In this Week’s Issue: $8.2 billion across 26 deals in Transition Finance ($5.3 billion), NbS ($1.3 billion), Carbon Removal ($11 million), Hard-to-Abate industries ($1.5 billion), and the Blue Economy ($116 million).
Developed with support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, this report was built in collaboration with our partners, The Climate Champions team, Innovative Finance for the Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco (IFACC), and Brunswick Group, and it leverages initial results from Deloitte's upcoming NbS Risk Capital Value Chain Report, alongside our original research. Explore the report to discover more about the current state of nature finance in Brazil and globally, and how stakeholders can expand nature finance to meet our pressing biodiversity and climate challenges.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. has finalized a $1 billion refinancing deal for El Salvador, addressing approximately 14% of the country's debt and supporting the conservation of its longest river, the Rio Lempa. This marks JPMorgan's entry into debt-for-nature swaps, in partnership with the US International Development Finance Corporation, Catholic Relief Services, and the Environmental Investment Fund of El Salvador. The arrangement involved repurchasing $1.03 billion in bonds at a discount, financed by issuing new notes sold to a special purpose vehicle funded by the loan from JPMorgan, with added political-risk insurance from DFC. Interest rates for the debt were undisclosed, but the bond is expected to generate $352 million in savings for the country.
The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) is granting Coamo Agroindustrial a BRL 500 million ($87.7 million) loan, sourced from the Climate Fund, to construct a corn ethanol plant in Campo Mourão, Paraná. Valued at BRL 1.7 billion ($300 million), the facility aims to produce 765,000 liters of corn ethanol daily and process 1,700 tonnes of corn, along with generating by-products such as distillers dried grains for animal feed and corn oil. This project marks the fourth agribusiness initiative funded by the Climate Fund this year, totaling BRL 1.12 billion ($200 million) across all projects. The plant will also include a 30 MW thermoelectric plant to power the complex.
Agrolend has raised $53 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its total funding to nearly $100 million. Led by Creation Investments and Syngenta Group Ventures, with participation from new investors including Vivo Ventures and Norinchukin Bank, the funds will enhance Agrolend's credit offerings to industries, retailers, and cooperatives. The company aims to support Brazilian farmers, who face challenges in accessing credit due to high interest rates and declining crop prices, by leveraging its digital platform to streamline the loan process. The company hopes to eventually grow its credit portfolio to $600 million and serve 10,000 small- and medium-sized farmers across Brazil.
Sistema.bio has secured $15 million in financing to support its global expansion in biogas technology. The investment, led by ElectriFI and backed by existing investors including Chroma Impact Investment and AXA IM Alts, will enhance Sistema.bio’s partnerships and diversify its bioenergy product offerings. This funding aims to prepare the company for anticipated Series C financing in 2025.
Swedish startup AirForestry has raised €10.3M ($11 million) in seed funding, led by Northzone, to advance its drone-based tree harvesting technology. Investors include Kiko VC, SEB Greentech VC, and Cloudbreak VC, along with a €1.7 million ($1.84 million) grant from the Swedish Energy Agency. The funds will support AirForestry's eco-friendly, electric forestry solutions.
Pakistan has secured $10 million in climate finance to enhance integrated water resource management in the Indus River, focusing on nature-based solutions to benefit local communities. The project emphasizes water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, targeting women, children, and youth to build resilience against climate-induced crises. It aligns with national strategies, including Pakistan's National Adaptation Plan and the Living Indus Initiative.
Viridian Renewable Technology, based in Derrimut Australia, has secured an AUD2.5 million ($1.67 million) investment from Breakthrough Victoria to enhance its production capacity for fertilizers and insect-based protein ingredients for pet and animal feed. The funding will support factory expansion, allowing the company to produce an additional 1,300 tonnes of protein annually with plans to establish two more facilities in Gippsland. Viridian utilizes excess pre-consumer food waste to feed its larvae, which are processed into various ingredients, while the by-product, frass, is sold as fertilizer.
Conservation Resources has secured $80 million in initial commitments for its Conservation Resources Forest Fund VII, aiming for a total of $250 million. The first close represents a 41% increase compared to the previous fund, which raised $47 million. The fund is focused on generating mid-to-high single-digit returns while prioritizing long-term financial and environmental impact.
Brazil has released further details on the development timeline of its Tropical Forests Forever fund, intending to have the fund operational by COP30 in Belem, Brazil. The fund, which was launched at the G20 in Brazil, has set an expected funding target of BRL 700 billion ($125 billion), 20% of which will be raised through long-term loans from developed countries and philanthropic entities, and 80% of which will come from institutional and retail investors, who will be able to purchase debt securities issued by the fund. The income from the investments will be invested in conservation projects in participating countries, which will be required to have tropical forests and low deforestation rates.
