CCS and Climate Group host roundtable on climate action

"The workers and communities who most stand to benefit from a new wave of climate investments need to be at the forefront of crafting those investments. That is essential both for getting the policies right and for building the power to get them passed." Spot on. This is exactly what we aim to achieve through the C2ES Regional Clean Economies Initiative, where we bring together local stakeholders to identify and realize the specific, local economic opportunity of building out advanced energy solutions in their communities. Over the past 5 years of this program, we've really learned to trust that people are the experts in their own experience. When we sit down around the table with representatives of companies, unions, universities, local government, utilities, communities, and economic developers - something magic happens. We've learned that our role is less to prescribe the perfect specimen of a policy solution, and more to listen and learn to communities' own identification of the most pressing barriers and possible paths forward to overcome them. Bringing these leaders into the federal policy conversation can then help us to craft better solutions that meet the needs of communities, workers, and ultimately, the climate. We're ready for a more community-driven approach to climate and clean energy policy that meets people where they're at. And now, in the wake of the IRA and the OBBBA, we have a wide open window to start building this new energy future, together.

I encourage you to give this a read, maybe even get involved... the article offers a practical approach to coalition building, and actionable advice

Beginning 10/16, Rhode Island will host a new round of public webinars to share the draft results of the summer’s quantitative analysis that will inform the 2025 Climate Action Strategy, scheduled for completion later this year. These 2-hour virtual events will highlight the latest modeling and provide opportunities for public input. Registration links are included below: GHG Reduction Strategies Thursday, October 16th from 11:00AM-1:00PM (Virtual) Register here: https://lnkd.in/eZaAS9FD Join us for a public webinar exploring the near-term carbon reduction strategies RI can pursue to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and stay on track to meet its 2030 climate goals. We'll present and discuss the latest quantitative modeling results that evaluate the GHG reduction potential of key near-term strategies in sectors such as buildings, transportation, and industry. Pathways to Decarbonization Friday, October 31st from 11:00AM-1:00PM (Virtual) Register Here: https://lnkd.in/eTeUN4E3 Join us for a public meeting on Pathways to Decarbonization, where we’ll explore the scale of transformation needed across the economy to meet the RI's near- and long-term climate goals. We’ll present modeled economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction trajectories under multiple scenarios and examine how different pathways affect the pace of technology adoption and changes to energy demand. The discussion will also focus on the implications for the electric sector and the potential impacts on customer affordability as RI transitions to a decarbonized future.

"Public statements relating to the cost of climate action need to differentiate carefully between total investment, additional investment, and actual costs. Too often, total investment is presented as a cost, ignoring the fact that investments have a financial return, and that investment would also be required in any fossil-based counterfactual. The actual cost of climate action to consumers is usually a fraction of the total investment, and often even negative, and it’s time for that story to be told – loudly and clearly. " - Michael Liebreich https://lnkd.in/ed2cuWXJ

I watched this video earlier today focused on the Climate Action marketplace. Here are some interesting things that were discussed: - Climate change investment is now beyond being regulatory driven. Companies are committing to this as part of their ESG (Environmental Sustainability Governance) policies. - ESG investment to Climate Action is now, in many cases, a business case, to stay competitive or develop a competitive advantage, not to just meet a regulatory requirement. - The decoupling of climate change actions from regulations is creating longer term technologies and approaches, that are both sustainable and adaptable, as opposed to meeting a single goal at a certain date. - Climate Action is not just a U.S. market (which has experienced government pullback from climate regulation and subsidies), but a key part of the Global market, so many industries are continuing to focus on applying climate projects. - New technologies and improvements are making climate projects financially beneficial in their own right, even without subsidies: Improved cooling technologies use less water, saving money. New battery technologies are less expensive and more efficient, making renewable energy more cost-effective. It is estimated that 2/3rds of climate tech now are "in the money", in other words, they have potential to result in a better bottom line within a reasonable time period. - Climate projects give companies benefits that they can market beyond climate control, including: Positive impact on water resources Improved control of other emissions, such as toxic air pollutants Reduced impacts on fires. Reduced impact on destructive storms. To take this a step further, the Environmental Industry, while still generally regulatory driven, is seeing more non-regulatory actions. One example is PFAS. There was substantial research investment as well as a range of assessment and cleanup projects for several years before the EPA established its Maximum Contaminant Levels. Also, there is increasing interest in advanced mineral recovery from certain wastewater streams that are financially driven, not regulatory. Medina Doyle Technologies BROADWAY VENTURES, LLC Victor Medina https://lnkd.in/esiy-2tY

