How to Identify Climate-Supportive Projects

Waste management could unlock major climate funding opportunities. But most projects are still chasing traditional sanitation budgets instead... Picture this: A municipality struggling to fund organic waste processing. Traditional budgets are stretched thin, donor funding is competitive, and user fees barely cover basic services. But frame that same project as "methane reduction" and suddenly it becomes eligible for international climate finance. 🚧 The climate-waste disconnect is real 🚧 Most waste projects are still funded through: ✅ Municipal budgets (often inadequate) ✅ Traditional sanitation aid (limited and shrinking) ✅ User fees (challenging in low-income areas) Meanwhile, climate finance flows are growing rapidly, but waste management rarely accesses them. 🔍 The opportunity hiding in plain sight: Organic waste in dumpsites and landfills generates methane - a greenhouse gas 80+ times more potent than CO2 over 20 years. When you process that waste instead of burying it, you prevent massive methane emissions. Multiple pathways to climate benefit... Whether you're looking at: 🌱 Composting (where there's genuine market demand) 🐛 Black Soldier Fly Larvae for protein-rich animal feed 🔥 Small-scale biogas for cooking fuel 🍲 Food waste redistribution programmes 🪵 Woody waste to biochar (eligible for carbon removal credits) All divert organic waste from landfills and prevent methane emissions. The key is choosing what works for your local context. ----- 👉 Real opportunity happening right now: The Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) just launched their 2025 Food & Nutrition Challenge, seeking projects that "support the prevention of food waste through infrastructure and greater investment at sub-national level." The shift in thinking: ❌ "We need funding for waste management" ✅ "We need funding for methane reduction through waste prevention and management" Why this matters: When you connect waste to climate goals, you access much larger funding pools and create multiple revenue streams. The bottom line: Your waste project might already be a climate project. You just need to frame it correctly. 🖼️ Climate funding does have its own requirements, but it opens doors that traditional waste funding doesn't. Are you working on organic waste projects? The CCAC 2025 call is open now. ----- What's your experience connecting waste work to climate funding? ----- This is part 3 of my mini-series on the 7 foundations that make waste management projects thrive! Next up: why meaningful inclusion isn't just ethical - it's essential for success.

We've been working with entrepreneurs in East Africa building profitable, energy-enabled businesses in some of the most climate-exposed communities on the continent. Many climate-development “win-wins” sound great in theory but fall short under rigorous testing. This one delivered. The first study in this new series examines solar-powered cold chains for small-scale fisheries in Kenya, evaluating the Keep IT Cool (KIC) model around Lake Turkana. The model: In Kenya, ~40% of fish catch is lost to spoilage. Drying is often the fallback option—locking fishers into lower-value markets—but that fails when temps hit 50°C. With KIC cold storage and logistics, fresh fish can reach urban markets, where value is significantly higher. Fishing households reported 5–7 major economic and climate shocks per year. A single bad month can erase years of progress. In this context, these sorts of findings are critical for livelihoods on the knife’s edge: • Large reductions in post-harvest losses • No increase in total catch. This is about efficiency, not increased extraction • Greater dietary diversity and nutrition among fisher households • Increased investment in productive assets like boats and gear Policy brief: https://lnkd.in/eV7xZhgj KIC is no secret in climate-smart development circles. The wider lessons are about enabling those that follow: 1. Private-sector delivery models CAN reach some of the most vulnerable and climate-exposed households. As we adjust to the pullback in aid, identifying these enterprises becomes more important. 2. The cost of capital for small companies delivering these services is too high. DFIs and impact investors need better ways to reach early-stage enterprises with smaller ticket sizes and lower-cost capital to enable scale without being strangled by expensive debt. 3. Once a viable delivery model is identified, build from it. For example, with KIC delivering cold-chain services, now is the time to pair it with credit lines, insurance products, and targeted TA to help fisherfolk manage cash flow, invest in productive assets, and plan for shocks. 4. I have problems with how blurred the line between climate finance and dev finance has become. But this is a case where the overlap is real. Resilience is what these communities are asking for—and, crucially, this study shows they are willing to pay for it when services deliver. That demand signal makes scale and long-term financial sustainability feasible. High-five: Francis N., Mbithe Kiio and the Keep IT Cool | Earthshot Prize Winner 24 team, the Duke University and University of Nairobi/EfD_Kenya research team: Alejandro Diaz Herrera, Mirna Elsharief, Marc Jeuland, Richard Mulwa, ELLY MUSEMBI, Liilnna Teji, Ferran Vega Carol; Juliette Keeley, Ama Bartimeus MBA, Tanya Kothari and the Shell Foundation team; UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