Canada's government has announced an additional CAD 500 million ($360 million) in clean energy investments through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways (SREPs) program, bringing total program funding to CAD 4.5 billion. The funding will support projects focused on grid reliability, renewable energy, and accommodating growing power demand. Private investment is encouraged to meet national decarbonization goals. This latest funding announcement follows a new climate investment taxonomy framework set by the Government of Canada on Oct. 9.
The U.S. DOE has announced almost $2 billion in funding across 38 projects in 42 states focused on improving grid resilience to extreme weather and expanding transmission capacity. The projects will add 7.5 W of grid capacity, and encourage $4.2 billion in total public and private investment. The projects include upgrading more than 950 miles of transmission and constructing 300 additional miles of transmission, along with reconducting or adding grid-enhancing technology along 650 miles of lines.
X-Energy has raised $500 million in a series C-1 financing round, with the proceeds expected to support the commercialization of the company's small modular reactor technology. The round was led by Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund and coincided with the announcement of X-Energy's plan to support a 320 MW project in central Washington. The deal contains an option to increase to 12 SMR units producing 960 MW.
Form Energy has finished a $405 million Series F financing round, with commitments from TPG Rise Climate, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Capricorn’s Technology Impact Funds, Coatue, Energy Impact Partners, MIT’s The Engine Ventures, NGP, Temasek, and others. The round brought the company's total funds raised to date to $1.2 billion. The funding will support the development and commercialization of Form's iron-air battery system, which is expected to be capable of storing electricity for 100 hours at system costs competitive with legacy power plants.
JPMorgan and Capital One have announced a $260 million tax-equity financing deal to support BrightNight's 300 MW Box Canyon solar project in Arizona. The funding will help to bring the project into operation by Q2 2025, with an expected 900,000 Mwh of projected annual production.
Ninety One has secured a $150 million mandate from the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) for its decarbonization-focused Global Environmental strategy. This strategy offers a concentrated global equity portfolio targeting companies that contribute to the transition to a lower-carbon economy, focusing on renewable energy, resource efficiency, and electrification.
The Brazilian National Treasury has closed the first auction of its EcoInvest program, which is expected to attract foreign capital to green projects in Brazil by de-risking investment. The auction of subsidized lines of credit reached almost BRL 7 billion ($1.23 billion) and is expected to leverage approximately BRL 45 billion of private resources. The credit lines are expected to support riskier investments in leading-edge climate sectors, including sustainable aviation fuel, biofuels, the circular economy, and solar energy projects, among others. Allocation of the BRL 7 billion is still being decided based on proposals submitted on October 11, 2024.
Prime Capital AG, a German independent asset manager, has completed a third close of its Prime Green Energy Infrastructure Fund II (PGEIF II), with a total raise of € 313 million ($340 million). The fund has a cap of €700 million and has secured a pipeline of €600 million in assets, primarily in onshore wind. In addition to its existing portfolio, the PEGIF II fund is pursuing co-located battery energy storage projects and green fuel production projects to diversify its portfolio.
SCOR Investment Partners has launched SCOR Real Estate Loans V, the fifth fund in its senior value-add debt series, targeting market shifts and the energy transition in real estate. The fund aims to address European regulatory changes and demand for certified assets through strategic investments that maintain asset functionality.
Rajkot Municipal Corporation in Gujarat is considering its first green municipal bond to raise up to $200 million for projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions. The initiative, supported by USAID and other organizations, comes as Indian civic authorities seek to utilize municipal bonds to fund infrastructure upgrades.
Azure Power Global Limited has completed a ₹24 billion ($285 million) refinancing transaction, structured as an INR Term Loan underwritten by REC Limited, enabling the company to prepay its $350 million Green Bonds due in December 2024, linked to ten solar projects. This move aims to strengthen Azure Power's financial position as it continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio, which currently exceeds 4.3 GW of assets in India.
The IFC is investing in Türkiye’s inaugural blue bond issuance by QNB Türkiye, alongside a green bond issuance, to enhance the country’s climate finance market. The deal includes a $25 million blue bond, exclusively funded by IFC, and a $100 million green bond, with IFC and EBRD each contributing up to $50 million. Both bonds feature a five-year tenor with a two-year grace period and aim to finance green and blue projects that support renewable energy, biodiversity, and sustainable tourism in Türkiye.
Meta has pledged to contract $35 million in carbon removal projects by the end of 2025, as part of its wider net-zero strategy and in accordance with the U.S DOE's Voluntary Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchasing Challenge. The pledge makes Meta the second tech major to dedicate resources to the challenge, after Google's $35 million commitment in March of 2024. The investment is expected to support the offset of unavoidable emissions under Meta’s 2030 carbon emission reduction plan.
