High Tide Foundation’s Post

This Financial Times article seems to suggest that some backers of the Science Based Targets initiative, including the Bezos Earth Fund, have been lobbying SBTi to allow the use of large-scale #carbon offsets to help companies meet their #climate pledges. If this were the case, it raises the obvious question of the weight of private #philanthropy in the decisions and work of #NGOs, which waste a considerable amount of time competing to raise funds from them. In #Europe, the role of the State is predominant in public life. In Anglo-Saxon countries, it is much less present by design, because the neoliberal ideology is that the less state there is, the better. And so it is philanthropic billionaires who replace the state and chose what's important and what's not by financing, through tax-exempt trusts, NGOs whose mission is often to serve the public interest. To do so, they impose KPIs like in the private sector. Therefore, they have the power to influence the work of NGOs, which can lose their independence and soul in the process. For example, Bill Gates has a great deal of power over world health through his funding of the World Health Organization and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. But let's come back to the $10bn Jeff Bezos backed fund. Bezos Earth Fund is also a major sponsor of a carbon credit scheme known as the Energy Transition Accelerator which is in process of drumming up corporate interest in buying credits generated from countries and authorities shifting away from #fossilfuels. And it is this fund that co-ordinated a two-day meeting of SBTi’s board and funders in London last month, along with a handful of SBTi’s staff experts, during which the use of offsets in target-setting was discussed. Is there a causal link with SBTi's recent decision? Given the outcry this decision has caused, it may not be too late to reverse it. It's very important to say here that companies won't be able to achieve #netzero without transforming substantially their business models from linear to circular with variable pricing (https://lnkd.in/eKpDmgzx) Bon weekend! ClientEarth

So inspired to see the launch of Allied Climate Partners at COP28 at scale, with such amazing partners – from IFC, Proparco, BII, IDB, AFDB, FMO, as well as other partnerships still in the works; and to top it off a link up with Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Temasek. The financial community and philanthropy stepping up with innovative solutions to a critical bottleneck – the lack of bankable projects in the emerging economies. This important announcement builds on the strategy we have proven to be catalytic in Southeast Asia – to boldly provide the scarce early-stage development capital with an intentional design to facilitate drawing in the private sector to unlock tens of billions for the buildout of tangible climate solutions where they are most needed. This initiative is the culmination of six years of relentless push, with far too many fantastic colleagues to thank for sharing and shaping the vision. Of course, the first thanks to the Sea Change Foundation International – my fantastic colleagues and generous donors, who supported me during the many twists in the rollercoaster ride. We made it to the starting line – now over to you, Ahmed Saeed, for the next stage of the journey! https://lnkd.in/gwid6Cmw https://lnkd.in/gXJRC_6j I could not have hoped for a better founding partner than Mark G. and the whole Three Cairns Group team: Mimi Alemayehou, Daniel Hullah, Geraldine Alias, Taylor Ray, Ashley Gorman, Clarisa De Franco, Emma Jordi, and Humairaa H.. Of course, the hard work blazing the way by Mason W., Joshua Kramer, CFA, Isabella H., and the team at Clime Capital. My earliest co-conspirators Matthew Sebonia and Gregor Paterson-Jones. And an amazing array of wonderful people who deserve credit for seeing the potential when others saw only the risk: Paul Bodnar, Andrew Steer and Bezos Earth Fund, Sam Ballmer and Ballmer Group, the team Soros Economic Development Fund, John Arnold, Anita and Josh Beckenstein, Virginia Lacy, Christie Ulman, Sonia Medina, Michael Hugman, Lauren Kickham and the critical early support from Microsoft, Walter Reid, Marisa de Belloy, Jason W. Haggins, Judy Marsden, Rebecca Collyer, Athena Ronquillo-Ballesteros, Justin Guay, Kavita Sinha, Jamie Choi; and to the anonymous donors and many other friends who helped immeasurably along the way. Onwards! #emergingeconomies #climatesolutions #cleanenergy #innovativefinance #catalyticfinance #blendedfinance #impactinvesting #cop28

We at Zero Terrain / Energiasalv are honoured to contribute to building a sustainable world through the cooperation network of Europe's most prominent non-profit climate business network. Last week Zero Terrain / Energiasalv joined Climate Leadership Coalition, the largest non-profit climate business network in Europe. There are two reasons why: ·       The members of CLC are sure that the transition to a sustainable world is economically viable and financeable, so do we in Zero terrain ·       The economically viable business of tomorrow is all about building cross-sectoral business models – 69 companies, 9 universities, 5 trade organisations, 7 cities, 6 research institutions, a trade union confederation and 2 foundations - CLC is a well-established and broad coalition to build such business models of tomorrow. We are ready to contribute to a cleaner world by building competitive business models. https://lnkd.in/dJ6w74Mv

