Climate Resiliency and Returns Are Not Mutually Exclusive Concepts
Investors today have to consider sustainability and climate resilience across all asset classes in a diversified portfolio. In this episode, we speak with two professionals from Schroders to hear how these factors are integrated in energy infrastructure and real estate. David Boyce is Head of Schroders Greencoat US, which focuses on renewable energy infrastructure. Craig Morey is the Climate Lead for the Schroders Real Estate team, which makes direct real estate investments across the UK, Europe and Asia. Both of these teams reside inside Schroders Capital, the nearly $100 billion dollar private markets unit of Schroders, which also includes Private Equity, Private Debt & Credit Alternatives. The key message for SFP followers in this episode is that climate resiliency and returns are not mutually exclusive concepts. The current shift to climate resiliency in renewable energy and infrastructure is opening up very attractive investment opportunities, and enhancing current investments.
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How Sustainable Infrastructure Can Be Financed at Lower Cost and Reduce Carbon Emissions
For real estate investors and owners, figuring out how to reduce carbon emissions without raising the cost of building new or retrofitting is a major challenge. My guest today, Laura Rapaport, founder and CEO of North Bridge, is leading the way in providing financing that does just that. C-PACE is a long term, fixed-rate credit product secured by a special property assessment, and North Bridge has recently secured a $1 billion commitment from the Carlyle Group to originate C-PACE loans. Rapaport explains how this financing can ensure that resilient and sustainable real estate projects have the flexibility required for completion while reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption and benefiting local economies. All PACE projects to date are expected to reduce carbon emissions by 3 million tons.
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Why University Leadership Is Critical for Solving the Climate Crisis
On today’s program we talk about how universities are key innovators in solving the climate crisis. At the same time, as we read daily in the news, they’re dealing with tremendous uncertainty. So how is Lisa Sachs, the Director of the Columbia University Center on Sustainable Investment and the recently launched Columbia Climate School MS in Climate Finance, coping with these uncertainties in U.S. climate policy and sustainable finance? And what about the volatility in career opportunities that graduates of these programs will face during the next four years? For Sachs, these are just two of the stress points she is managing in today’s university environment. Sachs is also an Associate Professor of Professional Practice at the Columbia Climate School, where climate science and climate change are engaged in the 21st Century’s existential challenge for supremacy.
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HealRWorld: Where Your Everyday Spend is a Vote for the World You Wish To See
On today’s program Michele Bongiovanni talks about the 1.3 million member online global community and marketplace she launched in 2012. HealRWorld’s goal is igniting systemic change by unleashing the transformative power of sustainability-focused consumers and businesses. Members can find and shop socially committed celebrities, musicians, and small and medium-sized businesses from 170 countries while supporting the environment and social good. Shop the brands and small businesses whose products align with the values of sustainability-minded consumers.
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The Future of Sustainable Investing: What Needs to Happen
How does an “immigrant kid” become the Founder of a firm that provides sustainable solutions for institutional investors, including ESG market analysis and education, regulatory risk management and investment process design? Allison Binns is the Founder and Principal of Peregrine Strategy, She is also a Senior Advisor at Danu Venture Group, which provides early-stage investment access to technology companies focused on national security, new infrastructure and their enabling industries. Allison says her background as an “immigrant kid” has shaped the way she approaches investments and sustainability in general. We’re fortunate to have her as our guest for this episode of the SFP.
Ireland