Invested In Climate

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!In today’s episode, we cover:[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 changeResources MentionedMastercard: Priceless Planet CoalitionNationSwell: Next SeriesMastercard: Carbon CalculatorMastercard: Community PassMastercard: In SolidarityOutrage and OptimismProject DrawdownConnect with Ellen JackowskiConnect with Ellen on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn a...

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.In today’s episode, we cover:[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 investingResources MentionedEarthshot VenturesElemental ExceleratorMitra ChemKanin EnergyGenerate CapitalWestly GroupConnect with Mike Jackson & Ramsay SiegalConnect with Mike on LinkedInConnect with Ramsay on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or...

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.In today’s episode, we cover:[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 changeResources MentionedScope ZeroTomKat Center for Sustainable Energy - StanfordCaltech Rocket FundCollaborative FundConnect with Lizzy KolarConnect with Lizzy on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedIn

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. On today's episode, we cover:[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 & initiativesResources MentionedOxford’s Climate Tech InitiativeThe Climate Tech Opportunity ReportRiffle VenturesClimate Tech BootcampConnect with Jamil WyneConnect with Jamil on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagram

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.In today’s episode, we cover:[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 changeResources MentionedActivateSublime SystemsCalWaveFervoProject RedNoon EnergySoneraLawrence Berkeley National LabCyclotron RoadConnect with Cyrus WadiaConnect with Cyrus on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagram

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. In today’s episode, we cover:[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 turnoutResources MentionedSierra ClubSierra Club FoundationShifting TrillionsImpactAlpha Article by Pedro: Fiduciaries have a duty of care to their investors and to the worldConnect with Dan Chu & Pedro Henriques da SilvaConnect with Dan on LinkedInConnect with Pedro on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for oura...

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. In today’s episode, we cover:[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 discussionsResources MentionedUniversity of SingaporeSensibo Connect with Matthias Roth & Ran RothConnect with MatthiasConnect with Ran on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?

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.In today’s episode, we cover:[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 ambitionResources MentionedAtlassianAtlassian Sustainability ReportAtlassian’s Climate Story & Guide: Don’t #@!% the PlanetAtlassian Team PlaybookRE100Science 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. In today’s episode, we cover:[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 engagementResources MentionedWieden+KennedyB LabClean Creatives PledgeW+K & Fortescue Future Industries: The Power of NowW+K & Google DE: Every Decision CountsW+K & Ørsted: The Power of WindW+K & Ørsted: Hello to a Better FutureW+K & Corona: Oceans WeekW+K & Corona: The FishAn Inconvenient TruthYale 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.In today's episode, we cover:[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 gapsResources MentionedRockefeller FoundationPress 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!In today’s episode, we cover:[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 productsResources MentionedNewlightConnect with Mark HerremaConnect with Mark on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?Get in touch!

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. In today’s episode, we cover:[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 yearResources MentionedGlobal Resilience PartnershipGreen Africa Youth OrganizationYouth Climate Justice FundCGIARGlobal Center on AdaptationConnect with Nathanial Matthews & Joshua AmponsemConnect with Nathanial on LinkedInConnect with Joshua on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In...

This episode focuses on impact investing and the particular approach of an impact investing firm based in Chicago named Impact Engine. Now that I’ve said the word impact four times, I should probably unpack the jargon. This class of investing aims to create direct, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. It’s related to, but distinct from ESG investing, which doesn’t necessarily have specific impact goals so much as it aims to avoid harm or risk by considering environmental, social and governance factors. Global impact investing has surpassed $1 trillion annually, and a top focus area is climate. According to a recent report by the Global Impact Investing Network, 74% of impact investors invest in climate action. So I was thrilled to zoom into the approach of one firm and learn about their climate investing strategy. Today we’re joined by Impact Engine’s Partner & Chief Investment Officer Priya Parrish, as well as Chris Wu, a Vice President who leads their environmental sustainability investments. We talk about Impact Engine’s history, approach and investment thesis, it’s portfolio of investments in climate funds and private companies – from food tech to mobility to energy efficiency, how they see the climate investment space today and what they see coming next year. Lots of great insights in this peek into the impact investing world. Enjoy. In today’s episode, we cover:[4:06] Priya & Chris’ background, roles & how they came to do the work they're doing.[5:01] What is Impact Engine & what sets it apart[8:11] Impact Engine's client base[8:47] Partnership with Alliance Bernstein & its significance[10:58] Impact Engine’s investment thesis in climate explained[12:01] Assessing the current market for climate investors[13:43] Overview of invested funds & key criteria[18:16] Utilizing an impact side letter & impact metrics reporting[20:10] Relationships with larger venture & private equity funds[21:05] The motivations behind direct investments in companies[22:18] Spotlight on selected startups & their significance[23:27] Insights on the food waste startup space & future investment prospects[24:51] The goals & potential impact of Market Wagon[26:24] Circuit’s impact & business potential[29:19] Brightcore Energy's role in energy efficiency & its importance in climate transition[30:59] Unique qualities of Brightcore Energy's team[32:11] Updates on Brightcore Energy's progress[33:50] Economic rationale behind the investment in Brightcore Energy[34:34] Identifying major opportunity drivers for climate tech in the upcoming year[38:00] Addressing blind spots and gaps in climate impact areas in the year aheadResources MentionedImpact EngineAlliance BernsteinMarket WagonCircuitBrightcore EnergyAfreshFull...

