for supporting climate tech startups
• [37:30] Community and attitude considerations for climate impact

• Exponential Impact
• AngelList
• JoinC3.co

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• Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn

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The IPCC report that came out recently found that demand side changes, including consumer behavior change, can help reduce 40 to 70% of the emissions that we need to cut by 2050. So we do have power to meet global climate goals, especially where we act together, and when we know which choices to focus on.

I'll be honest here, I don't think carbon offsets are the answer. Companies relying only on offsets to become carbon neutral are pushing off the hard work of reducing their emissions. On the individual level, however, buying offsets actually has a different effect. It gets individuals to become more engaged in managing their carbon footprint, in talking about climate, and getting involved in activism. This is some of what I learned from Sanchli Pal, founder of a venture-backed startup called Joro. 

In this episode of Invested in Climate, we talk to Sanchali about the work she does, how individual decisions can spark systemic change, and what we can all do today to reduce our emissions.

• [2:55] What is Joro and what problem is it aiming to solve
• [4:21] The methodology behind tracking and calculating an individual’s carbon footprint
• [8:03] What is an offset and how it works
• [9:08] The validity of concerns around offsetting
• [11:38] The most impactful lifestyle choices we can make to reduce our footprint
• [14:46] How Sanchali started her journey as a founder
• [17:52] Focusing on individuals for leveraging systems change
• [20:16] The multiplier effect through building community
• [23:20] Consumer demands and the need for Joro
• [24:46] Drawing inspiration for US consumers from international progress
• [28:55] Using metrics to work towards a new way of thinking
• [30:37] Areas where people made the biggest carbon reductions in the last year
• [34:18] Work and learning to address the climate crisis

• Sixth Assessment IPPC Report
• Food, Inc.

• Joro
• Connect on LinkedIn

• https://InvestedInClimate.com 
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There are likely only a few people who know more about impact investing than John Goldstein. His firm—Imprint Capital—helped pioneer the field before getting acquired by Goldman Sachs in 2015. Now, John is the head of Goldman’s Sustainable Finance Group, offering him a truly unique perspective on the trillions of dollars needed to finance decarbonization and conservation globally.

In this episode of Invested in Climate, we talk about the work that John does, how investing in climate has evolved in recent years, and why now is the time to invest. If you’re investing in climate or curious about getting started, don’t miss this episode.

• [2:43] The purpose of the sustainable finance group
• [7:44] The clients they serve and the scale they operate at
• [9:00] What led John to the position he’s in today
• [16:03] Why now is the time to invest in climate 
• [22:07] Quantifying the impact of investments
• [26:49] Why we’re in a new chapter of ESG investing
• [31:31] The investment opportunities available 
• [32:55] Can divestment have an impact?
• [34:08] Think like an analyst—not an advocate
• [42:43] How everyday people make an impact

• Goldman Sachs Sustainable Finance
• Taylor Jordan

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Switching your home energy source to solar is one of the most impactful things you can do to slow climate change—yet going solar is confusing and can be prohibitively expensive. Wildgrid Solar is a startup working to make solar accessible to more people. In this episode of Invested in Climate, I sat down with Wildgrid’s co-founders Krystal Persaud and Parinda Darden to learn how they’re making the world of solar energy easier to navigate. And if you don’t yet power your home with solar, hopefully this episode has you considering making the switch. 

• [3:13] Learn more about Wildgrid Solar and the problem it’s aiming to solve
• [4:17] The impact you can make by switching to solar
• [5:23] How does Wildgrid work? Why should you use them?
• [13:05] How Wildgrid works to offer a unique product
• [18:06] Why Wildgrid is trying to reach a younger demographic
• [20:49] How Wildgrid is building a community of solar advocates
• [23:15] Why solar providers should partner with Wildgrid
• [24:49] How Wildgrid seeks to expand in the future
• [27:40] The new and exciting things happening with Wildgrid
• [28:39] How Parinda and Krystal believe activism is impactful

• Grouphug

• Wildgrid Solar
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• Connect with Parinda on LinkedIn

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Today’s episode focuses on what’s perhaps the easiest way for you to help move billions of dollars out of fossil fuels. That’s right, I said “you,” “billions of dollars,” and “easy,” all in the same sentence. The surprising answer to this riddle is your 401k—and a young company called Sphere. 

In this episode of Invested in Climate, I have a fascinating conversation with Sphere CEO and Founder Alex Wright-Gladstein, a serial entrepreneur who’s making it easy for everyday people and companies of all sizes to divest their 401ks from fossil fuels. I think you’ll learn a lot from this episode and walk away with a really easy and impactful action to take. 

• [2:35] When Alex realized her life’s work was to protect the planet
• [6:05] Learn more about Sphere and the problem it works to solve
• [10:30] Is divesting money from fossil fuels having an impact? 
• [15:11] What do you need to do to get started? 
• [16:04] Are climate-friendly 401k options more expensive? 
• [18:41] Details about the Sphere 500 Fossil-Free Index Fund
• [22:34] Raising awareness for fossil-free investing
• [25:49] Who is currently working with Sphere?
• [27:03] How to change investments in a 401k with a past employer 
• [29:32] Other investment strategies you should consider
• [32:04] Actionable ways Alex is making strides in other areas
• [34:32] Why you should focus on creating infrastructure change

• Ayar Labs
• Oursphere.org
• As You Sow
• Fossil Free Funds
• Marilyn Waite’s blog with link to green banks
• Ayana Elizabeth Johnsson’s venn diagram for climate action
• How University of California Decided to Let its Employees Divest from Fossil Fuels
• Learn more about Atmos Financial
• How to Save a Planet podcast

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William “Bill” McDonough pioneered the green architecture field, creating buildings that create more energy than they use, clean their own air and water, and create habitats for native wildlife. His book and work on the “Cradle to Cradle” approach spread the idea that waste equals food, helping to spark the circular economy movement. 

Bill has won two presidential awards and was recognized by Time Magazine as a hero for the planet. Fortune ranked him #24 of the world’s 50 greatest leaders. He brings sage wisdom and poetry to this conversation. Are you ready to push the boundaries of your thinking?

• [3:29] A unified philosophy that is changing the design of the world
• [10:48] The balance between humility and ambition in design
• [11:40] How the climate movement has evolved
• [16:05] The tools Bill is using today
• [19:36] Net zero is a good place to start
• [23:56] Tangible steps you can take to make a difference 
• [26:07] Design is the first signal of human intention 
• [33:34] How do you get new ideas to spread?

• Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
• The Forest Partnership
• Walker Evans

• Bill’s website
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Happy New Year everyone. It's 2025, and we know this year will be tricky in more ways than we can even imagine. I hope our podcast helps you stay inspired and think big throughout the year. 

Having gotten to talk to hundreds of climate tech founders, funders, advocates, and corporate sustainability leaders in recent years, I’ve been inspired by the amazing energy, innovation, and tenacity of climate champions worldwide. I’ve said it before and will say it again, I believe climate is now the biggest movement in human history. Millions of people wake up every day and work to protect the planet in one way or another, and there’s never been a more impactful time to be alive. 

And yet, despite the investment and progress we’ve seen, we’re not on track to avoid devastating climate impacts. 

That’s why I’ve personally shifted my attention to culture change. We simply need new ways to recruit people to take action and leverage the power they have to make climate a real and unwavering priority of policymakers, industry, and communities. 

So I’m thrilled to kick off this year with an interview with Eric Levine, co-founder of one of the world’s most successful climate engagement organizations. Count Us In has reached hundreds of millions of people by integrating climate calls to action in what they love – entertainment and culture. In this conversation, we discuss Eric’s background, the behavioral science behind their approach, and how they’re reaching people through music, sports, fashion, film, TV, social media, and more.

Maybe you don’t consider culture and storytelling to be an exciting climate technology, but paradigms and mindsets are foundational to systemic change. They influence everything – how we think, what we prioritize, fund, and want. So give this episode a listen with an open mind and enjoy. Here we go.

• [03:55] Eric’s background & how he got involved in climate work
• [05:00] Eric’s interest in civic engagement & empowering young people
• [10:00] The founding of Count Us In & its goals
• [15:00] Count Us In's strategy of integrating climate action into popular culture
• [20:00] The parallels Count Us In has studied from other social norm shifts
• [25:00] Examples of Count Us In's work engaging football/soccer fans in the UK & Brazil
• [30:00] Count Us In's approach to determining & promoting climate actions
• [35:00] The difference between environmental policy support & prioritization
• [40:00] What’s next for Count Us In

• Count Us In

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Jason Scott has been recruiting his coworkers at Google to directly support climate startups as both mentors and investors. Jason is also a partner at ANIM, an early-stage venture fund. He’s built funds and accelerator programs for Google including accelerators for black-led, women-led, and climate-focused companies.

