PODCAST
UNTANGLING CLIMATE FINANCE
Hosted by Jay Tipton
Untangling Climate Finance is a podcast that explores the dynamic field of climate change finance through conversations with industry experts about topics including climate solutions, global carbon markets, carbon projects, novel technologies, and much more.
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CLIMATE FINANCE
Under the Paris Agreement, 197 countries pledged to limit global warming to well below 2°C and strive for 1.5°C. The latest UNEP Emissions Gap Report indicates a 55% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions below 2019 levels by 2035 is necessary to maintain the 1.5°C target, and a 35% reduction to hold the line at 2°C.
At current emission rates, the remaining carbon budget for a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C is nearly exhausted, with only about four years left, while the budget for 2°C gives us roughly 25 years. With current pledges putting us on track for 2.3 to 2.5°C of warming by 2100, and current policies alone pointing toward as much as 2.8°C, urgent and substantial global economy-wide decarbonization remains essential.
To get there, Climate Policy Initiative estimates that annual climate finance must increase at least fivefold from current levels, reaching $7.5 trillion per year through 2030 and climbing past $8.8 trillion per year between 2031 and 2050.
Despite real progress, with global climate finance hitting a record $1.9 trillion in 2023 and private capital crossing $1 trillion for the first time, actual flows still fall far short of what’s needed to meet international climate objectives.
We need to talk about this imperative – which is exactly what we do on Untangling Climate Finance. Join us!
THE HOST
Host – Jay Tipton
Jay Tipton, Senior Director at Gordian Knot Strategies, is a passionate environmentalist and nature enthusiast who’s spent his career chasing one big question: how do we actually pay for saving the planet? He’s spent years deep in the mechanics of climate finance and global carbon markets, equally fluent in voluntary and compliance systems, and stays locked in on the natural, technological, and market-based solutions driving down emissions and building resilience to a changing climate.
As host of Gordian Knot Strategies’ podcast “Untangling Climate Finance,” Jay sits down with the builders, financiers, and policy minds shaping where climate capital flows next. He also publishes weekly across GKS’s two newsletters, Sliced and Virtus, keeping readers sharp on the fast-moving world of carbon markets and impact investing.
Before climate finance, Jay hosted “Work Green, Earn Green,” a podcast spotlighting the booming green economy and the job opportunities it’s creating across the U.S. And before that, he worked for a decade in Hollywood as a producer, racking up dozens of documentaries, countless commercials, and two feature films.
Jay holds multiple master’s degrees from European universities, specializing in Environmental Protection (Poland) and Environmental Management (Germany).
EPISODES
EPISODE 1:
FROM AWARENESS TO ACTION IN AGRICULTURE FINANCE WITH MAGGIE MONAST
January 19th, 2026
In this episode, Maggie Monast, Senior Director, Climate-Smart Agriculture, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), unpacks how agriculture finance is moving from awareness to action on climate risk, and why it’s now a material business issue for lenders, what farmers need to adopt climate-smart practices, and how blended finance paired with value-chain incentives (especially in dairy) can make proven methane solutions bankable and unlock significant commercial capital.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 2:
MARK MCPHERSON ON CITY FOREST CREDITS AND HUMAN IMPACT
February 17th, 2026
In this episode, Mark McPherson, Founder and Executive Director of City Forest Credits, unpacks why urban forests are some of the most undervalued forms of climate infrastructure, how human-centered “Carbon+” credits connect climate action to health and equity outcomes, and why preserving existing urban forests is as critical as long-term carbon removals. Mark also explains who is buying urban forest carbon credits today – including REI, Airbnb, the Minnesota Wild, and the Pittsburgh Penguins – and what it will take to scale demand and mobilize capital for cities before these forests are lost.
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EPISODE 3:
BUILDING A CULTURE OF DOING GOOD WITH IGNACIO BARRIENDOS HOPPICHLER
March 17th, 2026
In this episode, Jay connects with Ignacio Barriendos Hoppichler, CEO and Founder of DoGood People, to explore why employee engagement is one of the most underleveraged tools in the climate transition, and how activating people inside companies can turn sustainability strategies into real, daily action.
