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Reversing Climate Change is Possible — But First, We Need to Democratise Climate Finance
Much of the current conversation around climate change focuses on the obstacles that make the problem so difficult to solve. But according to Kevin Kyer at Pyrpose, there are signs of hope, as a growing, global sense of urgency around the issue is driving consumers to embrace sustainable products and behaviors. He explores how emerging technologies and businesses are helping to reduce Co2 emissions — and how platforms like Pyrpose can help mobilize climate-conscious investors to direct climate finance to the most vulnerable parts of the world.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
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Empowering the Underserved: A New Report Highlights the Impact of Off-Grid Energy Solutions — And Some Emerging Challenges
Up to 674 million people living in the world's most vulnerable communities are projected to remain unelectrified by 2030. According to Kat Harrison at 60 Decibels, the off-grid sector could reach these customers, if these energy businesses and organizations are given the right support to successfully scale. She shares insights from a new 60 Decibels report, based on interviews with 79,000 energy customers in over 30 different countries over the last three years, which highlight some adjustments the sector could make to reach hundreds of millions of excluded customers.
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Private Business Alone Can’t Bring Energy to the Last Mile: Why Philanthropy Should Shift its Focus to Scalable Non-Profit Models
Africa is home to countless failed pay-as-you-go energy businesses that couldn't sustain themselves after their grant funding dried up. According to Aneri Pradhan at New Energy Nexus, this highlights the shortcomings of market-led approaches to last-mile energy access across the continent. She argues that philanthropic funding has largely failed to create sustainable energy businesses in these communities, as customers cannot afford clean energy at their current income levels. Instead, she encourages funders to support non-profit models that have proven their ability to reach these communities at scale.
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Analysis: Why ESG Is So Important When Choosing a Project’s Location in Latin America
Investors worldwide need to be increasingly mindful of the impact their portfolio businesses have on the environment, society, and corporate governance structures.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
- Region
- Latin America
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Report: We Know Climate Change Touches Everything, so How Do We Empower Everyone?
Ashoka and The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship launch the Climate Changemaker Playbook, a report that sets three actionable strategies for individuals to play an active role in the systemic shifts needed to tackle climate change.
- Categories
- Environment, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Global
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Press Release: Saad Kassis Mohamed Led WeCare Raises $350,000 for Lab-Grown Diamonds
This significant funding marks a pivotal moment in the foundation's commitment to fostering sustainability and advancement within the industry.
- Region
- Global
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Changing the Profitability Paradigm: A Key Report Aims to Rally Global Investors Behind a Sustainable Approach to Finance
As the global economy struggles to navigate financial crises and address shared challenges like climate change, Lucas Magnani at Convergences argues that the need to transform the profit-centric approach of traditional finance is increasingly urgent. He shares insights from Convergences' latest Impact Finance Barometer report, highlighting several ways that impact investors and others are working to put profitability and positive impact on equal footing — and some key areas where more progress is needed.
- Categories
- Investing
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Nine Business Models for Productive Use of Electricity in Africa: A Framework for Generating Profit and Impact in Off-Grid Energy
Improving energy access in rural Africa is crucial for poverty reduction, but grid electricity is often inaccessible or unaffordable — and off-grid alternatives present similar challenges. Olowo Aminu, Bodunde Akinola, Nneka Chime and Mosorire Aiyeyemi at CrossBoundary argue that Productive Use of Electricity (PUE) has the potential to solve these issues, boosting household income and economic growth, while increasing profitability for energy providers. They share a framework CrossBoundary has developed to help off-grid companies and other stakeholders plan for effective PUE implementation.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Technology