With thousands of carbon projects available, how should buyers choose the right credits? Here’s a 5-step process to align your credit purchases with your business strategy: 1. Determine your budget Start by identifying how much funding is available for carbon credits. Your budget will significantly influence the types of credits you can purchase. For instance, removal credits are generally more expensive than avoidance credits. To systematise this step, consider setting an internal carbon price per tonne of emissions and allocating budget accordingly. 2. Choose your pathway: climate contribution or net zero? Clarify what you want your credits to achieve. • If your aim is to make a climate contribution, you can focus on carbon avoidance projects that support global decarbonisation. • If you're targeting net zero, you'll need carbon removal credits, as only these count toward net-negative emissions in established frameworks. 3. Identify your impact priorities What type of impact makes sense for your business and brand? Decide what matters most to your team and stakeholders, whether that’s: • Decarbonising your value chain • Permanence of carbon removed • Supporting co-benefits in emerging countries • Focusing on your specific geography or industry 4. Select credits based on your strategy With your budget, pathway, and priorities defined, you can now identify appropriate credit types. • If you’re aiming to decarbonise your value chain, look for sector-relevant credits. For example: biobased construction materials for real estate, or electronics refurbishing for tech and IT. • If permanence is your priority, engineered removal solutions (enhanced rock weathering, biochar, mineralization, etc) will be among your best options. In most cases, we recommend building a portfolio, rather than relying on a single credit type. 5. Choose the registry that will verify your credits Finally, select a registry that can credibly verify and issue the credits you plan to buy. Working with a science-based, transparent registry reduces the risk of reversal and over-crediting, and it ensures the integrity of your climate claims. — For most buyers, choosing the right carbon credits is not an easy task. But when you take the time to align your credit purchases with your business strategy, you can ensure you’re building trust in your climate claims and gaining long-term brand value.

🌍 Environmental Commodities Series | Day 1: Carbon Credits Let’s begin this series with the most well-known environmental commodity: carbon credits. Let me mention that this credit is still often misunderstood. What is a carbon credit? 🔹 A carbon credit represents one metric tonne of carbon dioxide (or equivalent greenhouse gas) that has been reduced, removed, or avoided from entering the atmosphere. 🔹 These credits are typically generated through climate-friendly projects—think: • Reforestation and afforestation • Renewable energy (like solar or wind) • Clean cookstoves and improved fuels • Methane capture from landfills or agriculture • Blue carbon initiatives (like mangrove restoration) Once verified, these credits can be traded or sold, usually to organizations and sometimes governments (under article 6.2 especially) looking to offset their carbon emissions, either: i. Voluntarily, to meet internal sustainability goals, or ii. Mandatorily, under government-mandated cap-and-trade or compliance systems. Why do carbon credits matter? At the heart of this mechanism is a simple idea: 👉 Polluters pay 👉 Restorers earn 👉 The planet benefits Carbon credits create financial incentives to protect ecosystems, adopt clean technologies, and transition to low-carbon economies. For emerging markets, this presents both climate and economic opportunity. So, how can you tap into this opportunity? Whether you're a landowner, entrepreneur, sustainability consultant, or local government official, here’s how to get started: ✔️ Identify a carbon project — such as restoring forests, deploying renewable energy, or improving waste management. ✔️ Understand the standards — Familiarize yourself with leading carbon standards (e.g., Verra, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo). ✔️ Build partnerships — Connect with carbon project developers or financiers to access expertise and upfront capital. ✔️ Focus on MRV — Robust Measurement, Reporting, and Verification is key to issuing credible credits. ✔️ Think long-term — Carbon projects often take years to mature. Design with durability and integrity in mind. The global voluntary and Paris Agreement-Article 6.2 carbon market is expanding, with billions of dollars in demand forecasted over the next decade. Emerging markets-rich in natural resources and innovation-are well-positioned to lead in high-impact, high-integrity projects. So, have you been part of a carbon credit project? Curious how your idea might qualify? Let’s discuss in the comments! #CarbonCredits #ClimateFinance #EmergingMarkets #EnvironmentalCommodities #Sustainability #NetZero #ESG #ClimateAction #CleanEarth #GreenEconomy