Ignacio shares how DoGood works with enterprises like Amazon Web Services, Mastercard, Victoria’s Secret and more to translate complex ESG commitments into simple, trackable habits for employees, why disengaged workforces are a bigger threat than a bad sustainability report, and what it takes to build a genuine culture of doing good from the inside out.
He also shares his vision for taking DoGood global, including a newly launched program with KPMG Canada.
Give it a listen to learn why people are a key piece in climate finance.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 4:
CAMPBELL MOORE ON TURNING CARBON PROJECTS INTO INVESTABLE BUSINESSES
April 21st, 2026
In this episode, Campbell Moore, Managing Director of Carbon Markets at The Nature Conservancy, unpacks why turning carbon projects into investable businesses is the key to unlocking nature-based climate finance at scale, how TNC’s NCS Accelerator and Carbon Business Incubator helps early-stage projects cross the valley of death, and why the difference between a carbon project and a carbon business matters more than ever in today’s market. Cam also explains how interoperability between voluntary and compliance markets could reshape the flow of climate capital globally, and what Singapore’s Article 6.2 approach signals for the future of nature-based carbon.
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EPISODE 5:
SEAN PENRITH & KERRY MORRISON BREAK DOWN THE SANTA MARTA CONFERENCE
May 12th, 2026
In this episode, Jay is joined by Gordian Knot Strategies CEO Sean Penrith and Director of Strategic Engagement Kerry Morrison to unpack the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, held in Santa Marta, Colombia in late April, and what it means for the future of climate and nature finance.
Sean and Kerry share what made Santa Marta genuinely different from a COP, what separates an investable national transition roadmap from an aspirational one, and why managed fossil decline should now be understood as a peace and stability asset class. They also dig into how Article 6 and the voluntary carbon market need to evolve, and why climate and nature finance are finally beginning to converge around place-based transition architecture.
The signal from Santa Marta is clear. The architecture still needs to be built.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 6:
FACTS ON THE GROUND IN CARBON MARKETS WITH SAIF BHATTI
June 15th, 2026
In this episode, Saif Bhatti, Founder & CEO of Renoster, unpacks what a decade of rating nature-based carbon projects reveals about the state of the voluntary carbon market, why remote sensing is a strong way to find the real facts on the ground, and how the auditor conflict of interest remains one of the market’s most stubborn structural problems. Saif also walks us through Apollo, Renoster’s forest carbon program bringing small landowners in Maine into the carbon market for the first time, and makes the case for why they may be one of the most under-tapped climate levers we have.
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EPISODE 7:
JIMENA CABALLERO STEPS OUT FROM BEHIND THE SCENES AT GORDIAN KNOT STRATEGIES
July 21st, 2026
In this episode, Jimena Caballero, Senior Associate at Gordian Knot Strategies, shares how TRARO, GKS’s seven-element climate impact screening tool, brings structure to a notoriously messy impact investment space, walks us through her work supporting City Forest Credits and screening carbon credit portfolios for a major U.S. airline, and shares what it was like leading GKS’s first-ever sustainability report. Jimena also opens up about her path from a Biology and Chemistry degree to her work in climate finance. She also makes the case for why pushing at every level, starting local, is the a strong way forward on climate change.
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EPISODE 1:
U.S. ENDOWMENT FOR FORESTRY & COMMUNITIES – AMPLIFYING IMPACTS THROUGH INVESTMENT
January 6th, 2025
In this episode, Alicia Cramer, Peter Stangel, and Trevor Cutsinger from the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities discuss their groundbreaking Impact Investing Program. They share how the program is transforming forestry finance, highlighting its impact, a success story, and exploring opportunities to scale sustainable forest markets while enhancing forest health and supporting rural communities.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities – Impact Investing Program
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 2:
NATALIA DORFMAN ON THE ROLE OF INSURANCE IN DE-RISKING CARBON MARKETS
February 11th, 2025
In this episode, Natalia Dorfman, CEO and Co-Founder of Kita Insurance, explores how insurance is unlocking capital for carbon markets by de-risking investments. She discusses the challenges of carbon credit delivery, political risks, and counterparty reliability, and how insurance builds trust in climate finance. Natalia also shares emerging trends and what’s next for Kita Insurance in the evolving carbon market.
