Virtus: Wrapping Up 2023 - A Year-End Climate Finance Review

As the year draws to a close, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our clients and readers for the unwavering support and trust in our services. This holiday season, we reflect on the importance of collaboration and express our sincere thanks for being an integral part of our community.

In the spirit of the season, we also want to highlight the critical issue of climate change and the urgent need for climate finance. The global community faces unprecedented environmental challenges, and it is through collective efforts that we can make a positive impact. As we celebrate the holidays, let us also commit to sustainable practices and consider the role of climate finance in fostering a healthier, more resilient planet.

We are wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, togetherness, and a shared dedication to creating a better future.

Gordian Knot Strategies

We are Igniting Climate Solutions: Mobilizing $1 Billion Per Year in Impact Investment by 2030!

As we reflect on the pivotal developments within the world of climate finance and carbon markets of 2023, we have called on our IMPACT framework to guide our assessment.

IMPACT serves as an acronym, encapsulating what we believe are the core attributes that define the pace and trajectory of climate finance and carbon markets in terms of:

Integrity, Momentum, Prices, Achievement, Collaboration, and Targets.

In the pursuit of a more sustainable future, these facets offer a comprehensive lens through which we analyze the intricate tapestry of capital, actions, and policies that have unfolded over the course of the year. Join us as we share our perspective on the details of climate finance, carbon markets, challenges, and collaborative endeavors that have left a mark on the global landscape of climate responsibility.

From increased scrutiny to fostering veracity in the market, and from volatile credit pricing to hard evidence of corporate decarbonization, our IMPACT review aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the strides taken and challenges faced in the realm of climate finance and carbon markets in 2023.

Click here to read more.

We feel privileged to work with awesome clients who dedicate their time, energy, and resources to a wide range of meaningful projects worldwide. Because of that we’ve chosen to start highlighting both our clients and the collaborative efforts we’ve engaged in to assist them in achieving their goals.

Client Served in the United States
A family foundation based in the Pacific Northwest approached us in 2020 to assess the landscape of natural climate solutions they could have an impact on with their granting program. This led to the development of our charge in the form of an animating question: “How could the Board use its program funding over the next 5-10 years to support Forestry and/or Marine Permaculture to have the greatest impact on global climate disruption (i.e. reducing GHG emissions), including the potential to scale?” We narrowed the focus for the foundation to the field of agroforestry, which was very, very nascent in the country. At the time, we found that between 42% and 92% of farmland in the country was suitable to benefit from the integration of at least one agroforestry practice, yield multiple co-benefits, and could leverage the significant annual carbon sequestration potential of 548.4-616.86 Teragrams.

The foundation is now in its second year of its agroforestry grant cycle and has supported the emergence of a cohort of impressive market actors in this space. Nowadays, one is challenged to read about climate solutions that do not mention agroforestry, thankfully. The boldness of this family foundation to venture out and carve a place of impact reflects the kind of work we love to do at Gordian Knot Strategies!

“GKS listens well. They know the carbon and impact investment space and brought much added expertise for us. They challenge us to think outside the box and use a well thought out process to tackle ideas. They are very well networked and those connections help to see spaces that we had not even considered.”

Alicia Cramer – Sr. Vice President, U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities

🎙️ In the December episode of Untangling Climate Finance, Jay hosts David Antonioli of DLA Climate Solutions.

They connected in October to discuss the state of the voluntary carbon market (VCM). David shares his opinions on some of the issues facing the VCM, as well as offers solutions for improvement.

David also lays out some of his plans for the future following his departure from Verra, where he served as CEO for 15 years.

📚 Solving the Climate Crisis: Frontline Reports from the Race to Save the Earth by John. J. Berger offers a compelling argument for a hopeful path to environmental salvation. Emphasizing the roles of individuals and collaborative efforts from both government and the private sector, the book explores three interconnected dimensions: technological, ecological, and social. Through real-world examples, it provides a practical roadmap for effectively addressing climate change. The transition to a clean-energy presents a massive economic opportunity, potentially saving trillions of dollars while safeguarding the climate.

📺 “TED Explores: A New Climate Vision” investigates the swiftly advancing technological revolution and the tangible potential for a brighter future. The program features insights from urban planner Anika Goss, carbon expert Julio Friedmann, UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell, sustainability leader in the auto industry Cynthia Williams, and multi-generational farmers Jim and Jessica Whitaker. Interviews with individuals such as Christiana Figueresm, the architect of the Paris Agreement, and Nigel Topping, the former UN Climate High Champion, provide perspectives.

📺 For Netflix subscribers, “Life On Our Planet” is a fascinating 8-episode series that traces life’s incredible 4 billion-year odyssey on Earth. The narrative unfolds through the lens of its dominant rulers, unsung heroes, and the transformative cataclysms that have molded its course. To make it even better, the series is narrated by the mesmerizing voice of Morgan Freeman and the soundtrack is powerful and beautiful!