He’s also launched the Black Angel Group as a way to take advantage of investing in climate tech companies and have a tangible impact on climate change. It’s also a great opportunity to learn from and collaborate with others. He shares numerous practical insights in this episode of Invested in Climate. 

• [4:12] Learn all about Google's climate accelerator
• [8:17] How Google helps startups get to the next level
• [11:40] How to be considered for future accelerators
• [12:47] Jason’s experience recruiting volunteers from within Google
• [16:36] How Jason supports climate tech startups through angel groups
• [21:16] What it’s like to be a member of Jason’s collective
• [23:02] The intersection between climate and underrepresented founders
• [25:41] Why now is the time to invest in a climate-focused startup
• [29:04] Learn about Jason’s global digital-first entrepreneurship fund
• [31:43] How to get involved in Jason’s endeavors
• [33:18] Ways to create positive change around issues you care about

• BlocPower™
• https://startup.google.com/
• AngelList

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Black Angel Group
• ANIM

• https://InvestedInClimate.com 
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Jamie Beck Alexander argues convincingly that to mitigate climate change, every job must be a climate job. What does that mean? You have to recognize the influence you have no matter your role, industry, or the level you’re at in your organization. You can be part of what’s driving change: a movement of committed employees who help their companies do more to address climate change. 

As the founding Director of Drawdown Labs, Jamie helped develop the “Climate Solutions At Work” guide and provides hands-on support to dozens of companies. In this episode of Invested in Climate, Jamie shares some tangible steps we can each take to accelerate progress. 

• [3:20] The mobilization of talent toward climate change jobs
• [5:23] Learn more about Project Drawdown and Drawdown Labs
• [8:31] The private sector’s role in addressing climate change
• [12:38] Jamie’s mantra: Every job must be a climate job
• [14:24] Learn about the “Climate Solutions at Work” guide
• [21:50] How to hold companies accountable to their green initiatives 
• [28:02] The impact of the Drawdown Project’s workshops
• [30:53] How to influence the organization you work at
• [32:43] How you can make an impact in all areas of your life

• Climate Solutions at Work Guide
• Changing Company Culture Requires a Movement, Not a Mandate
• SEC Proposes Long-Awaited Climate Change Disclosure Rules
• Jamie Beck Alexander’s TedX Talk
• Amazon Employees for Climate Justice
• Doughnut Economics

• Project Drawdown
• Drawdown Labs
• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on Twitter

• https://InvestedInClimate.com 
• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

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Most people don’t put that much thought into where they bank. Do you? Do you choose a bank because it’s convenient? Is it simply somewhere your family has always banked? Do you look for the best interest rates? You probably haven’t considered how your bank invests the money you deposit in your savings or checking account(s). The majority of big banks are investing your money into fossil fuels.

Today’s guest—Ravi Mikkelsen—is the founder of Atmos Financial, a bank that ensures your deposits only fund climate-positive investments like renewable energy projects. Switching banks may sound like a hassle, but it’s likely easier and far more impactful than you think. In this episode of Invested in Climate, Ravi shares how Atmos Financial works and how you can make an impact with your money. 

• [3:11] What led Ravi to found Atmos Financial 
• [7:11] How Ravi navigated some bumps in the road
• [10:40] Lean how Atmos Financial works
• [15:50] Why should you consider Atmos Financial? 
• [18:34] Does divestment from fossil fuels make a difference?
• [20:34] Most people don't think twice about where they bank
• [26:28] Learn the ins and outs of banking with Atmos Financial
• [29:58] How the debit card works (cashback + roundup program) 
• [32:10] Why they have the ability to offer higher savings rates
• [33:55] How to get started with Atmos Financial
• [35:32] What else can listeners do to invest in climate?
• [41:15] What’s happening next with Atmos Financial

• Funding the Transition: A Tale of Two Banks
• Net-Zero Banking Alliance
• Carbon Collective
• Newday Impact Investing
• Etho Capital
• Change Finance
• Premiums for the Planet
• Climate Changemakers
• Environmental Voter Project

• Atmos Financial
• Connect with Ravi on LinkedIn
• Follow Ravi on Twitter

• https://InvestedInClimate.com 
• On LinkedIn
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Can you imagine a time in the future when decarbonizing the economy and protecting the planet are such important priorities that half of all jobs are oriented toward climate issues? It’s hard for us to picture right now, but it’s the compelling vision of two startup founders, Anshuman Bapna and Kamal Kapadia.

Their company, Terra, offers education and community for the fast-growing climate workforce. Their insights into the explosion in climate work is valuable on a number of levels and I’m excited to bring them to you on this episode of Invested in Climate.

• [1:50] The vision of decarbonizing the economy and protecting the planet
• [3:08] How environmental concerns became a passion for Kamal and Anshuman
• [5:16] The workforce problems the team at Terra is working to solve
• [13:25] The support of a collaborative community in the opportunities Terra provides
• [19:50] Transitioning individuals from other industries into the climate space
• [22:43] Opportunities for anyone to create courses or experiences for the community
• [31:12] How climate issues impact every role within every company
• [36:26] The largest concerns Kamal has revolve around the issue of scale
• [38:11] A conscious tension exists between climate concerns and lifestyle choices
• [43:53] What you can do to take action for the sake of climate change
• [47:51] Personal strategies each guest implements to stay focused and renewed

• https://Terra.do - company website
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• Kamal on LinkedIn
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The vast majority of people in the United States are frustrated with lawmakers' lack of action when it comes to climate policy. They want the government to fund renewable energy research, regulate CO2 emissions, and take other climate-positive measures. Yet the “Build Back Better” bill remains stuck in Congress. The country’s ability to meet its climate change commitments is uncertain at best.

So I sat down with Sean Kosofsky—the executive Director of the Climate Advocacy Lab—to learn about the state of climate advocacy in the US. The Climate Advocacy Lab is a community of over 3,000 climate advocates, organizers, researchers, and data specialists. They use evidence-based research to help climate advocates across the country run smarter and more effective campaigns. Sean has been part of several successful movements and has great insight into accelerating progress on the climate policy front. Listen in for a deep and passionate conversation about climate advocacy. 

• [3:10] How Sean got involved in climate advocacy
• [5:17] Learn all about the Climate Advocacy Lab
• [6:45] Why does climate advocacy matter?
• [8:53] The current state of climate advocacy 
• [10:55] The climate change wins from the Biden presidency
• [13:38] Senator Joe Manchin III blocking the Build Back Better Act
• [16:51] How to move past climate change being a political issue
• [19:04] Hope for the Justice40 Framework
• [21:23] The impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on climate initiatives 
• [23:14] The impact of local politics on climate change initiatives
• [25:13] What climate advocates can learn from other movements
• [27:58] Key challenges in the climate advocacy movement
• [29:42] What can listeners do to make an impact? 
• [35:17] What Sean is doing in his personal life to support climate advocacy 

• New York Times: How Joe Manchin Aided Coal, and Earned Millions
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• The Justice40 Initiative
• Fridays for Future
• Sunrise Movement
• Sierra Club
• 350.org 
• Grist

• Learn more about the Climate Advocacy Lab
• Connect with Sean on LinkedIn
• Follow Sean on Twitter

• https://InvestedInClimate.com 
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Invested in Climate hosts conversations with leading thinkers to help our listeners find the right ways to do more to address the climate crisis through five categories of action: Work, Investments, Learning, Lifestyle and Activism.

People everywhere, communities, governments and all sectors of the economy are mobilizing to address climate change. The scale of this global action is unprecedented. Never before have so many people dedicated so much energy, creativity and capital to addressing a shared, global threat. Will it be enough? What else is needed? And, most importantly, what can you do?

We all have a part to play, so let’s go.

http://investedinclimate.com

Let’s talk about nature – the forests, land, oceans, biodiversity, and ecosystem that make this planet liveable and, if you ask me, quite worth saving. Nature regulates our climate – and stewarding nature well could contribute 20-30% of our emissions reduction needs. It’d also support livelihoods around the world and help prevent the mass extinction of many of our planet’s species. 

Nature-based solutions often sound simple – planting and protecting forests, farming in ways that improve soil health, restoring wetlands – but require sophisticated techniques to measure and track their impact. The lack of good nature monitoring systems has contributed to a $700 billion global financing gap and an inability of private sector investors to really lean into this opportunity. Currently, just 15% of investment in nature-based solutions comes from the private sector. 