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EPISODE 3:
THE ROLE OF PHILANTHROPY IN SCALING NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS WITH SACHA SPECTOR
March 18th, 2025
In this episode, Sacha Spector, Director of Environment at the Doris Duke Foundation, explores how philanthropy is shaping conservation finance. He discusses land protection, Indigenous-led stewardship, and climate-smart forestry, as well as the challenges of financing nature-based solutions in a shifting political landscape.
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EPISODE 4:
KELLY CAIN ON BUILDING TRUST AND TOOLS FOR TRIBAL CLIMATE ACTION
April 21st, 2025
In this episode, Kelly Cain of the National Indian Carbon Coalition explores how tribes are leading in carbon markets and climate finance. He discusses the development of the Tribal Carbon and Co-Benefit Tool, Indigenous land stewardship, and how carbon projects are helping Native communities reclaim land and drive sustainable, community-led solutions.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 5:
HOW INSURANCE IS UNLOCKING CLIMATE FINANCE WITH CHRIS SLATER
May 20th, 2025
In this episode, Chris Slater, the CEO and Founder of Oka, The Carbon Insurance Company, explores how insurance is transforming carbon markets and climate finance. He discusses Oka’s innovative risk-transfer products, the role of insurance in unlocking capital for project developers, and how de-risking carbon deals is accelerating climate solutions across the globe.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 6:
ERIC WEI ON SCALING SAFE WATER THROUGH CARBON MARKETS
June 24th, 2025
In this episode, Eric Wei, Carbon Credit Program Director at the Global Water Center (GWC), explores how carbon finance is unlocking safe drinking water access in underserved communities. He discusses GWC’s innovative approach to water-based carbon credits, the launch of their Carbon Aggregation Platform, and how climate finance can move beyond grants to fund resilient, long-term infrastructure.
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EPISODE 7:
NAVIGATING CARBON MARKET RISK WITH MARIA FILMANOVIC
July 22nd, 2025
In this episode, Maria Filmanovic, Co-Founder and Director of Abatable, explores how risk, transparency, and data are reshaping the voluntary carbon market. She discusses Abatable’s approach to high-integrity carbon procurement, the launch of their VCM Investment Attractiveness Index, and how better risk analysis can unlock smarter, more scalable climate finance.
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EPISODE 8:
JODI MANNING ON COOL EFFECT’S 10-YEAR JOURNEY IN CLIMATE ACTION
August 19th, 2025
In this episode, Jodi Manning, CEO of Cool Effect, explores how transparency, integrity, and education are shaping the future of the voluntary carbon market. She shares Cool Effect’s rigorous approach to project vetting, having reviewed over 10,000 carbon projects, and highlights the importance of price transparency, site-level due diligence, and community impact. Jodi also discusses rising demand for removals and super pollutant reductions, and how individuals can take meaningful climate action alongside corporate players.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 9:
TURNING NATURE DATA INTO BUSINESS STRATEGY WITH SEBASTIAN LEAPE
September 16th, 2025
In this episode, Sebastian Leape, CEO of Natcap, explores how nature intelligence is transforming corporate sustainability and shaping the future of climate finance. He shares how Natcap helps companies measure and manage their impacts on nature – like deforestation, water use, and pollution – while identifying critical dependencies that underpin business resilience and supply chains. Sebastian also discusses the growing influence of frameworks like TNFD and CSRD, the challenges with biodiversity offsets, and why integrating nature data into business strategy is becoming a competitive advantage.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 10:
VALENTIN LAUTIER ON OPENING CARBON MARKETS TO EVERYONE
October 28th, 2025
In this episode, Valentin Lautier, Founder and CEO of Homaio, explores how they are helping everyday investors get involved with compliance carbon markets. He shares how Homaio turns EU carbon allowances (EUAs) into investable climate assets that generate both returns and real emissions impact. Valentin also discusses how regulation, technology, and accessibility are driving the next wave of carbon investing, and why giving individuals a stake in decarbonisation could accelerate global climate action.
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EPISODE 11:
INSIDE THE PUSH FOR A VERIFIED CARBON MARKET WITH MADELEINE CARNEMARK
November 18th, 2023
In this episode, Madeleine Carnemark, Director, VCM+ Coalition, Carbon Policy and Markets Initiative at the High Tide Foundation, explains how carbon markets are shifting from a voluntary system to a verified, high-integrity global market. She discusses the coalition’s work to strengthen governance, improve transparency, unlock corporate demand, and build trust, while emphasizing why integrity and scale must move together to deliver real climate impact.