When it comes to big companies’ sustainability commitments, I’ve long been impressed by Salesforce. They made sustainability a core company value and pledged to put the full power of their business behind protecting the planet. Hold your skepticism for a minute – this is more than just big promises. They achieved net zero residual emissions and transitioned to 100% renewable energy for their operations back in 2021. They’re part of an effort to plant one trillion trees, and they’ve integrated helping other companies accelerate their own sustainability efforts into their core business through their Net Zero Cloud product. There’s much more too and I won’t try to capture it all, but central to their approach has also been leveraging their financial capital to accelerate climate progress. And that’s what we’ll focus on in this episode. Today we’re joined by Salesforce’s SVP of Philanthropy Naomi Morenzoni and the Partner of Salesforce Venture Impact Fund Claudine Emeott. We talk about Salesforce’s history and strategy for using philanthropy and impact investing together to address climate change, some examples of recent investments and partnerships, how philanthropy can help derisk investments and bring more dollars to the table, how AI could be a game changer for climate and much more. Lots to learn and think about in this one. Here we go. In today's episode, we cover:[4:10] Naomi's role and objectives at Salesforce [4:50] Claudine's introduction and background [5:53] Launch and evolution of the Salesforce Venture Impact Fund [7:24] Evolution and approach to nonprofit support at Salesforce [9:33] Solving problems through philanthropy and impact investing [11:56] Example of Pano AI and its alignment with the fund [14:07] Investment in WeaveGrid [15:34] Leveraging Salesforce technology and market presence for portfolio companies [18:12] Philanthropic commitments and frameworks for impact evaluation [18:12] Contrasting focus areas between Naomi and Claudine [21:38] The state of climate philanthropy and the need for increased support [23:33] Introduction and purpose of the playbook [25:41] Financial instruments for climate initiatives and Salesforce's experience [26:38] Levers for climate finance[28:53] Five tips for readers to embark on their climate finance journey [30:37] $8.3 million in grants to climate justice and conservation organizations [33:45] Prospects for commitments to biodiversity and conservation [35:03] Partnerships and initiatives in climate justice [37:41] Supporting diverse teams in climate initiatives [40:26] Impact of AI on climate efforts [44:05] Current challenges in their work [45:50] Lessons from Salesforce's ambitious climate initiativesResources MentionedSalesforce: Environmental SustainabilitySalesforce Venture Impact FundSalesforce & Climate Policy Initiative: The Corporate Climate Finance PlaybookClimate Policy Initiative

Today we’re joined by three team members of Braemar Energy Ventures, ESG Head Lori Collins, Partner Don Tappan, a Co-Founder and Managing Partner Bill Lese. I was excited to talk to the Braemar team because their firm has been investing in energy companies for over 20 years and have backed some early category-defining pioneers like ChargePoint and EnerNOC. Since they’re investing in a wide range of companies driving the energy transition, they bring broad insights to today’s climate tech opportunities as well historical lessons from the clean tech 1.0 years. We dive deep into three of their investments, offering insights to the carbon transformation market, applying AI to upgrade the grid and last but definitely not least, nuclear fusion. We talk about the trends in those spaces, why Braemar made the bets that they did, the ESG and impact considerations of their portfolio companies and much more. Enjoy.In today’s episode, we cover:[2:25] Lori’s role & work at Braemar[3:42] Don’s role & work at Braemar[4:20] Bill’s story & founding of Braemar[5:39] How is Braemar different today in talking about the energy transition[7:29] Learnings from the clean tech 1.0 years[9:00] Braemar’s investment thesis[11:13] Learnings over a decade of investing in the space [12:35] ESG & impact both internally & with a portfolio[13:30] Helping portfolio companies reduce emissions & remove carbon [15:03] Profit pools & what spaces are seen as offering the best investment opportunities[17:54] CarbonFree & why Braemar invested[19:55] The state of the carbon transformation market & its future[23:27] Utilidata & why Braemar invested[26:36] AI for the grid[30:45] General Fusion[35:54] The timeframe for fusion[38:47] Predictions for the climate tech space in 2024 & what needs more attentionResources MentionedBraemar Energy VenturesChargePointEnerNOCCarbonFreeUtilidataGeneral FusionConnect with Lori Collins, Don Tappan & Bill LeseConnect with Lori on LinkedInConnect with Don on LinkedInConnect with Bill on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our Newsletter