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat announced a CAD10 million ($7 million) investment in CO2 removal procurement, marking the government’s first carbon removal initiative. This initiative aligns with Canada's broader net-zero strategy and follows recommendations from Carbon Removal Canada's report on optimal carbon removal practices.
NextGen CDR has finalized a deal, at an undisclosed amount, to acquire carbon removal credits from Alt Carbon's enhanced rock weathering project in Darjeeling, India. The agreement includes a long-term supply of credits, certified by the Isometric registry, at an average price of $200 per metric ton of CO2 equivalent for delivery from 2025 to 2030. The credits will be purchased by various global buyers, including Boston Consulting Group, LGT Group, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, SwissRe, and UBS. The purchase is NextGen's first from an Asian supplier.
Aerleumhas secured $6 million in seed funding to launch the first full-scale pilot unit of its CO2-fuel carbon capture technology. The company captures carbon and converts it into synthetic fuels for the maritime, aviation, and chemical industries, with a focus on e-methanol.
Octavia Carbon has closed a $5 million seed funding round for its Direct Air Capture technology. $1.1 million of the funding came from contracted presales of carbon credits. The company utilized geothermal power to fuel DAC systems and store carbon capture underground through collaboration with the mineral storage company Cella. The funding will support the construction of Octavia's DAC+Storage pilot plant towards the end of 2024, with an initial removal capacity of 250 metric tons of carbon.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the availability of up to $900 million in funding to support the domestic deployment of Generation III+ small modular reactor (SMR) technologies. This initiative funded in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to facilitate the safe and responsible rollout of advanced nuclear technologies, promote environmental protection, and create job opportunities while addressing the demand for clean energy. Applications are now open for private sector projects that align with these goals.
Gevo, a net-zero hydrocarbon fuel producer, has finalized a $1.46 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. DOE LPO for its South Dakota-based Net-Zero 1 SAF project. The facility is expected to become the first large-scale net-zero-emissions alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) production facility, producing SAF, protein, animal feed projects, and corn oil.
Koloma, a geologic hydrogen startup, has raised $50 million in a Series B extension round, with investments from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. This funding aims to enhance Koloma's capabilities in exploring and commercializing geologic hydrogen, utilizing advanced technology and data analytics to identify hydrogen resources globally.
Acelen, a Mubadala Capital subsidiary, has received approval for BRL 258 million in financing ($45 million) to develop a macauba-based sustainable aviation fuel plant. The plant is expected to germinate 1.7 million seeds per month and produce 10.5 million seedlings a year, with an eventual goal of producing 20,000 barrels of renewable fuel a day from the plant, and 1 billion liters a year.
REsurety has secured $32 million in Series C funding, led by S2G Ventures and Citi, to launch CleanTrade, a new marketplace for trading clean energy contracts and virtual power plant agreements. This platform aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in clean energy markets, offering tools for buyers and sellers to facilitate transactions and includes a Swap Execution Facility approved by the CFTC for trading derivatives. CleanTrade will also support power purchase agreements and renewable energy certificates, providing users with insights on carbon abatement costs.
The UK's National Oceanography Centre secures £41.4 million ($53.7 million) from the Natural Environment Research Council to support the Atlantic Climate and Environment Strategic Science (Atlantis) program. This investment aims to enhance marine research by integrating ocean observations, next-generation models, and digital tools, to address pollution, warming seas, and biodiversity loss.
Oceanloop, a European land-based shrimp company, has secured €35 million ($38 million) in debt financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to expand its operations in Germany and Spain. Oceanloop uses land-based circulating systems to grow shrimp and other seafood products, while taking pressure off aquatic ecosystems, currently producing 20 tonnes a year. The company is also seeking an additional €8 million ($9 million) in private-sector funding to support its growth and diversify into new shrimp species.
Fidelity International has launched the Fidelity Funds 2 – Blue Transition Bond Fund, described as the first blue transition fixed income fund globally. The fund aims for long-term capital growth while supporting ocean and freshwater health, focusing on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). The Article 8 fund will invest at least 80% of its capital in global bonds aligned with ocean and freshwater sustainability objectives.
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The Article 6.4 supervisory board, which is tasked with creating guidelines for the implementation of a UN carbon market, has continued its rollout of standards ahead of COP 29 in Baku. Following a meeting in Baku, the board issued 2 new standards, the first setting standards and definitions for carbon removal, and the second establishing guidelines for claiming and assessing emission reductions and removals. The new methodologies are expected to be further revised at COP29.
