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Your monthly update from the world of climate finance is back. |
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SIDBI secures climate fund project worth USD 120 million |
The Small Industries Development Bank of India secured approval from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for its first anchored project, Avaana Sustainability Fund valued at USD 120 million. The closure was announced at the 38th board meeting of the GCF, on March 5 2024. |
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EFTA countries focus on green tech in trade deal with India |
With a historic trade deal signed between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), all member countries are looking to deepen trade links and benefits for respective citizens and companies. Norway’s Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre highlighted the inclusion of a chapter on sustainable development in the deal, stating that India and EFTA countries can now work together on renewable energy, batteries, carbon capture & storage and all the new technology needed to combat climate change. |
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Green hydrogen push: India eyes USD 7-15 billion in import substitution |
A report by Alvarez & Marsal highlights India’s ambitious plans to tap into the green hydrogen market, potentially leading to a USD 3-5 billion in exports and USD 7-15 billion in import substitution within the next decade. |
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Corporate Decarbonisation: getting started on the journey |
Our latest article talks about how corporations can get started on their decarbonisation journey. We cover the various types of emissions under carbon accounting standards, discuss emission measurement methodologies, and explain how targets can be set to effectively achieve decarbonisation goals. |
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Neither carrot, nor stick – we need climate stewardship |
The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), a coalition of leading financial institutions committed to accelerating the net-zero transition, represents assets worth USD 130 trillion. A fraction of this amount, standing at USD 4 trillion to USD 6 trillion, is what is required in investments towards renewable energy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, a target reiterated at COP27. |
Despite the vast resources held by financial institutions including those that are a part of GFANZ, limited finances have been diverted towards climate action. Global temperatures are still projected to rise significantly above the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit set by the Paris Agreement. Cross-sector collaboration and initiatives like blended finance have been attempted, but only a fraction of the necessary funding has been directed towards sustainable development in developing countries. |
Our current approaches to addressing climate change mirror historical patterns. Traditional mechanisms like blended finance and ESG frameworks, rooted in profit-maximisation principles, have limitations. While regulations are important, they alone are insufficient to address the contemporary challenge of climate change. |
To achieve the global climate ambition, we must shift towards emphasising the importance of values-driven leadership. Businesses must adopt a broader purpose beyond profit, driven by stewardship principles. Examples like Faber-Castell’s sustainable forestry investments demonstrate how businesses can create long-term value while addressing environmental concerns. |
Stewardship entails taking ownership of societal and environmental challenges, going beyond mere measurement and reporting. Innovation is crucial in this regard. Companies that have showed climate stewardship are fostering a culture of experimentation and adaptation to meet evolving challenges. While frameworks like ESG and responsible investing provide a foundation, genuine commitment to stewardship values is essential for meaningful change. The current pool of climate finance falls short to meet the requirements by a large margin. What is perhaps required is a switch from compliance driven action to values driven action on part of financial institutions and business alike, to drives us towards societal net-zero. |
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Carbon credit price for the past month |
Price per credit: $3.62/tCO2e (9%MoM) |
Based on top 500 projects globally by volume of credits retired. |
The overall average price per credit is up 9% from last month’s $3.31. Prices for nature-based-solutions are up 7% compared to last month, when they stood at $3.58, while household devices are trending down 4% from last month ($5.68). Prices for high quality biochar projects continue to see an increase with another significant jump this month. Prices are up 15% MoM to $170 per credit for Puro credits. |
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FICCI 8th International Sustainability Conclave, New Delhi |
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We will be on the ground and would love to meet. Please email arshiya@neufin.co to arrange a meeting. |
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To wrap it up |
Climate finance in India has witnessed promising movement in the past month. The Trade and Partnership Agreement between India and the EFTA nations (Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) places a strong emphasis on green technologies – a move that is likely to help India access the latest sustainable technology at lower costs. The deal aims to promote free trade, unlike the much debated EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), establishing a trajectory that looks towards cross-border collaboration instead of protectionism in the world’s journey towards net-zero. |
We’ll be back with more interesting updates next month. Team Neufin |