The climate transition we’re living through brings so many opportunities to rethink our infrastructure that it could easily be the entire focus of this podcast week after week. Today’s episode focuses on a handful of those opportunities: converting waste into valuable upcycled materials, renewable energy infrastructure, biomass, biofuels and more. We’re joined by Ben Hubbard, CEO of Nexus PMG, a company that advises and develops a wide range of infrastructure projects. They’re a fascinating company, and as you’ll hear, they’re engineering sustainable solutions for everything from wood pellets to solar farms to dog food. They just received a $50m investment to accelerate their growth, and leading that round was another fascinating company Greenbacker Capital Management. Greenbacker is not just an investor but also owns and operates a portfolio of solar plants, wind farms, and battery storage systems. Greenbacker Principal Quinn Pasloske joins us as well for a conversation that sheds a lot of light on the opportunity to invest in the infrastructure we need to reduce emissions, eliminate waste and more. Enjoy.In today’s episode, we cover:[3:26] Ben’s background & role at Nexus PMG[4:30] Quinn’s background & role at Greenbacker[6:35] Greenbacker’s origins & unique market approach[8:04] Moving from fossil fuel projects to sustainability projects[9:43] Examples of Nexus PMG’s projects[14:13] Nexus PMG’s clients, investors & other groups[16:02] Greenbacker’s investment in Nexus & the opportunity[19:07] Greenbacker as a strategic investor [20:33] What the $50M equity round will allow Nexus PMG to do[23:31] The opportunity around biomass for sustainable aviation fuel[27:08] The concerns around sequestration approaches[31:12] Other exciting investment spaces[36:26] The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, IRA & what else needs to happen from a policy perspective[40:46] What else will it take to scale low-carbon infrastructure projects to meet emission reduction targetsResources MentionedNexus PMGGreenbacker Capital ManagementConnect with Ben Hubbard & Quinn PasloskeConnect with Ben on LinkedInConnect with Quinn on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?

Heat pumps have gotten a lot of attention lately. They’re one of the technologies most critical to electrifying buildings and removing our dependency on fossil fuels for heating and cooling. And, they’re a technology that’s taking off. Sales of heat pumps have grown by double digits for two years running. According to the Sustainability Trends Report published recently by Al Gore’s investment firm Generation, heat pump sales In Europe grew by 50% and they’re now outselling gas furnaces in the United States.  But did you know there’s more than one kind of heat pump? Today, we’re joined by Kathy Hannun, Founder of Dandelion Energy, a geothermal startup that grew out of Google X and is now growing quickly. Kathy explains how heat pumps work, the difference between air source and geothermal heat pumps, the economics and experience for heat pump buyers, and much more. Whether you’re a homeowner still relying on fossil fuels or simply interested in the future of buildings, this episode has a lot for you. Enjoy. In today's episode, we cover:[3:43] Kathy’s background & she came to found Dandelion [4:46] Developing Dandelion at Google X, the spinout & the complexities[8:11] What heat pumps are, how they work & why they're important from a climate perspective[12:32] The user experience, performance, maintenance & operating costs for homeowners[14:16] Geothermal heat pumps: the difference between air source vs. ground source[17:01] How customers are thinking about the economics of investing in a heat pump[20:06] The longevity of HVAC systems & replacing them[24:07] Dandelion’s focus on the US Northeast[26:08] Where geothermal heat pumps work from a technology perspective [27:09] How national incentives & policy changes have been helpful[28:07] The growth of the heat pump market[29:17] The biggest barriers for Dandelion & the market overall[32:23] The role of HVAC contractors[34:49] The next three to five years & what’s next for DandelionResources MentionedDandelion EnergyGeneration: Sustainability Trends Report 2023Google XConnect with Kathy HannunConnect with Kathy on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?

