CarbonSmart '24: Prepare for Financing the Future: Driving Climate Action Through Collaborative Funding Models

In a panel of power women at CarbonSmart, Prepare for Financing the Future: Driving Climate Action Through Collaborative Funding Models’ panelists explored the intersection of finance, climate projects, and women's empowerment. Moderator Lara Pierpoint (Trellis) and panelists Nicole Pasricha (Alma), Shirin Jamshidi, Director (US DFC), Annalise Downey (Sylvera), April Allderdice (MicroEnergy Credits) discussed innovative financial mechanisms, like the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation’s (DFC) recent $5.1 billion in approved transactions, are advancing global climate initiatives. Panelists discussed how collaborative funding models, environmental attribute certificates (EACs), and voluntary carbon market rating platforms are driving transparency, accountability, and impact in climate finance. Highlighting how these tools incentivize clean energy investments and support the path to net-zero, offering new ways to create value in climate strategies. 

Some memorable quotes include:

• Nicole Pasricha, Head of Climate and Impact, Alma: "At Alma, we launched a vehicle supporting gender transactions, tying project impacts to women's empowerment, and paving the way for carbon companies to enter the public markets."
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• Shirin Jamshidi, Director, Investments - Asia/MENA, US DFC: "We meet the client and investor where they are and facilitate structuring transactions to meet those financial needs."
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• Annelise Downey, Head of Climate Consulting at Sylvera: "Specialization and focus are key in scaling climate projects, with a focus on lowering barriers to entry to drive more participation in the market."
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• Lara Pierpoint, Managing Director, Trellis: ‘’Our biggest mandate is to have commercial capital mobilization so we do not intend to and never want to be replacing private investors."
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• April Alderdice,  Founder & CEO of MicroEnergy Credits: "At MEC, we empower local leaders, listen to women continuously, and evolve our programs to drive clean energy interventions and women's empowerment."

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