This is where a young company called Cultivo comes in. Cultivo uses technology to understand the investment opportunity for nature based solutions. Having just raised $14 million of venture capital, they’re ready to scale. I was thrilled to speak with Cultivo Founder and CEO Manuel Pinuela. We discussed Manuel’s background as a repeat entrepreneur, how he came to found Cultivo, the technology that sets them apart, the potential they see and much more. I learned a lot and became a quick fan of Cultivo’s work. 

Hope you enjoy this episode. It’s our last of 2024, so I’m wishing you all happy holidays. I hope you all get to spend some time resting and recharging – perhaps including some time in nature – and gear up for the challenges ahead. Thanks for listening.

• [00:58] Manuel Pinuela's background and how he got into climate
• [06:25] Cultivo and the problem that they’re solving
• [09:30] Defining "degraded land" and Cultivo's target customers
• [12:55] Cultivo's technology and approach
• [15:11] Examples of complex nature-based solutions Cultivo works on
• [23:54] The climate impact and portfolio approach of Cultivo's work
• [31:19] Cultivo's progress and recent $14 million funding round
• [35:09] What the nature-based solutions market needs

• Cultivo

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Today, we’re talking about wildfires and some innovative technology to prevent them. 

Climate change-related heat, drought, and what’s called thirsty atmospheric conditions increase the risks that come with wildfires. These fires have a real impact – they take human lives, create lasting respiratory health problems, destroy billions of dollars of property, and contribute significantly to global carbon emissions. The 2023 fire in Canada that burned an area the size of North Dakota emitted more carbon in five months than Russia or Japan emitted from fossil fuels in all of 2022. It should be noted, of course, that forests reabsorb carbon as they regrow, but still, their burning at that scale is a huge problem. 

Billions of dollars are being invested every year to prevent and limit wildfires, and I was excited to connect with a leading startup in this space to learn about what’s working and what challenges need to be solved. Today’s guest is Abhishek Singh, Co-Founder & CEO of AiDash, a company using satellites to help utility companies prevent powerline-cased fires. We talk about the problem of climate-related wildfires, the origin of AiDash, how their technology works, who’s using it, how they expect to contribute to fire mitigation, what else is needed, and much more. 

Smokey the Bear says only you can prevent wildfires, but maybe it's only you, thousands of satellites, AI and computer vision, and a growing ecosystem of technology companies and forest management professionals. Anyways, don’t mess around with fire and enjoy this episode.

• AiDash

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When Tom Steyer and Katie Hall came together in 2021 to bring Galvanize Climate Solutions to the world, it promised to be something rather unique. They both bring decades of experience managing many billions of dollars, incredible networks, and insights to find the best, most impactful investment opportunities for climate. Recently, Secretary John Kerry joined Galvanize as a Co-Chair, adding perhaps unparalleled international expertise to their team. 

The firm prioritizes not just financial returns for their investors, but also real climate impact. I was thrilled to sit down with Galvanize Chief Impact Officer Nicole Systrom to learn about how such an all-star team thinks about the impact they create. We spoke about Nicole’s background, the three different asset classes Galvanize invests in, three different levels of impact they consider before and after their investments are made, the impact of the election on their work, and much more. I learned a lot and am certainly glad Galvanize is doing the work it’s doing. Enjoy.

• [02:35] Nicole’s background & career focus on climate
• [06:59] Galvanize & what makes it unique
• [11:21] Feelings & optimism in climate work
• [14:36] Galvanize's investment strategy across asset classes
• [15:59] Impact approaches for public equities, real estate & venture
• [17:59] Galvanize’s thesis & embedding impact across the firm
• [22:36] Three levels of impact
• [24:02] Diving deeper into impact approaches for different asset classes
• [26:11] Galvanize's real estate investment strategy
• [29:24] Nicole's goals & priorities for the next year
• [32:42] The impact of the recent election
• [34:28] What else needs to change in climate finance
• [36:28] Closing reflections & call to action

• Galvanize Climate Solutions

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There are many reasons to believe the re-election of Donald Trump will be a major setback to climate progress. His previous record, recent campaign, ties to the fossil fuel industry, and perpetuation of misinformation, like the strange idea that wind turbines kill whales, all suggest we’re in for a radical reversal of America’s climate commitment. 

I’ve had many conversations with climate leaders since the election and a different narrative beyond this obvious fear became clear: Climate change doesn’t care who is President. Its impacts will be impossible to ignore. Business leadership and global competitiveness are now inextricably linked to navigating the climate transition. And, a robust ecosystem of influential actors domestically and abroad makes a complete abandonment of climate action unlikely. 

Today, I’m joined by two people who bring policy expertise at the federal, state, and local levels. Zach Friedman is the Senior Director of Federal Policy at Ceres, a nonprofit organization that works alongside investors and companies to advocate for sustainability. Caroline Spears is the Founder of Climate Cabinet, an organization that helps local candidates become successful climate champions. I found this conversation to be full of nuance and more uplifting than I expected.  

Our new reality is sobering and there’s no denying we face new challenges. There is hope, however, and it comes with the fortitude and savvy people like Zach and Caroline have already been demonstrating. This savvy will require telling different stories about climate, the undeniable business case, and the power of all of us who stay invested.

• [03:55] Background on Caroline’s & Zack’s roles at Climate Cabinet & Ceres
• [06:35] Potential challenges & opportunities for federal climate policy under the new administration
• [10:21] The implications of the U.S. potentially disengaging from international climate agreements
• [13:44] The critical role of state and local governments in driving climate progress
• [19:24] Priorities of Climate Cabinet & Ceres in the wake of the election results
• [26:11] How to support climate progress

• Ceres
• Climate Cabinet

• Connect with Zach on LinkedIn
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Every once in a while I come across an investment firm with a really different edge and perspective. Overture VC is one such firm. Their specialty is policy – not just understanding the unique opportunities climate tech companies have with government incentives and helping them navigate that tricky terrain, but also actually lobbying for policies that’ll benefit their portfolio companies. 

In the words of Overture Founder and Managing Partner Shomik Dutta, there’s a $1.2 trillion dollar wall of government money coming downhill for climate companies. So Overture’s edge is meaningful and can make a big difference for a wide range of companies. Shomik and I discussed his background, how he moved into investing from politics, the opportunities recent climate policy has created for startups, examples of Overture’s portfolio companies and how the firm has helped them, and much more, including what’s at stake in the upcoming election.

Speaking of the election – it’s next week. If you don’t yet have a plan for how to get your ballot in or haven’t called your friends and family to make sure they’re voting, now’s the time. Shomik mentions a mobile app called Reach – a great tool to help you contact people you know in swing states.

• [03:01] Shomik Dota's Background and Transition to Investing
• [06:05] Overture VC's Unique Approach and Government Incentives 
• [09:12] The Role of Government in Climate Tech and Overture's Strategy
• [12:44] Overture's Portfolio and Specific Investments
• [16:56] Examples of Overture's Work and Impact
• [20:45] Overture's Fund and Investment Focus
• [23:05] Election Impact on Climate Policy
• [25:41] Future Policy Needs and Final Thoughts

• Overture VC
• Reach

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The apparel industry has a massive impact on the environment. The industry is the second-highest consumer of water and it drives almost 10% of global carbon emissions. Despite thousands of smart people working to make this industry cleaner and all sorts of investments by brands, emissions are still increasing. 

To learn about this problem and get an inside look at the efforts to address it, I caught up with two old friends, Jason Kibbey and Evan Wiener. 

Jason was the founder of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and more recently a technology company called Worldly that helps businesses track their supply chains. Evan is a sustainability expert at McKinsey & Company who previously worked at Nike and H&M. 

These guys know the fashion industry inside and out. We talked about the state of sustainability in the apparel industry, the challenges of competitive and pricing pressures, the role of legislation, the opportunity for startups, the questionable authenticity of corporate sustainability aspirations, what needs to change, and much more. 

This is an industry that simply needs to change dramatically, and I learned a lot about how we might get there. Let’s go.

• [03:07] Backgrounds of Jason Kibbe and Evan Wiener
• [08:19] Environmental and Societal Impact of the Apparel Industry
• [11:11] Progress and Challenges in Sustainability Efforts
• [16:16] Role of Regulation and Industry Response
• [25:31] Opportunities for Startups and Innovation
• [37:33] Consumer and Investor Roles in Sustainability
• [42:50] Reconciling Optimism with Industry Challenges
• [44:51] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

• Cascale (formerly Sustainable Apparel Coalition)
• Worldly
• McKinsey & Company 

• Connect with Jason on LinkedIn
• Connect with Evan on LinkedIn

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If you’re an avid listener, you might know I’m always interested in learning about ways we might improve financial markets for climate ventures. Improving the flow of capital can, of course, be incredibly impactful in helping more climate solutions scale successfully. So I was really excited when I learned about Open Road and the important role they’re playing by offering bridge loans to promising companies. 