The introduction of Scientific Climate Ratings is shaking up how we think about financial risks, especially when it comes to investing in infrastructure. It brings climate change right into the heart of the discussion. By putting numbers to potential losses across thousands of assets, this new way of looking at things challenges the old belief that climate risks are just side issues. And the numbers speak volumes—a big chunk of losses, almost half, come from the lowest-rated assets. That’s a wake-up call for investors to shift their focus. This detailed, transparent approach not only sheds light on the reality of climate-related risks but also helps everyone involved make smarter, better-informed choices. All in all, it’s a step towards building more resilient infrastructure that can stand up to the growing challenges of climate change. #climaterisk #sustainablefinance #finance

More than 50 influential climate organizations have come together to promote a vision for a next-generation carbon market. The group, known as the Verified Carbon Market (VCM+) Coalition, aims to mobilize $100 billion in climate finance, which will be used to avoid or remove 5 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 2035.

New Report Marks a Decade of Progress, Challenges on Global Decarbonization Extreme shifts in federal climate policy will make it hard for the U.S. to reach the Paris Agreement targets, but action by states, cities and businesses could still deliver significant emissions cuts. A report released Monday shows that collective global climate action is still falling short of what’s needed to protect Earth’s livable climate. Still, progress has accelerated dramatically in the decade since the Paris Agreement, spurring policies such as investments in renewable energy and public transit that are speeding up the transition away from fossil fuels. The 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase resilience to climate extremes “was very important to make governments, and mainly the private sector, believe that sooner or later the transition to climate neutrality is really going to happen,” said Emilio La Rovere, a professor of energy planning at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, who has also worked on the major international climate reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. For countries with emerging economies, such as Brazil, that was a signal to try and combine sustainable economic development with decarbonization, La Rovere said at a press conference for the report’s release. The challenges include political shifts that “jeopardize the continuity of climate policy,” he said. “We also have the challenge ahead of the huge oil and gas resources that Brazil has found,” he added. “You know, Brazil has joined OPEC+, and there is a claim of taking a shortcut to prosperity by accelerating oil and gas production and exports.” https://lnkd.in/gEzfFyCg

"One system after another is going down!!” The urgency of that truth was evident throughout the discussions last week at the climate assembly organized by The Guardian. Moderated by George Monbiot, the panel featured Mikaela Loach, Emma Pinchbeck FEI, and Zack Polanski. What struck me most wasn’t the call to scale down faster, or the acknowledgment of historical emissions by countries like the UK. It was the outright dismissal of carbon credits as a climate solution - a space I have worked in. But what about the countries in the global south that have not experienced full-fledged industrial growth? While I fully support internal emission reductions and technologies that capture carbon, we must not discard carbon markets entirely. If designed with integrity, they can offer meaningful benefits to communities that have contributed least to the climate crisis but are bearing its heaviest costs. In the same breath that we talk about community involvement in climate action, we cannot dismiss high-integrity carbon credits that can benefit those very communities. This isn’t about defending the issues of the carbon market system. It’s about refusing to discard tools that, if reformed, could empower local climate action. When we critique markets without acknowledging their potential benefits, we risk sidelining the very communities we claim to include in action. We’re all navigating the same storm, and solutions are still emerging. Critique is necessary, but so is constructive engagement.    Every small action is better than no action and waiting for a perfect solution. Let’s not shut the door on tools that, with integrity and innovation, could become part of the solution! #CarbonMarkets #CarbonCredits #Climate #ClimateAction

Over the past several months and years, there has been a notable increase in workshops, seminars, summits, and high-level meetings dedicated to climate change and climate finance. While these platforms have been valuable for raising awareness, strengthening dialogue, and shaping frameworks, there is growing concern that the outcomes have not adequately translated into tangible action on the ground. The urgency of the climate crisis demands more than discussions and policy commitments; it requires practical, localized interventions that directly support adaptation and mitigation. Communities most affected by climate change continue to face heightened vulnerabilities, yet the pace of implementation of concrete projects remains disproportionately slow. Climate funds, although significant in scope, often remain locked in bureaucratic processes, limiting their reach to those in immediate need. This imbalance between dialogue and delivery undermines the credibility of climate action efforts. Without visible progress, trust in climate governance and financing structures diminishes, and the gap between policy ambition and community reality continues to widen. For meaningful climate action, emphasis must shift towards accelerating the implementation of projects, streamlining access to climate finance, and ensuring that resources flow directly to ground-level initiatives where they are most impactful. I would like to add that while discussions are important for alignment and strategy, they must be matched by decisive and practical action. The effectiveness of climate change response will not be measured by the number of summits convened, but by the measurable improvements in resilience, adaptation, and mitigation on the ground. #Climatechangeishappeningnow