As the Conventions on Biodiversity's 16th conference of the parties gets underway in Cali Colombia, a joint review by Carbon Brief and the Guardian finds that a supermajority of countries are behind on submitting their national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) which are supposed to guide implementation of the convention. The deadline was missed by all six Congo basin countries, Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, and 12 out of 17 Megadiverse countries. Only 25 countries and the EU met the submission deadline. NBSAPS that have been submitted can be tracked here, in Carbon Briefs NBSAP tracker.
The UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) will transition into being part of the new UK National Wealth Fund (NWF), announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves at the International Investment Summit in London. This change expands the organization's focus beyond infrastructure, aligning with the government's Industrial Strategy focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation. The UK hopes to capitalize the NWF with GBP 27.8 billion ($36.2 billion).
The EU's environment ministers have agreed on the bloc's common negotiating position at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The negotiations are expected to focus on expanding the $100 billion a year currently pledged by wealthy countries to support developing countries' adaptation and mitigation of climate change, which the COP29 presidency recently suggested could be in the trillions of dollars.
Ninety One, a global investment manager based in South Africa, has launched its Sovereign Biodiversity Index, covering 116 countries to evaluate how government actions impact nature and biodiversity. This quantitative tool aims to enable sovereign debt investors to assess biodiversity risks and direct capital toward nations actively safeguarding their natural capital. The index is structured around three pillars: quality of nature, deforestation, and policy, aiming to foster engagement and investment in countries prioritizing biodiversity protection.
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has launched a climate transition risk solution aimed at fixed-income markets, including municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities (MBS), and real estate. This new offering provides emissions estimates and portfolio analytics for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions across various asset classes, looking to add to ICE's existing coverage of sovereign and corporate equity. The solution aims to address data gaps in underserved segments by offering comprehensive emissions tracking and carbon intensity metrics to help clients assess and benchmark financed emissions.
Bloomberg has launched a new information solution focused on helping investors assess exposure to nature and biodiversity risk and align their reporting with the TNFD's recommendations. The solution covers 45,000 companies and incorporates company-reported data, biodiversity indicators, deforestation risk, and water stress analysis data, to provide context for investors when making decisions around limiting nature risk. Bloomberg is also factoring biodiversity analysis into its ESG financial materiality scores.
The American Forest Foundation will host the first auction for its family forest carbon program's carbon credits in February 2025. This auction aims to provide buyers with a transparent method to acquire high-quality carbon credits while supporting rural communities and family forest owners. It aims to facilitate financing for nature-based solutions, allowing companies to access due diligence resources before bidding on credits over a one-week period.
CO2 emissions from forest fires have grown 60% since 2001, according to new research published in Science. The study found that wildfires have become larger and more intense, particularly in the northern boreal forest, where emissions have almost tripled in the past 20 years. Global grassland and savannah burning did decrease at the same time, falling 25%, though this was outweighed by the growth in forest fire emissions. Forest fire severity, in terms of carbon emitted per unit of area burned, rose 50% globally, indicating that fires were becoming hotter and more damaging to forest ecosystems.
CGIAR has released its 2024 Breakthrough Agenda Report - Agriculture, its first standalone report focused on the agri-food system. The report focuses on what opportunities are available to scale clean agricultural technologies and reduce enteric methane and fertilizer production emissions, as well as other steps that can be taken to shift food systems into lower carbon models of production. The paper found that, since the 2023 report, progress had been observed on knowledge sharing, metric development, and research, development, and demonstration, while improving financing and private sector, market, and trade outcomes had seen little progress.
The World Wildlife Fund has released the Global Roadmap for a Nature-Positive Economy, a new report cataloging the steps and funding required to build a natural positive economy and incorporate ecosystems into economic decision-making. The report identifies the underlying economic drivers of nature loss as the primary reason that nature-related environmental agreements have not been achieved, and discusses 5 key actions that can be taken to create a more nature-positive global economy:
1. Developing transition pathways for nature-harmful industries
2. Improving data and metrics for undergirding nature targets
3. Shifting private capital to close the biodiversity financing gap
4. Elevating the role of international financial institutions in developing nature financing solutions, and
5. Changing the rules of international trade to reward governments for setting higher standards on nature.
In a comment article in npj Biodiversity, T. Mitchell Aide, a research associate at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, argues that robust definitions and means of measurement for biodiversity are currently missing from planned biodiversity markets, and need to be implemented to ensure their success. The piece identifies 3 main strategies for ensuring BCM effectiveness: accurately defining project baselines using controlled sites, implementing robust monitoring strategies, and establishing transparent and economically viable verification processes for claims.
Capital for Climate, along with its partner, Nature4Climate, released a first-of-its-kind landscape analysis of the nature tech market. This report illuminates a burgeoning sector that will help protect, manage, and restore nature. Click here for the report!
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