This week, we’re doing something a bit different outside of our typical interview format. This is a recap of New York Climate Week. I’ll share some of my impressions and you’ll hear from folks like Vice President Al Gore, California Senator Henry Stern, several friends, and fellow climate travelers. You’ll hear some segments from sessions I attended and sometimes it might sound like you’re actually there in a room full of people. If you hear an occasional cough or something, try to just think of it as getting closer to the experience of being there without any risk of coming home with COVID.Over 75,000 people kicked off the week by taking to the streets for the Climate March on September 17th. Over the ensuing week, thousands of people from around the world joined over 585 official Climate Week sessions and likely as many unofficial ones. I kicked off the week in a somewhat surreal way. I work for a company called NationSwell. We’re an executive membership network and advisory that helps sustainability and other leaders take on bigger bets and be more successful. We were invited to bring some NationSwell members like Michael Komori, Chief Sustainability Officer of Starbucks, and joined Al Gore and other climate leaders in ringing the NASDAQ bell on Monday morning – which felt like a fitting start, as a question on everyone’s minds is: “If capitalism is up for the challenge, will corporations lead the transformation needed to cut emissions?”In today's episode, we're hearing from:[1:34] Adam Lake, Climate Week NYC Lead of the Climate Group[2:34] Bonnie Gurry, Co-Founder of GreenPortfolio[5:15] Alex Wright Gladstein, Founder of Sphere[6:48] Nyla Mabro, New York Chapter of New Energy Nexus[7:18] Tom Chi, Founder of At One Ventures[8:54] Kirsten Snow Spalding, VP of the Investor Network at Ceres[10:45] Former US Vice President Al Gore[19:29] VP Al Gore on Climate TRACE[12:59] VP Al Gore on the state of climate progress[20:56] Katie Rae, CEO & Manager Partner of The Engine[22:51] Jeff Johnson, Managing Partner of Temasek[24:03] Clay Dumas, Founding Partner of Lowercarbon Capital[25:44] Clay Dumas on the unique opportunity for climate founders today[27:06] Ian Samuels, Founder & Managing Partner of New System Ventures[28:09] Colin le Duc, Founding Partner of Generation Investment Management[33:43] Dr. Vanessa Chan, Chief Commercialization Officer for the US Department of Energy and Director of the a

When it comes to plastics, we’re in a real bind. We have yet to develop and scale attractive alternatives to the petroleum-based plastic products we all use every day, and the plastics industry drives well over a billion tons of greenhouse gasses, that’s roughly 4% of total global emissions and plastic-related emissions are on track to double by 2060. Meanwhile, a small fraction – we’re talking less than 10% – of plastics are recycled. Creating a circular economy for plastics is vital to eliminating the flow of plastic waste into our environment and to reducing the emissions generated from creating new plastic products.  Today’s conversation focuses on an ambitious effort to catalyze and fund the systems change needed to get us there. Circulate Capital is working to unlock a billion dollars to invest in circular solutions, and its partner Circulate Initiative offers research and insights to track this space and help recruit more private and public investment in this space. We’re joined by Ellen Martin, Circulate Capital’s Chief Impact Officer, and Umesh Madhavan, Research Director for Circulate Initiative. We talk about the history and state of the plastics crisis, their current efforts, and the investment opportunities they see. Circulate has impressive momentum in building coalitions of different kinds of investors – from governments to Fortune 100 companies. This blended finance approach is surely a key to mobilizing the commitment we need, and I was grateful to learn so much about it through this conversation. Here we go.  In today’s episode, we cover:[3:18] Circulate Capital, Ellen’s role & where they’re based geographically[4:24] Circulate Initiatives & Umesh’s role[5:24] How Circulate Capital & Circulate Initiatives are connected[6:56] The plastics problem & what’s causing it[8:57] The plastics problem timeline[11:01] Overlaps between plastic pollution, climate, ocean health & circular solutions[13:04] Why Circulate Capital was established & what they’re aiming to do [16:41] De-risking the investments using concessionary capital [19:08] Using a highly collaborative investment ecosystem to solve the plastic waste challenge[19:47] Circulate Capital’s role & how it’s focused[20:59] Working with LPs to scale circular solutions[23:24] What should we all know about the plastics economy & how it works[25:06] Asia & Latin America plastic markets[27:50] Breaking down $4B in investments in the circular economy for plastics[31:27] The greatest opportunities from an investment lens[34:15] What more needs to be done around the plastic waste problem[36:32] The Plastics Treaty, its state of play & what impact will it have[39:15] How plastic economies differ between Asia & Latin America[41:25] Investment opportunities in the US & Europe[43:25] Visions for the future of plasticResources MentionedCirculate CapitalCirculate InitiativeOECD: Plastic PollutionPew Charitable Trusts: Preventing Ocean Plasticsa...