Residential architecture plays a defining role in how communities respond to climate change, resource scarcity, and social wellbeing. Homes shape daily energy use, water consumption, access to nature, and the strength of social connection—making housing one of the most powerful levers for climate resilience at scale. According to the UN Environment Programme, the buildings and construction sector accounts for approximately 37% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions, with residential buildings responsible for a significant share. The Global Climate Design Awards highlight residential projects that move beyond incremental efficiency toward regenerative living models—homes and neighborhoods designed to actively support climate adaptation, long-term livability, and community resilience. Rather than treating housing as a static asset, these projects approach it as living infrastructure: responsive to climate, rooted in place, and designed for collective wellbeing over time. The following nominees demonstrate how residential design can reduce emissions at the source, strengthen social systems, and create healthier environments—without sacrificing comfort, beauty, or economic viability. 🏘️ Nightingale Preston by Breathe Architectural design consultants Ltd Design and Build company (Australia) redefines multi-family housing through affordability, transparency, and climate performance. Designed without car parking and with shared amenities, the project prioritizes low-carbon materials, passive ventilation, and community governance—proving that sustainability and social cohesion can scale together. 🌍 Urbanest Battersea by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (UK) demonstrates how dense urban housing can deliver both energy efficiency and wellbeing. With optimized daylight, high-performance façades, and shared social spaces, the project supports lower operational emissions while fostering connection—an essential ingredient for long-term resilience in cities. 🌿 Khao Yai Residence by BAAN O+O (Thailand) responds directly to climate, landscape, and culture. Using passive cooling, deep overhangs, and natural ventilation, the home minimizes mechanical reliance while maintaining comfort in a tropical climate. As the World Green Building Council notes, “Climate-responsive design can cut energy demand by more than half in warm regions.” Across these projects, a clear pattern emerges: 🔹 Housing designed for long-term livability, not short-term gain 🔹 Passive strategies reducing energy demand at the source 🔹 Community-centered models strengthening social resilience 🔹 Architecture aligned with local climate and culture The future of residential design can be regenerative, inclusive, and built to endure. ♻️ Repost to spread the momentum the Global Climate Design Awards are building for a more sustainable and regenerative planet! 👉 Follow me for sustainability content that helps launch and scale products and companies. Judy Holm.

The Energy Transition Office (ETO) plays a crucial role in facilitating energy transition projects in Nigeria. Here's a breakdown of a process that addresses some common questions: 1. Selection and Prioritization. The ETO employs a rigorous selection framework when evaluating projects for support. Projects must demonstrate: a. Alignment with National Goals: Projects must contribute to energy security, equity, and sustainability. b. Strategic Fit: Projects must align with the ETO's focus areas for maximum impact. c. Viability Assessment: Projects must consider carbon intensity, technical feasibility, scalability, and financial viability. 2. Tiered Project Structuring: The ETO strategically utilizes tiered project structures. This caters to different investor preferences and facilitates matchmaking between suitable projects and potential funding sources. Beyond Project Identification, the ETO's role goes beyond mere project selection. They actively engage in: a. De-Risking Projects - Mitigating potential risks to attract investment. b. Crowdfunding Exploration - Investigating innovative financing models like crowd-funding. c. Investment Facilitation - Connecting projects with potential investors. The ETO's Project Preparation and Investment Facilitation process goes beyond words. It's a comprehensive and proactive strategy to turn energy transition into tangible action for a sustainable future.

A new guide from the Natural Climate Solutions Alliance, the Forest Investor Club, ERM and ERM Sustainability Institute provides insights for identifying and supporting high-integrity #NatureClimateSolutions projects. It is designed for financial institutions and companies looking to secure high-quality carbon credits and includes advice on building a strong investment case, navigating various investment structures, and implementing effective measurement and reporting systems. Scaling up these projects is essential for addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequalities. Read: https://lnkd.in/e3bHPN_8 WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development