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EPISODE 1:
DISSECTING CARBON MARKETS WITH DR. LAMBERT SCHNEIDER
January 15th, 2024
In this episode, Jay and Dr. Lambert Schneider connect to discuss carbon markets.
Dr. Schneider is the Research Coordinator for International Climate Policy at the Oko-Institut e.V. He has most of his career working on the various carbon markets around the world. Dr. Schneider cover various aspects of the complex carbon market sphere. Dr. Schneider demonstrates his extensive expertise in every response, sharing his concerns about certain market elements and his hopes for the future of the markets.
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EPISODE 2:
SEEDS OF CHANGE – A DISCUSSION WITH MAST REFORESTATION
February 20th, 2024
In this episode, Jay speaks with Grant Canary (Founder & CEO) and Jonathan Loevner (VP, Carbon Markets & Policy) of Mast Reforestation to discuss the post-wildfire reforestation work their company is doing.
They discuss a recent stream financing agreement they made which is allowing them to expand their carbon credit projects. They share their insights on scaling, carbon credit generation, the issues they face, and their company goals in helping with reforestation.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 3:
UNPACKING A COMMODITY FUTURES CONTRACT WITH RICK GILMORE
March 12th, 2024
This episode features a conversation between Jay, and Rick Gilmore, the President & CEO of GIC Group.
They discuss GIC Group’s new product, Commodities Plus Carbon (CPC), a novel futures contract that blends agricultural commodities with carbon markets which seeks to reward farmers with a premium on their crop yields. Rick sheds light on the CPC’s mechanics, its significance in today’s agricultural and environmental landscape, and the rationale behind its timely introduction.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 4:
SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND SOIL CARBON CREDITS WITH MAX DUBUISSON
April 15th, 2024
In this episode, Jay connects with Max DuBuisson, the Vice President of Sustainability, Policy & Engagement at Indigo Ag, an ag-tech company based in Boston.
Max discusses Indigo Ag’s role in sustainable agriculture, detailing their carbon credit project which engages about 1,000 farmers across 30 states to manage over 7 million acres. He highlights the project’s benefits, including significant profit sharing that has yielded over $12 million for farmers, and touches on Indigo Ag’s use of advanced technologies and strategic partnerships to promote global sustainable practices.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 5:
FROM POLICY TO PROGRESS – TIMOTHY MALE ON NATURE-BASED CLIMATE FINANCE
May 21st, 2024
In this episode, Jay covers environmental policy with Timothy Male, the Executive Director of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC).
Tim outlines EPIC’s mission and its impact on U.S. environmental policies, focusing on initiatives like environmental restoration and the challenges of long permitting times. He discusses innovative financial mechanisms such as debt-for-nature swaps, state revolving loan funds, and pay-for-success contracts as scalable tools for nature-based climate finance. Tim emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships and advocates for increased funding. He concludes with a vision for the future of U.S. policy, stressing the need to improve policy narratives to drive financial resources towards enhancing our relationship with nature.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 6:
REVOLUTIONIZING SOIL HEALTH WITH HENRY ROWLANDS
June 10th, 2024
In this episode, Jay connects with Henry Rowlands, the Co-Founder, CEO, and Director of Soil in Formation (SIF), a U.S. public benefit corporation dedicated to restoring soil health worldwide through advanced soil health measurement technology and a contextual data platform.
They cover Henry’s extensive background in agriculture and soil management, his journey to co-founding SIF, the company’s core objectives, the challenges SIF aims to address with its remote soil sensor and actionable soil health metrics database, SIF’s efforts to integrate their technology into agriculture and soil carbon credit methodologies under the major carbon credit standards, and much more.