Ok, maybe bridge loans don't sound that sexy to you? Think of it this way: if you’re an entrepreneur, what could be worse than running out of money? How about running out of money when you already have significant funding lined up just not yet in-hand. The sad truth is that this happens all the time – companies go under because they simply can’t keep paying salaries or buying supplies while they wait for financing to arrive. That’s the financing gap that Open Road has been addressing for over 10 years. In this conversation with Open Road CEO Caroline Bressan we talked about her background in impact investing, Open Road’s history, how their loans have unlocked 10 times the amount of capital, their climate portfolio, and more.

• [03:08] Caroline’s background & role before Open Road
• [04:09] Learning from Calvert that shaped Caroline
• [05:13] Open Road, how did it start & the problem it's aiming to address
• [06:46] Financing gaps related to climate: The valley of death & the missing middle
• [08:37] Investment reach & focus in Sub-Saharan Africa
• [10:31] Finding & selecting portfolio companies
• [12:21] The type of impact Open Road has had
• [13:24] The need for bridge funding beyond what is provided
• [15:23] Open Road’s repayment rate
• [17:39] How much of lending has gone to energy, ag & other climate-related companies
• [21:01] Types of businesses Open Road has supported
• [26:30] What’s next for Open Road

• Open Road

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After a summer of record heat waves, I’m sure we’re all grateful for air conditioning. And we know, it’s not just about comfort or productivity, but with extreme heat, being able to cool buildings keeps people safe. Yet, it comes at a cost: air conditioning today is responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and demand is set to triple by 2050.

Maybe you’re thinking that heat pumps are the answer and will come to the rescue? They’re certainly an important part of the solution, but until electric heat pumps are plugged into a grid that is fully powered by clean energy, efficiency matters a great deal. Enter Mojave HVAC. Their liquid desiccant technology can cut the energy needed for cooling commercial spaces by 30-50%. For today’s conversation, I’m joined by Mojave Founder & CEO Phil Farese. We spoke about Phil’s past and how he learned about the economics of energy efficiency, Mojave’s business model, technology, and its potential role in keeping us cool without overheating the planet. Here we go.

• [03:01] Phil’s background & what led him to founding Mojave HVAC
• [05:07] Mojave & the problem that they’re solving
• [07:24] The limitations of heat pumps 
• [10:36] Focusing on efficiency & using less energy for our HVAC needs
• [13:53] How Mojave’s technology was developed & where the business is at 
• [16:04] Mohave’s target market & how sales are progressing 
• [17:21] Other insights on Mohave’s product 
• [18:21] The overall opportunity for business & impact
• [19:42] Emissions savings through technology adoption
• [20:25] Drivers of demand for Mohave’s product
• [22:26] The pros & cons of the liquid desiccants debate
• [25:37] Mohave’s next milestone & the biggest challenges
• [26:41] Blind spots in addressing climate change & buildings
• [29:27] Today’s climate innovation ecosystem & how it needs to improve

• Mojave HVAC

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Non-dilutive funding isn’t just about landing the grant; it’s about delivering on it with excellence. In the third episode of our Deep Dive Series with Climate Finance Solutions, we go beyond the application and explore what happens after the award. Our guest host Joel Armin-Hoiland, Founder & CEO of Climate Finance Solutions, is joined by two experts who live and breathe this work: Susan Perri, Director of Grants at Climate Finance Solutions, and Jeff Haydock, CEO of ecoCFO.

Together, they unpack the essential strategies behind post-award grant management from navigating audits to implementing smart financial systems, crafting efficient technical reports, and making strategic choices long before the application is even submitted. The episode offers real-world insights into federal grant reporting, shifting expectations with the new administration, and how startups can build internal or external capacity to manage complexity without losing focus.

If you’re building a climate company and want to stay ahead of the curve on grants, this episode is for you.

• [02:00] Introductions of Jeff and Susan
• [04:00] Susan’s background
• [05:29] Jeff's background
• [09:38] Susan’s role at Climate Finance Solutions
• [11:18] Post-award management best practices
• [14:10] Strategic elements of grant applications
• [16:26] Financial preparation for grant reporting
• [20:31] Insights on grant audits
• [24:14] Overview of technical reporting 
• [27:34] Strategies for making post-award reporting easier
• [34:18] When to hire consultants for grant management
• [39:11] How to ensure smooth collaboration with consultants
• [41:13] Changes in federal grants under the new Administration
• [45:22] Alternative grant funding sources
• [48:24] Closing thoughts and sources of hope

• Climate Finance Solutions
• ecoCFO

• Joel Armin-Hoiland
• Susan Perri
• Jeff Haydock
• Jason Rissman

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We’re weeks away from a historic election. It’s one that will decide the course of climate action in the United States at a pivotal moment, a moment when we can’t afford to slow down or send mixed signals abroad. And, it’s an election that all expect to be decided by just tens of thousands of voters. 

These are all facts that I’m sure you know already. 

Here’s what you probably don’t know: millions of environmentalists don’t vote. These are people who list the environment and climate change as their number one most important issue – and getting just 1-2% of them to vote could easily decide the election. 

This is the premise and work of the Environmental Voter Project. They’re a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, not focusing on a particular party, but instead focusing on protecting the environment simply by getting environmentalists to the polls. I learned a lot from my conversation with EVP Founder and Executive Director Nathaniel Stinnett. We talked about the difference between voter preferences and priorities, who these non-voting environmentalists are, and what actually works in getting them to vote. The answer to that riddle and much else in this episode might surprise you.

• [03:18] What's at stake in the 2024 election?
• [04:40] The implications for climate
• [07:14] How local elections influence environmental policy
• [08:56] Public sentiment on the environment
• [11:13] The distinction between voter preference & voter prioritization
• [13:28] The lack of voter turnout among environmentalists
• [15:06] Why aren’t environmentalists voting
• [20:21] Fossil fuel PR campaigns 
• [21:24] Environmental Voter Project & what they’re doing to engage
• [23:55] The most resonant, persuasive, helpful message to motivate behavior change
• [27:31] Measuring EVP’s impact  
• [30:00] What is EVP hoping to achieve this year 
• [32:49] The sensitivity analysis for EVP

• Environmental Voter Project

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If you believe the climate transition is creating trillions of dollars of opportunity, then backing public companies whose business models are centered on that transition and whose growth will be driven by it seems an almost obvious approach. 

That’s exactly what Heather Beatty and ScopeFour Capital are doing, and I was excited to hear what they’re learning and the opportunities they see.

In this conversation, we talk about Heather’s background and how she came to found ScopeFour after decades in institutional investing. 

We talk about their approach, their portfolio, and the opportunities they’re excited about. We talk about the election, how it's influencing their investing in the short term, and the potential long-term implications. We talk about green hushing the resilience of corporate climate action, and much more. Lots to think about in this one. Here we go.

• [2:45] Heather’s background & what got her interested in climate 
• [5:50] The founding of ScopeFour
• [7:54] Why aren’t we investing by following science & research
• [9:48] ScopeFour & what they’re aiming to do
• [11:32] What’s unique about ScopeFour
• [13:49] What to say to naysayers of climate investing
• [15:22] Specific examples of investments ScopeFour has made
• [17:06] Exciting spaces and opportunities right now for climate investing
• [18:45] What can be done to encourage faster adoption of climate tech
• [21:08] Tying emissions reductions to the size of an opportunity
• [23:24] Climate risk as a factor in investment decisions
• [24:58] The short-term & long-term impacts of the upcoming election
• [29:35] What we know about Kamala Harris’ interest in climate

• ScopeFour Capital
• Project Drawdown
• Invested in Climate: Every job is a climate job with Project Drawdown, Ep #37
• Enphase
• ABB
• Nexans

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I’m always excited to talk to climate investors who have been around for a bit, those who were investing during the Cleantech 1.0 phase, saw the ups and the downs, and have stuck through to our current climate tech boom. Some of the challenges that the earlier era of cleantech investing saw – like high capex and long payback periods – are still relevant today, and experienced investors offer nuanced insights into current opportunities and what the future might hold.

I was thrilled to talk to Greg Wasserman. Greg started investing in clean energy almost 20 years ago at Goldman Sachs. I’ll let you hear the twists and turns of his background directly from him, but suffice to say he fits the bill of someone who’s worn multiple prestigious hats to finance climate solutions. Greg recently closed a new $385 million climate fund at Wellington Management, one of the world’s largest independent investment management firms with over $1 trillion AUM.

We talk about Greg’s journey, how climate investing has changed, what he’s currently excited about, opportunities for the future, and much more.

