Low angle view of modern skyscrapers in Midtown Manhattan.
Finance
Bidding on the Future: How Auctions Help Policymakers Unlock Climate Action
With scientific reports warning of the urgency of concerted climate action, and with current national climate targets leaving us far short of what’s needed to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change, policymakers around the world must find ways to kick-start the low-carbon transition. To succeed, they…
Unsnarling Climate Finance Gridlock
For developing countries seeking financial support for climate investments, navigating the global climate finance system is akin to exploring a foreign city without a map. There are billions of dollars managed by hundreds of funds—each with their own applications, funding requirements, and approval processes. Along the way, developing countries may…
Why Local Is Better than Global in the World of Low-Carbon Finance
Building climate-friendly technologies comes with a price tag; installing solar panels, erecting wind turbines, and implementing new public transportation systems all cost money. Yes, these projects often pay for themselves in the medium run, and are often even cheaper than high-carbon alternatives on a life-cycle basis, yet the up-front costs…
What Salad and Ice Cream Tell Us about Climate Finance
Imagine you’re on a diet—but to measure progress, you decide to count only the number of salads you’re eating while ignoring the number of ice creams. That, in a nutshell, is what has happened in global discussions on climate finance, according to a new discussion paper from Rocky Mountain Institute…
The Finance Industry on DERs: Solar and Batteries are Coming
If you want to see where the grid is heading, follow the money. And by that measure, the banks have spoken loudly.