It is always good news when major philanthropic organisations announce their long-term commitments towards climate action during the week of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). They are the ideal catalyst to start "snowballing" global action to translate technology and intent into much-needed impact for the world. I sincerely hope that following this news, family offices all over the world and in Singapore will start to take heed of this global movement to begin their intentional investments towards net-zero and emission mitigation. From my conversations with my limited network, I am already seeing great mindshare towards positive action. I hope that this will tip the balance and finally start accelerating our push towards our shared future. #climateaction #philantropy #sustainability #UGA #ikea #bloomberg #rockefeller

SMEs: A Powerful Force for Climate Action with the SME Climate Hub Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of many economies.expand_more But with great power comes great responsibility, and climate change is an issue that demands action from businesses of all sizes. The good news is that SMEs have a crucial role in building a sustainable future, and a fantastic resource is available to help them – the SME Climate Hub (https://smeclimatehub.org/). Why SMEs Matter While large corporations often take the spotlight in climate discussions, SMEs shouldn't be underestimated. Collectively, they contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions.expand_more But here's the flip side: SMEs are also known for their agility and innovation.expand_more This makes them perfectly positioned to implement sustainable practices and become leaders in the fight against climate change.expand_more The SME Climate Hub: Empowering Businesses for a Greener Future The SME Climate Hub is a non-profit global initiative designed to empower SMEs to take climate action and build resilient businesses.expand_more It offers a treasure trove of free tools and resources to help SMEs on their sustainability journey: Free Carbon Calculator: This tool allows businesses to measure their environmental footprint and identify areas for improvement.expand_more Quantifiable data is crucial for setting realistic goals and tracking progress. SME Climate Commitment: By joining the UN's Race to Zero campaign through the SME Climate Hub, businesses can publicly declare their commitment to climate action.expand_more This not only strengthens their brand image but also fosters accountability. Educational Resources: The Hub provides a wealth of informative content, including best practices for reducing emissions, building a climate-resilient business model, and navigating the ever-evolving sustainability landscape. Inspiring Case Studies: Learning from the successes and challenges of other SMEs can be invaluable. The Hub showcases real-world examples of how businesses are implementing innovative solutions to tackle climate change. Taking Action: How SMEs Can Get Started The SME Climate Hub is a one-stop shop for SMEs to embark on their sustainability journey.expand_more Here are some initial steps businesses can take: Measure Your Impact: Utilize the free Carbon Calculator to understand your current environmental footprint.expand_more Set Goals: Based on your carbon footprint and the Hub's resources, establish achievable goals for reducing emissions. Develop a Plan: Create a comprehensive action plan outlining specific strategies to achieve your sustainability goals. Take Action: Implement the strategies outlined in your plan and track your progress regularly. Join the Community: Connect with other SMEs on the Hub's platform to share experiences, learn from each other, and build a network of sustainability champions.

Attention, capital markets! If you like energy transition as an investment theme, you're going to love the opportunities presented by climate resilience solutions. The technologies and services demanded on a warming planet - simple things like water pumps and air conditioning, as well as complicated things like cargo ships capable of navigating stronger tropical storms - constitute a growth industry. Households, companies, and governments are going to be investing trillions to improve resilience, and channeling finance into the solutions space will help bring down the overall cost of adaptation and speed up innovation. Check out The Unavoidable Opportunity, a first-of-a-kind orientation and investor toolkit produced by the Global Adaptation & Resilience Investment Working Group (GARI) and MSCI Sustainability Institute with support from the Bezos Earth Fund and ClimateWorks Foundation.

Big strides at #COP28UAE! 🌍: A $5 billion pledge in blended finance, dedicated to propelling climate transition and nurturing nature in emerging economies. We're investing in a sustainable tomorrow. #ClimateAction #EmergingEconomies #ClimateChange #race2zero

"The Bezos fund co-ordinated a two-day meeting of SBTi’s board and funders in London last month, along with a handful of SBTi’s staff experts, during which the use of offsets in target-setting was discussed, according to attendees and people familiar with the matter. The fund argued in favour of companies using offsets, these people said. “Many people believe the only way to create demand at scale for these projects is by getting SBTi to allow offsetting,” said one person present at the meeting. .... The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, backed by climate advocate Sir Chris Hohn, participated in the meeting and argued in favour of allowing offsets in net zero emissions plans, although it is not involved in directly funding SBTi. ... The decision in favour of offsetting announced by SBTi’s board on Tuesday was welcomed by industry groups including the We Mean Business Coalition, whose chief executive María Mendiluce is a trustee of SBTi and spoke in favour of offsets at the meeting. ... The Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative, an industry group whose funders include The Children’s Investment Fund, who helped co-ordinate the London meeting, also welcomed SBTi’s decision. VCMI was founded with the goal of driving demand for high-integrity carbon credits, and said in November that companies could offset up to half of their supply chain emissions and still meet its updated integrity standards" So there it is. Big philanthropy and business want to have their cake and eat it too. We can't offset our way to a safe climate. https://lnkd.in/gm8JW7yE