• [3:03] Greg’s background & what got him interested in climate investing
• [5:30] Greg’s experience at Goldman Sachs
• [6:54] Greg’s experience at the Clinton Foundation
• [9:47] Greg’s experience at Generation Four Investment Management
• [13:53] Wellington & what it’s known for
• [15:19] Wellington’s Climate Fund
• [17:42] Leveraging resources & resources for Wellington’s fund
• [20:20] The state of climate investing
• [22:32] Interesting innovations & where the fund is focused
• [24:40] The influence of blockchain technology in climate solutions
• [26:28] Measuring impact of the fund
• [29:14] Wellington’s investment in Orennia
• [31:54] Wellington’s investment in SPAN
• [34:56] What’s coming in the next 5-10 years for climate investing

• Wellington Management
• Orennia
• SPAN

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It’s a sad truth that many companies are struggling or failing to meet their sustainability targets. Sensitive to anti-ESG pressure, interest rates, and other macro factors, many are also holding back from making new commitments. Currently, less than 10% of the Fortune Global 500 has a net zero commitment in place. 

Amidst this context, it's all the more important to shine a light on the companies that have made ambitious targets and that are working hard to achieve them. 

IBM is one such company. They began disclosing their CO2 emissions 30 years ago, and since 2010, they’ve cut emissions by nearly 70%. That’s not to say their path is without challenges. They’ve made a big bet on AI, which of course drives up energy usage dramatically. 

To understand IBM’s sustainability strategy and progress, I was pleased to sit down with IBM Chief Impact Officer Justina Nixon-Saintil. Justina is a member of NationSwell, the executive membership network where I work. We talked about Justina’s background and role, the main focus areas for sustainability at IBM, some of their successes and challenges, how AI factors into the mix, their sustainability accelerator program, and much more. 

If you’re interested in how big companies think about the climate crisis and how they can make a difference, there’s a lot to enjoy this episode. Here we go.

• [3:23] Justina’s background & what led her to her current role at IBM
• [6:06] Justina’s role, responsibilities & things she’s thinking about everyday
• [8:59] The pillars & priorities of IBM's sustainability strategy
• [10:29] The approach to influencing those stakeholders
• [12:46] Challenges being faced and the gap between companies & their targets
• [14:36] Challenges in reaching your decarbonization goals
• [16:19] AI & sustainability
• [19:31] IBM Sustainability Accelerator: Focus areas & what’s new
• [22:44] Organizations that have joined the accelerator & how they’re benefiting
• [25:07] The struggles & challenges that organizations are facing
• [27:23] Other climate tech spaces where Justina sees an opportunity for AI
• [28:09] IBM SkillsBuild: About the program & priorities
• [32:25] Advice for addressing climate change & other environmental challenges today

• IBM Impact: Environment
• IBM Sustainability Accelerator
• IMB SkillsBuild

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Hedge funds aren’t exactly known for contributing to climate progress or other ESG goals for that matter. So I was surprised to learn about Corbin Capital, a firm that aims to leverage the activist strategies of hedge funds not just to generate market-exceeding returns for their clients, but to advance environmental and social objectives.

There are trillions of dollars invested in hedge funds that can make a difference in this all-hands-on-deck moment. So why not think about how hedge fund tools can help accelerate decarbonization and other environmental priorities? 

To learn more about this opportunity and how Corbin Capital is pursuing it, I sat down with their Director of Sustainability Courtney Birnbaum. I learned a lot about hedge fund tactics, and the opportunity to invest in transition commodities, carbon markets and more. Lots to learn through this one – enjoy!

• [2:47] Courtney’s path to working on climate & sustainability
• [4:37] Corbin Capital & Courtney’s role there
• [7:59] What is a hedge fund & how is it different than other investment vehicles
• [9:23] The history of hedge funds & factors that have made them successful
• [11:27] Why today is a good moment for hedge fund investing
• [13:18] Uncertainty creating opportunities for hedge fund investing
• [15:31] Influencing transformational change through hedge funds
• [17:52] Examples of success stories
• [20:29] Thinking about criticisms around lack of transparency
• [22:13] What makes Corbin unique
• [23:19] Climate opportunities for Corbin investors & the impact they’re aiming to have
• [25:59] Litigation finance
• [27:23] How hedge funds can play a role in decarbonization
• [28:16] How hedge funds can play a role in the carbon markets & carbon credits
• [30:28] Short selling as a strategy for improving corporate sustainability
• [33:57] How do finance needs to change to better tackle today's climate crisis

• Corbin Capital

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We know we need to be investing trillions of dollars annually into the climate transition. Venture capital is just a small slice of the pie, but there’s simply no time to slow down its contribution to advancing climate solutions. 

In 2023, however, climate tech venture funding dropped 30% to $32 billion. Whether this was a temporary slowdown caused by high interest rates and the macro environment, or the new normal, will make a big difference.

Recently, I’ve been thrilled to start hearing about funds that are closing new and significantly bigger rounds. 

One such firm is Clean Energy Ventures. They just raised their second fund, which is three times the size of their first, and I was pleased to get to hear the details from Clean Energy Ventures’ Co-Founder and Managing Partner Temple Fennel. Temple’s been investing in climate tech since 2017 and has held fast to focusing on companies that can reduce emissions by multiple gigatons. In today’s conversation, we hear how Temple got started in climate tech investing and what he seeks in an investment. We hear about some of his portfolio companies, the changes he’s seeing in climate investing and much more. Lots to learn in this one – enjoy. 

• [03:02] Temple’s path & how he decided to focus on climate investing
• [7:54] Clean Energy Ventures’  investment thesis & what makes them unique
• [11:38] Expectations, assumptions & surprises from the first fund
• [14:25] Rebound Technologies, their business potential & climate mitigation opportunity
• [17:40] Aqua Membranes & why Clean Energy Ventures invested
• [19:51] Other examples of what Clean Energy Ventures is interested in
• [23:03] The second fund & the focus this time around
• [25:52] The Simple Emission Reduction Calculator: Emissions reduction & the causality for financial return
• [27:33] The process of raising capital today 
• [30:42] The current state of the capital market for climate
• [32:36] Change in SBTI rules around offsetting & talk on decarbonization mandates
• [34:49] What needs to happen to get company leadership onboard for making near-term commitments to technologies that will drive their decarbonization
• [36:11] How investors are acting differently & outlook
• [37:45] Other interesting investment areas with opportunity

• Clean Energy Ventures
• Rebound Technologies
• Aqua Membranes
• OXCCU
• Noon Energy
• Clean Energy Ventures’ Simple Emissions Reduction Calculator
• S2G Report: The Missing Middle: Capital Balances in the Energy Transition

• Connect with Temple on LinkedIn

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After two years of waiting, the SEC finally came out with its new climate disclosure rules. As expected, it was met with a mix of celebration, disappointment, criticism, and lawsuits. The suits came from those who felt the rules went too far and from those who felt they don’t go far enough. 

Disclosure rules are critical to ensuring companies are taking climate change seriously. They ensure investors can consider a company’s climate risks as well as their progress in cutting emissions. 

Beyond the SEC, Europe and California’s rules are also influencing corporate action in profound ways. 

To understand what’s been happening and what’s likely to happen next, I caught up with Steven Rothstein. Steven is the Managing Director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. He’s been working for years to align financial markets to climate goals and is a well respected expert on this topic. We talked about the history of disclosures, why they matter, the recent SEC rule change, the reaction it sparked, what’s coming next, and much more. I always learn a lot from talking to Steven and I’m sure you will too. Enjoy. 

• [03:07] Stephen's role at Ceres accelerator
• [03:25] The Accelerator’s work & capital market change
• [05:02] History of early climate reporting
• [06:58] Disclosure requirements in Europe and CSRD
• [10:29] California law coverage of private companies  
• [11:06] Ceres' role in California climate laws
• [13:23] Why SEC rule took two years
• [15:07] The importance of Scope 3 SEC inclusion
• [16:29] SEC rule may evolve over time
• [18:00] Legal challenges to rules and regulations
• [20:47] Continuing climate preparations
• [23:15] Balancing reporting and climate action
• [27:19] The importance of interim targets  
• [29:56] Election impact on climate progress
• [31:45] Developing transition plans and data analysis
• [35:13] Actions listeners can take

• Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets

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If you think of Mastercard as simply a piece of plastic that enables you to buy stuff, you’re not seeing their vast network of businesses, their billions of customers, or the potential influence they have on consumer behavior.

There have been countless efforts over the years to encourage consumers to shop more sustainably, but when it comes to the reach and data savvy that Mastercard brings, it’s a whole different ballgame. 

I’ve known Mastercard’s Chief Sustainability Officer Ellen Jackowski for many years, and I was delighted to sit down with her to understand Mastercard’s sustainability strategy. 

