The role of philanthropic foundations in advancing clean energy
A big part of speeding up the move away from fossil fuels is scaling up innovation and technology. With an appetite for riskier projects, philanthropic foundations could play an important role in raising some much needed cash
RISK-TAKING
Innovations in infrastructure and technology are vital for scaling up the clean energy transition. But investment in them is financially risky and returns can take years to materialise. Big philanthropic organisations are slowly moving in to fill the venture capital gap in the energy transformation, but they could be doing much more
INCREASED INVESTMENT
Philanthropic foundations in the US and the EU are showing a heightened commitment to fighting climate change. In the US, grants from foundations to environmental projects increased by more than 10% from 2017-2019, to reach $75.86 billion
KEY QUOTE
Many investors say they would like to invest in clean energy, but lack attractive projects. Foundations can help lead the way ...
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