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EPISODE 7:
SEAN PENRITH RETURNS – UPDATES ON CLIMATE FINANCE, CARBON MARKETS & IMPACT INVESTING
July 23rd, 2024
In this episode, we welcome back Sean Penrith, CEO of Gordian Knot Strategies, nearly a year after his first appearance, to discuss some GKS’s key focus areas – climate finance, carbon markets, and impact investing. Jay and Sean explore the current state of climate finance for mitigation and adaptation, the challenges and progress in carbon markets, and the role and growth of impact investing, along with insights into biodiversity crediting.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 8:
UNLOCKING THE POWER OF CLIMATE TECH AND FINANCE WITH ANNA LERNER
September 24th, 2024
In this episode, Anna Lerner, CEO of Climate Collective, discusses climate finance, cutting-edge tech like AI and geospatial, and the critical role of local communities in driving climate solutions. Anna also shares insights into green accountability, Climate Collective’s new AI accelerator, and the emerging field of biodiversity credits.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Savimbo – the amazing group participating in Climate Collective’s Green Accountability Accelerator
Click any of the links below to listen!
Harnessing AI to Transform Climate Action: Part I
Harnessing AI to Transform Climate Action: Part II
Making the Case for Green Accountability
EPISODE 9:
HARNESSING FAMILY FORESTS TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE WITH RITA HITE
October 21st, 2024
In this episode, Rita Hite, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation, discusses the vital role of family forests in climate solutions and shares AFF’s innovative programs. Rita also announces AFF’s first-ever carbon credit auction for nature-based solutions, set for February 2025.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
American Forest Foundation Carbon Auction
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 10:
SHERI HICKOK ON CARBON MARKETS AND CLIMATE ACTION
November 12th, 2024
In this episode, Sheri Hickok, CEO of Climate Impact Partners, discusses the power of carbon markets in driving climate action. Sheri shares her journey from engineering to climate leadership and highlights impactful projects, like Climate Impact Partners’ reforestation work in Ghana, which combines carbon removal with sustainable jobs for local communities.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Climate Impact Partners’ Annual Fortune Global 500 Report Shows Quiet Climate Action
Reforesting Ghana: FORM Ghana’s Mission to Restore Forests and Benefit Communities
FORM Ghana and Climate Impact Partners Announce Exclusive Agreement on 400,000 Carbon Removal Credits
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 1:
WHAT IS CLIMATE FINANCE? EXPLAINED BY SEAN PENRITH
August 13th, 2023
To kick off the series, Jay chats with Sean Penrith (CEO, Gordian Knot Strategies). Sean introduces the term “climate finance” and defines what exactly that means. He also recounts his journey from an entrepreneur working outside the realm of climate change to his current position, running a private firm that mobilizes and activates climate finance for clients all over the world.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Quantum Commodity Intelligence
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 2:
TO BOND, OR NOT TO BOND – A DISCUSSION WITH NATHAN TRUITT
September 18th, 2023
In this episode, Jay talks with Nathan Truitt (Executive Vice President, Climate Funding – American Forest Foundation).
They cover topics including forest carbon credit projects, an innovative new green bond, AFF’s recent Verra methodology, and the challenges and opportunities for scaling up climate finance focused on forest projects.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
American Forest Foundation (AFF)
AFF’s Family Forest Carbon Program
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 3:
PRICING THE PRICELESS WITH PAULA DIPERNA
October 16th, 2023
In this episode, Jay talks with author and carbon market expert, Paula DiPerna.
They discuss her new book Pricing the Priceless: The Financial Transformation to Value the Planet, Solve the Climate Crisis, and Protect Our Most Precious Assets. They also talk about her work on both the voluntary and regulatory carbon markets, and how she thinks carbon markets are key to decarbonization.
And if you are interested in Pricing the Priceless, it is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Wiley, and other online stores.
Click any of the links below to listen!
EPISODE 4:
THE NAME IS BOND, GREEN BOND – A CONVERSATION WITH SEAN KIDNEY
November 14th, 2023
In this episode, Jay talk with Sean Kidney, the CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative.
They connected in August to review the current state of green bonds, the use of their proceeds, the prevalent topic of greenwashing, and how we can get more climate finance moving to slow down global warming. Sean also shares some personal information like his journey to becoming a leader in the bond space, and why he works tirelessly to fight the climate crisis.
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EPISODE 5:
A VETERAN’S TAKE ON CARBON MARKETS – INSIGHTS WITH DAVID ANTONIOLI
December 14th, 2023
In this episode, 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.
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