We talk about Ellen’s background and approach to leadership, the current moment in sustainability, Mastercard’s effort to encourage sustainable consumption at scale, how they’ve spread sustainability goals across their entire company, and much more. 

Ellen is a widely respected thought leader in corporate sustainability and this conversation offers a peek inside an ambitious and very challenging effort to create real impact. Mastercard is a NationSwell member and we’ll soon share a summary of this conversation as part of NationSwell’s Sustainability Next series. Enjoy!

• [02:13] Ellen’s background & passion for sustainability 
• [04:14] Ellen’s role at Mastercard
• [06:13] Present moment in sustainability - trends & concerns
• [08:13] The reach of Mastercard’s network
• [10:58] Sustainable consumption as a systems problem
• [12:29] Areas of opportunity & challenge
• [14:00] The Priceless Planet Coalition video drop
• [15:32] Mastercard’s carbon calculator
• [16:50] Influencing large emitting purchases
• [17:32] Promoting sustainable consumption around the world & US
• [18:52] The biggest challenge in reaching net-zero goals
• [21:00] Best ways to organize sustainability leaders
• [23:24] Tackling Scope 3 emissions
• [26:08] Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition
• [27:53] Mastercard’s Community Pass Platform
• [29:21] Mastercard’s Start Path in Solidarity
• [30:52] How Ellen’s thinking in leadership has evolved
• [33:18] Resources to stay informed on sustainability
• [34:22] What else needs to change

• Mastercard: Priceless Planet Coalition
• NationSwell: Next Series
• Mastercard: Carbon Calculator
• Mastercard: Community Pass
• Mastercard: In Solidarity
• Outrage and Optimism
• Project Drawdown

• Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn

• On

Earthshot Ventures isn't just any climate tech venture firm. Having grown out of the Elemental Excelerator, one of the biggest and best-reputed accelerators in the industry, Earthshot is deeply rooted in the early-stage ecosystem. And it turns out there's something else that sets them apart.

Managing Partner Mike Jackson has a knack for coaching founders on what he thinks of as the art and science of fundraising. We're joined today by Mike and Earthshot Partner Ramsay Siegal to hear about their firm, approach, portfolio, and outlook on the market. We dive deep into Mike's insights to helping founders raise money. We talked about non-dilutive project financing and hard-to-abate sectors, the opportunities AI is bringing to climate tech, several of their portfolio companies, and much more. If you're interested in early-stage climate investing, or startups, there's lots to learn in this one. Hope you enjoy. Here we go.

• [02:47] Mike’s background & experience
• [04:52] Ramsey’s background & expertise
• [07:51] The relationship between Earthshot VC & Elemental Excelerator
• [09:39] Earthshot’s investment thesis, what they’re interested in & what sets them apart
• [12:22] Earthshot’s network
• [14:13] Mike’s approach to fundraising & coaching the portfolio
• [17:54] Fundraising tips and tricks for founders
• [22:17] Earthshot’s success stories
• [24:38] How is AI showing up
• [30:41] Investing in hard-to-abate sectors and Kanin Energy
• [33:06] Kanin Energy's business model and non-dilutive funding
• [38:15]  Earthshot’s commitment, DEI & tips for achieving a diverse portfolio
• [42:38] Outlook & opportunities for climate tech investing

• Earthshot Ventures
• Elemental Excelerator
• Mitra Chem
• Kanin Energy
• Generate Capital
• Westly Group

• Connect with Mike on LinkedIn
• Connect with Ramsay on LinkedIn

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We know that motivating homeowners to invest in energy efficiency retrofits and home upgrades is hard. Energy efficiency might not sound glamorous, but across the US, retrofits can actually cut our residential energy usage in half. 

That’s why when I met Scope Zero CEO Lizzy Kolar, I was excited to learn about her company’s novel way of motivating home upgrades. What Lizzy and her co-founder realized is that our homes are now workplaces.  

And, with employers having to account for emissions for remote workers, they now have an incentive to help homeowners invest in upgrades. Enter the Carbon Savings Account (CSA). Modeled after FSAs and HSAs, the CSA can scale quickly and help millions of homeowners across the US to begin investing in upgrades they’ve been putiing off. 

In this episode, we hear about Lizzy’s background, the founding story of Scope Zero, the problems they’re trying to solve, the best home upgrade investments, how the home upgrade ecosystem has been evolving, and much more. This is a fast and to-the-point episode. Hope you enjoy it.

• [03:02] Lizzy’s background, what sparked her interest in climate & founding Scope Zero
• [05:50] Key needs that Scope Zero is addressing
• [07:17] The HSA model & how it works
• [08:24] How the HSA model translates to climate action
• [09:20] How someone might use the money they put in a Scope Zero account
• [10:15] What holds homeowners back from making investments
• [11:40] Evidence that consumers will invest in CSAs
• [12:23] The benefits of government incentives - Inflation Reduction Act
• [12:53] What home upgrades should be prioritized
• [14:43] The benefits of a Scope Zero CSA for employers
• [16:34] ROI for employers
• [17:53] CSAs in practice & the response
• [18:27] How far along is Scope Zero & the growth plan
• [19:44] Scope Zero’s total addressable market & opportunity
• [20:27] Quantifying impact in terms of emissions reduced & environmental benefits
• [21:06] Tracking the impact of CSAs using dashboards & data
• [21:44] Customers’ access to a partner vendor network
• [22:14] How the ecosystem surrounding home upgrades is evolving
• [23:08] How Scope Zero is financed & raising funding
• [23:47] Opportunities for aligning interests & motivating change

• Scope Zero
• TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy - Stanford
• Caltech Rocket Fund
• Collaborative Fund

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It’s not yet clear exactly how devasting the loss of federal funding for climate nonprofits and climate tech companies will be, but we know the toll will be high. Beyond the funding freeze, there have also been rumors of other federal action targeting nonprofits in this space. 

No one knows exactly what will happen, but it’s clear that philanthropy is more important than ever. Philanthropy alone can’t fill the gap left by the government, but it can make a real difference.

This episode is the first in a series of conversations we’ll have this year focused on climate philanthropy. 

We’re starting with not only one of the biggest climate foundations in the U.S., but also one that combines philanthropy with investments designed to catalyze more capital flows to climate. The MacArthur Foundation has long been a leader in using this impact investing approach to improve the ROI for investors seeking market-rate returns. 

In today’s conversation, we’re joined by MacArthur Foundation’s Director of Impact Investments John Balbach and Program Officer Deborah Philbrick. We spoke about the Foundation's holistic, problem-first approach to climate, what that means for both their philanthropic funding and impact investing, how they’re stepping up to what they see as a civil society crisis, and much more. 

Lots to learn and think about in this one. Let me know if you have ideas about other foundations to feature in this series. Here we go.

• [02:36] Introductions of John and Deborah
• [04:21] Overview of MacArthur Foundation's Climate Work
• [05:52] Climate Solutions Big Bet Details
• [07:02] Philanthropic Strategy and Theory of Change
• [08:15] Grantee Examples
• [10:37] Impact of Federal Funding Freeze
• [12:55] Strategic Shifts and Foundation's Role
• [15:57] Climate Philanthropy Landscape
• [17:04] Sub-national Climate Priorities
• [18:19] MacArthur's Impact Investing History
• [20:36] Risk and Return Approach
• [22:45] Impact Assessment Methodology
• [25:11] Catalytic Capital Strategies
• [28:01] Investment Thesis
• [31:20] Administration's Impact on Investments
• [33:30] Systemic Transformation Discussion

• MacArthur Foundation
• MacArthur Fellows Program
• MacArthur Foundation: Climate Solutions Big Bet
• Just Transition Fund
• League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
• Azolla Ventures
• Encourage Solar Finance
• Sunwealth
• MacArthur Foundation: How We Leverage the ‘Full Continuum’ of Capital to Address the Climate Crisis
• MacArthur Foundation: Aligning Our...

We know that addressing climate change will take trillions of dollars of investment. According to the Climate Policy Institute, we’ll need to spend over $10 trillion annually for decades. and we only just exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in 2022. 

I’ll confess, I find these big numbers hard to conceptualize and I’m always glad for more nuanced ways to break them down. That’s why when I saw Oxford’s Climate Tech Initiative’s recent report, I reached out to one of its authors Jamil Wyne. The Oxford report builds on recent climate finance data by asking almost 150 climate investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers what they're seeing. It's a snapshot from inside climate tech that identifies gaps, promising opportunities, and five recommended changes for climate finance. In this interview, Jamil and I cover all that and more. We go far beyond just talking about the numbers and I think you’ll appreciate the global perspective and ability to zoom in and out that Jamil and the Oxford report brings. Enjoy.

• [01:15] Introduction to the Oxford Climate Tech Initiative’s report & Jamil
• [02:31] Jamil’s portfolio & what's been energizing
• [04:19] How Climate Tech Initiative’s report got started
• [06:20] Growth & breakdown of climate finance investments
• [10:02] The mismatch in climate investing
• [12:43] Investor interest in transportation
• [15:20] Under investment in heavy industry, built environment & adaptation
• [17:41] The best investment opportunities within the energy sector
• [20:39] Overview of recommendations from the report
• [22:31] Growing climate funding recommendation
• [23:06] The role of governments & corporations
• [25:27] Building talent & workforce pools for climate
• [28:27] Focusing on solutions for vulnerable communities
• [30:30] Funding for adaptation
• [33:20] What is Riffle Ventures
• [36:08] Climate Tech Boot Camp, who it’s for & how it’s changed
• [41:27] Future projects & initiatives

• Oxford’s Climate Tech Initiative
• The Climate Tech Opportunity Report
• Riffle Ventures
• Climate Tech Bootcamp

• Connect with Jamil on LinkedIn

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At the center of climate progress are scientists. They’re developing new technologies with which we can build a new, more sustainable global economy. Moving inventions from a lab to startup companies to scaled products, however, takes more than science. 

Research scientists had long lacked a support structure to help them build successful businesses. That’s where Activate came in. Founded in 2015 at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Activate is a fellowship program that has helped almost 200 science fellows create companies that have now collectively created about 2,000 jobs and have raised about $1.5 billion. 

To learn more about Activate’s important work, we’re joined today by Activate CEO Cyrus Wadia. Cyrus brings a unique background spanning time in the Obama Administration, academia, Nike, and Amazon. We talk about how Activate works, lessons they’re gathering across climate tech verticals, examples of companies emerging from their fellowship, opportunities, gaps, and much more. I’m a big fan of the work Activate is doing and I’d guess you’ll soon be too. Enjoy.

• [3:13] Cyrus’ background & career journey
• [6:01] Activate & the problem that its aiming to solve
• [9:47] The ideal Activate Fellow
• [12:38] The support that Fellows get & how the Fellowship works
• [14:25] Activate’s achievements
• [16:41] Success stories & companies that have emerged from the Fellowship
• [20:02] What's coming & gaps
• [22:20] Examples of where friction is lower for climate tech to scale
• [26:35] Applications of AI 
• [31:54] The involvement of corporate partners & how they can show up
• [34:36] How else do we need to change our approach to addressing climate change

• Activate
• Sublime Systems
• CalWave
• Fervo
• Project Red
• Noon Energy
• Sonera
• Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
• Cyclotron Road

• Connect with Cyrus on LinkedIn

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If you’re listening to this podcast you’ve probably heard of the Sierra Club. It’s one of the largest environmental organizations in the United States, with about 4 million members and a history of advocacy going back to 1892.

But what do you know about the Sierra Club Foundation? It’s a $200m organization that, as you’d guess, supports the Sierra Club. It also takes on ambitious initiatives to leverage its resources to protect the environment, transform the energy system, and more. One of those initiatives focuses on shifting trillions of dollars out of the fossil fuel economy. It’s a good example of the level of ambition of these organizations.

To learn more, I sat down with Dan Chu and Pedro Henriques Da Silva. Dan is the Executive Director of the Foundation. Pedro is the Director of the Shifting Trillions Program. We had a fascinating conversation about the history, role, and accomplishments of both organizations, the goals and strategy of the Shifting Trillions program, being a 21st-century fiduciary, the upcoming election, and much more. This episode will push your thinking about the role of the Sierra Club and environmental organizations more generally. Enjoy. 

• [02:54] Background on Sierra Club
• [05:15] Sierra Club’s history & how the Foundation and Club are different
• [06:56] Size & funding of the organizations
• [08:09] Focus issue areas, how they are decided & how they inform capital allocation
• [10:23] Sierra Club Foundation & its broader role
• [12:37] The Shifting Trillions program & what it’s aiming to solve
• [13:54] The Foundation’s three roles & what it’s doing
• [18:21] How the roles of the Club & Foundation are distinct
• [22:36] What progress has been achieved so far with Shifting Trillions
• [23:57] Exciting goals being pursued
• [25:29] Progress & achievements that Dan has seen during his tenure
• [29:58] The state of the U.S. environmental nonprofit field
• [32:32] Support for climate through philanthropy
• [36:02] The importance of this election from an environmental perspective
• [39:02] Harnessing climate for young voter turnout

• Sierra Club
• Sierra Club Foundation
• Shifting Trillions
• ImpactAlpha Article by Pedro: Fiduciaries have a duty of care to their investors and to the world

• Connect with Dan on LinkedIn
• Connect with Pedro on LinkedIn

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I know it’s wintertime for many of you, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore how cities around the world are heating up and how air conditioning is a growing contributor to climate change. 

Air conditioning is responsible for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Today, about 20% of electricity used in buildings and about 10% of global electricity use comes from operating air conditioners. With cities heating up and more people able to afford this technology, air conditioning emissions are expected to double by 2030 and triple by 2050.

To understand this problem and some promising solutions, I sat down with Matthias Roth and Ran Roth. Matthias is a Professor of Geography and Urban Climatology at the University of Singapore. Ran is the Founder of Sensibo, a startup that’s using data and AI to improve the efficiency of air conditioners around the world. No family relation between the two Roths, but a shared interest in how cities are heating up and what we can do about it. We talk about urban heat islands, how cities are responding, the growth of air conditioning, Sensibo’s solution to making them smarter and more efficient, what else needs attention, and much more. Wherever you are, warm up and stay cool with this episode. Enjoy. 

• [03:25] Matthias’ background & focus
• [05:10] Ran’s background & insights into his work
• [07:13] The impact of a heating planet on cities
• [10:28] Why cities heat up more than their surroundings
• [12:36] How cities are tackling urban heat challenges
• [14:20] Unpacking air conditioners' impact on climate
• [17:48] Sensibo's solution to growing AC issues
• [20:42] Sensibo's customers & scale
• [21:52] Impact metrics - saving energy on a large scale
• [23:35] The global rise in demand for air conditioning
• [25:24] Sensibo's role in curbing AC's environmental impact
• [27:54] Sensibo’s unique features - geofencing and more
• [29:32] The crucial role of AI in Sensibo's vision
• [31:22] High-tech excitement & limitations
• [36:12] Identifying gaps in current climate discussions

• University of Singapore
• Sensibo 

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• Connect with Ran on LinkedIn

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We all know that companies around the world are working to reduce their emissions and, hopefully, achieve net zero. But what does it take to set up a sustainability program? What are the steps in the process? What are the considerations along the way? And who are the partners one might work with? 

Most of this work happens behind closed doors, but sharing insights from corporate sustainability journeys can accelerate progress.  

That’s why Atlassian, a technology company with a real commitment to addressing climate change, decided to open up their own process and share what they learned in a really clear and straightforward playbook.

To learn more, I sat down with Atlassian Chief Sustainability Officer, Jess Hyman. Full disclosure: Jess is a member of NationSwell, the executive membership network and advisory, where I get to support impact and sustainability leaders like Jess. In today’s conversation, we walk step-by-step through Atlassian’s sustainability journey – from getting started, building internal buy-in, finding the right vendors, partners, and reporting protocols for reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, to reporting on progress as well as setbacks, and much more. 

Whether or not you’re a corporate sustainability leader, this episode will help you understand what companies around the world are actually doing to address climate change. Enjoy.

• [3:03] Jess’ background & path to sustainability work
• [4:21] Jess’ work at Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) & what she learned
• [6:09] What is Atlassian & their core products
• [6:44] Why Atlassian decided to share their sustainability journey
• [8:34] The process of going to leadership to develop the report
• [9:57] What is a materiality assessment & learnings
• [11:57] Atlassian’s sustainability goals, what it took to develop & share them
• [13:55] Sustaining internal collaboration
• [16:15] Atlassian’s goal to reach net zero by 2040
• [18:15] Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions & how they show up for Atlassian
• [19:30] The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approval process
• [22:00] Learnings around decarbonizing buildings
• [23:40] What are Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) 
• [25:51] Engaging suppliers to reduce emissions
• [28:37] Transparency, accountability & reporting
• [30:21] Addressing Work-From-Home (WFH) electricity
• [31:49] What is the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA)
• [34:24] What are residual emissions & how is Atlassian dealing with them
• [36:00] The quality of offsets
• [37:06] Reporting protocols & learnings
• [38:56] Building executive buy-in for uncomfortable levels of ambition

• Atlassian
• Atlassian Sustainability Report
• Atlassian’s Climate Story & Guide: Don’t #@!% the Planet
• Atlassian Team Playbook
• RE100
• Science Based Targets...

What do you think of when you think about advertising and its role in climate change? I’ll confess the first thing that comes to mind is the fossil fuel industry’s multi-billion dollar campaign to discredit climate science, deliberately confuse the public, and delay climate action. 

But, of course, like every industry, advertising has a role to play in accelerating climate progress. Advertising creatives have storytelling skills that can help distill complex information, shift attitudes, and accelerate the adoption of climate solutions. At a more basic level, the narratives that capture our attention and gain currency in our collecting thinking play a powerful role in influencing corporate agenda, policymaking, and voters. So don’t count advertising out. 

Today, I’m joined by Blake Harrop, President of Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam. Whether or not you know it, you’re familiar with Wieden+Kennedy’s work. They’re a small creative firm with a big reputation, and they’ve been doing some genuinely interesting climate-related work. In our conversation, we talk big picture about the advertising industry and how it needs to evolve, and also what we can all learn from European countries’ effective climate communication. We also get specific and talk about some of Wieden+Kennedy’s recent projects and how they demonstrate advertising’s potential as a climate ally. 

Lot’s to learn about and ponder if you listen with an open mind. Here we go. 

• [3:19] Wieden+Kennedy history & what it's known for
• [4:32] Why does advertising matter?
• [7:22] Should we be lauding the ad industry?
• [8:55] How the ad industry rewards success & opportunity to change perception
• [10:28] Wieden+Kennedy as a B Corp & what it means for their commitment to climate
• [13:06] Would Wieden+Kennedy work with fossil fuel companies in the future?
• [15:10] Working with Fortescue Future Industries & Google in Germany
• [19:16] Working with Orsted (Fmr. DONG Energy) & Corona
• [25:31] The pros & cons of sustainability as a selling point
• [30:10] Lessons on communicating climate change
• [33:23] The importance & urgency of climate action
• [36:22] Nuclear energy as a dream campaign from a climate perspective
• [39:43] A role for all of us to be advertisers for climate engagement

• Wieden+Kennedy
• B Lab
• Clean Creatives Pledge
• W+K & Fortescue Future Industries: The Power of Now
• W+K & Google DE: Every Decision Counts
• W+K & Ørsted: The Power of Wind
• W+K & Ørsted: Hello to a Better Future
• W+K & Corona: Oceans Week
• W+K & Corona: The Fish
• An Inconvenient Truth
• Yale Program on...

It feels fitting to start 2024 talking about the big numbers, the big climate financing gaps we face and ways to fill them. 

We know that addressing the climate crisis requires trillions of dollars of investment. It’ll need to come from government, corporations, and big finance, but there’s another stakeholder with an important contribution. Private philanthropic foundations have important roles to play too, particularly in helping communities that might otherwise be left behind and in using philanthropic capital as a catalyst. By de-risking investments and taking concessionary returns, philanthropy can unlock hundreds of billions of dollars of needed investment. 

Today, we’re joined by Elizabeth Yee, who oversees Rockefeller Foundation’s global programs, including its recent $1 billion commitment to climate change. I’ve gotten to work with the Rockefeller Foundation in a variety of partnerships over the years, and I’ve been impressed by how they recognize their ability to take a lead and help accelerate fields. Of course, it’s interesting to remember the Foundation was initially funded by Standard Oil founder John D Rockefeller, something that Liz and I discuss in our conversation. In recent years, the Foundation has demonstrated real commitment to climate leadership. And even in the weeks following this interview, the Foundation announced that it will pursue a net-zero emissions target for its $6 billion endowment, making it the largest private US foundation to pursue a net-zero endowment to date. 

Liz and I talk about the Foundation’s history in climate philanthropy, two different programs with billion-dollar plus commitments, how it works to catalyze other funding, the intersections of energy, food, health and economic opportunity and much, much more. Lots to learn and think about in this one. Here we go.

• [3:43] Elizabeth's background and history working on climate, along with her current role
• [7:15] Key elements of the Rockefeller Foundation's Climate Commitment 
• [9:23] The Foundation's divestment from fossil fuels in its endowment and details about the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet
• [12:23] Reasons behind the significant commitment to climate and the timing of such a commitment
• [13:58] Overview of the billion-dollar commitment, including the main pillars and distribution across different climate priorities
• [16:35] The theory of change behind the Foundation's climate initiatives
• [19:36] The types of partners needed for the success of the initiatives
• [21:17] Influencing ideas and narratives
• [22:43] Selection process and priorities for initial grantees.
• [25:07] Grantees: Climate Mayors, C40, and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network
• [27:12] Insights into the Invest in Our Future Initiative and its significance
• [28:22] Grantees: Makerere University School of Public Health and University of the West Indies
• [30:32] Success for the foundation in committing significant resources to climate
• [32:00] The message for other investors or foundations considering a similar commitment
• [33:27] Elizabeth's outlook and hopefulness despite the existing financing gaps

• Rockefeller Foundation
• Press Release: The Rockefeller Foundation Commits Over USD 1 Billion To Advance Climate Solutions

Happy New Year. It is the beginning of 2024 and I am excited to work along side you to achieve a greater future for our planet.

On this preview episode I give you a glimpse into the upcoming topics of 2024.

There’s a lot we can learn from nature. Processes that happen in nature keep resources in flow, by-products are used and contribute to the health of the ecosystem and there is no waste. Fallen leaves enrich the soil, photosynthesis produces oxygen for animals to breathe, and microorganisms decompose methane and carbon dioxide and produce PHP. 

Oh, not so familiar with that last example? Well, it’s an important one to know about if you care about removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere or producing a sustainable replacement for plastics. Today we’re joined by an entrepreneur who for 20 years has been working to harness this natural process to combat climate change, Mark Herrema, founder of Newlight. We talk about how Mark got into this space, how NewLight’s technology works, its impact and business potential, insights to the broader carbon removal space, and much more. Lots to learn in this one. Enjoy!

• [3:19] Mark's journey to founding Newlight
• [6:44] Newlight & the problem it’s aiming to solve 
• [8:33] Overview of the air carbon production process
• [11:19] Characteristics & applications of air carbon
• [13:00] Newlight's business model & revenue sources
• [14:24] Products, partnerships, & insights into sales & growth
• [15:44] Utilizing protein byproducts of air carbon
• [17:00] Newlight's vision for reducing greenhouse gases
• [18:59] Thoughts on the emerging carbon market & its potential
• [21:00] Key challenges in the carbon reduction space
• [23:26] Regulatory environment, public investments & support programs
• [24:35] Newlight's future plans, challenges & scaling strategies
• [26:29] Aspirations for research in carbon capture & negative products

• Newlight

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As we all feel the impacts of climate change more and more each year, the need to invest in climate resilience becomes more and more clear. The World Bank estimates that by 2050, there’ll be more than 1 billion climate refugees.

It’s not about choosing between solutions to dramatically cut emissions and investments that help communities prepare for and bounce back from climate events – we need them both to limit human suffering as well as geopolitical risks of destabilization caused by climate change. 

Today, we’re joined by two leaders working to advance climate resilience. Nate Matthews is the CEO of the Global Resilience Partnership, an organization that supports research, policy and innovation to advance the world’s resilience ecosystem. And Joshua Amponsem is the founder of the Green Africa Youth Organization and a Director of the Youth Climate Justice Fund. 

In this conversation, we talk about the state of the climate resilience field, inspiring examples of innovation, the case for investing in resilience, how young people, startups and big companies are all contributing, how resilience will be present at the upcoming COP28 conference and much more. Lots to learn and think about in this one. Here we go. 

• [3:23] Nate's background & role
• [4:27] Joshua's background & role
• [6:20] Understanding climate resilience & its significance
• [8:17] Exploring the distinctions between resilience & adaptation
• [9:29] Joshua's perspective on the need for more resilience
• [11:58] Resilience efforts in the community & success stories
• [16:29] Identifying challenges & gaps in building resilience
• [20:15] Introduction to GRP & its role in addressing community needs
• [22:10] The potential impact of insufficient investment on mitigation efforts
• [23:30] Advocacy for investing in resilience
• [26:09] The investment case for supporting resilience efforts
• [30:50] Overview of the Resilient Agriculture Innovations Challenge
• [33:22] AI's role in resilience & innovations showcased in the challenge
• [34:51] Exciting & encouraging innovations in the current moment
• [38:41] Results and outcomes from the open innovation challenge
• [40:30] Resilience's presence at COP & goals for the upcoming year

• Global Resilience Partnership
• Green Africa Youth Organization
• Youth Climate Justice Fund
• CGIAR
• Global Center on Adaptation

• Connect with Nathanial on LinkedIn
• Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn

• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter