David Jones

Removing forests to install solar panels is like.... ... well you should read this terrific article! EcoRestoration Alliance

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I have had the privilege of knowing some of the world's most prominent philanthropists and foundations, learning firsthand the critical role we can play in driving systemic change. Our approach to grant-making and philanthropic strategies goes beyond mere charity; it harnesses the power to create substantial impact. With our Fashion Climate Fund, we are mobilizing essential resources to steer the market toward a future where all products and business models positively impact people and the planet. When we first set out to scale solutions at Aii, we recognized the necessity of catalytic funding to prepare proven solutions for broader implementation. We also acknowledged the importance of identifying and evaluating potential solutions using a data-driven, science-based approach. Moving from pilot projects to large-scale implementation requires significant resources. This is the mission of the Fashion Climate Fund. Our goal is to deploy $250 million by 2030 in catalytic capital, which we aim to leverage to drive a total of $2 billion toward supporting producers (i.e., suppliers) in their decarbonization efforts. This strategy not only future-proofs their businesses but also contributes to global climate action targets. DM me to learn more about becoming a LEAD PARTNER! Join the leadership. Apparel Impact Institute. The Schmidt Family Foundation The 11th Hour Project The DOEN Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation PVH FOUNDATION INC TARGET FOUNDATION HSBC lululemon H&M Group Laudes Foundation Roy A. Hunt Foundation

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🌍 "It’s about putting impact at the heart of every decision"— Alasdair Maclay on GSG Impact's vision speaks to Impact-Investor.com ⬇️ 🎉 Celebrating a decade of impact: After ten years, GSG's evolution reflects a shift from solely focusing on impact investing to fostering impact economies worldwide. Reflecting on our journey, Alasdair highlights the inception from the G8 Taskforce to now engaging 44 national partners across diverse global 🌐contexts. This year, we are thrilled to welcome new national partners from Kenya 🇰🇪, Cambodia 🇰🇭, and Thailand 🇹🇭, extending our global network. Looking 🚀 ahead : As GSG Impact, we're setting our sights on overcoming key sector challenges such as the lack of incentives and know-how in achieving measurable impacts. With a focus on impact transparency, we're collaborating with bodies like the ISSB to harmonise standards that resonate across our network, especially in emerging markets. 🔗 Learn more about our vision and initiatives in Paula Garrido’s article: https://lnkd.in/dpJXdqj8 #ImpactInvesting #SustainableDevelopment #SocialImpact #emergingmarkets

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EXCITING NEWS ALERT! (Check out the video to get an idea of what’s coming!) My mission has always been to amplify impact, particularly through the use of technology and collaborations, and I'm excited to announce Impactoverse's World of Impact—an ecosystem where virtual activities have real-world impact! We've reached another milestone in our journey towards creating a thriving community of impact, and I'd love for you to join us. In May, we'll be officially launching with a lineup of activities and showcases that will inspire, educate, and empower! Our space in one where people can come together to make a difference. We're harnessing technology for good, going beyond gaming and hype to drive positive social change. From influencers to causes, brands to impactful experiences, our virtual world is a hub for all things impact-oriented. 🌍 Impact-aligned innovations, products, services, and projects, as well experiential education, gamifying impact and more. Revolutionize engagement with events that highlight impact and inspire collaboration and community building. Connect with impacteers, join their efforts, or hold your own private or public gatherings. And for creators, this is your chance to change the world with your talent. Maintain ownership of your creations, collaborate with impact initiatives, and earn while making a difference! We offer an impact-amplifying, cost-effective, and accessible way to showcase real-world projects in a way that people connect with and experience firsthand. Anything is possible! Whether you're an impact-aligned brand, cause, educator, influencer, creator, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, there's a place for you in our virtual world. Together, let's shape a better future—one virtual step at a time! If you're ready to explore this incredible opportunity with us, get in touch! https://lnkd.in/eZZm66E3 #impactoverse #worldofimpact #virtualworld #techforgood #socialchange #collaboration #communitybuilding #education #innovation #creators #empowerment #sustainability #sdgs #savetheplanet #impact

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While my hometown and state suffer from immense flooding, exacerbated by the climate crisis, I can't stop thinking about the huge opportunities that we missed in preventing a great part of this tragedy. We are paying the price for our unpreparedness, even though we knew all the risks we were facing. Less than two years ago, I wrote my master's dissertation on the lack of green infrastructure/nature-based solutions (NbS) features for urban resilience along the Porto Alegre waterfront. Now, I look at this entire area of the city completely submerged. The guide "A Sphere Unpacked Guide: Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience in Humanitarian Contexts," developed in collaboration by Sphere, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC, IUCN, FEBA, and SOMN, offers insights and crucial practices that we need - must - to start applying now. NbS is key not just during disasters but also before and after them. It's crucial to highlight innovative approaches for resilience in humanitarian contexts. It can be implemented across various stages of the disaster management cycle, from prevention and mitigation to sustainable reconstruction. And we will need all of this here in Rio Grande do Sul. The guide is relevant for national and local government agencies, disaster management authorities, and civil protection actors. It emphasises the importance of integrating ecosystems into environmental emergency preparedness plans, developing risk maps that consider ecosystems, and incorporating environmental considerations into development plans. It also stresses protecting and restoring green and blue areas crucial for disaster risk reduction. #RioGrandedoSul #NatureBasedSolutions #ClimateCrisis #ClimateChange

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Social value: A revival in philanthropy? 🤔 Great speaking on a panel at the Footprint+ conference to discuss & debate how we can better connect developers with VISABLE social impact! A few key themes that came from the convo: 📈How do we actually measure social value? The ‘E’ in ESG has a more defined measurement but what about the ‘S’? If we can’t fully measure it, we can’t track it. Thoughts? 🎯 How do we better facilitate direct tie ups between developers and local charities? (Southwark charities is a stellar example of this) 💡How do we look at social impact and business performance as not mutually exclusive? We’re seeing more and more signs that a business that stands for something and gives back can actually enhance its bottom line. Thanks to my fellow panelist’s for a great session! Chris Bowie-Hill @Chris Wilson of Southwark Charities and @Juraj Marko of JTRE #proptech #ESG #impact #hospitality #realestate #footprint

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Last week we saw a major milestone towards decentralising decision making, capital and power in philanthropy and impact investing. Melinda French Gates' $1BN commitment to women and girls included $240 million for twelve global leaders to manage and make grants as they see fit. Shoutout to Sabrina Habib in Kenya! Melinda’s commitment is an important step towards decentralized funding– a trend I believe could rewire how we identify and back transformative ideas. More on that in this issue of The Vital Neighborhood. https://lnkd.in/eu2gWZ8r

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🎧 Rewriting the Playbook for Women’s Investing with Tessa Flippin Tessa Flippin and Julie uncover: • The challenges faced by diverse founders, including women and underrepresented groups, in accessing funding. • Investing in social impact funds to drive financial return and support sustainable practices. • The importance of diversity and inclusion in the entrepreneurial space. • The impact of women-led businesses on society and the environment. ⬇ Tag a colleague who is looking to invest in the near future ⬇ #boarddiversity #executivewomen #howwomenlead #howwomeninspire #howwomeninvest https://lnkd.in/e73BzPwc 

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🎧 Rewriting the Playbook for Women’s Investing with Tessa Flippin Tessa Flippin and Julie uncover: • The challenges faced by diverse founders, including women and underrepresented groups, in accessing funding. • Investing in social impact funds to drive financial return and support sustainable practices. • The importance of diversity and inclusion in the entrepreneurial space. • The impact of women-led businesses on society and the environment. ⬇ Tag a colleague who is looking to invest in the near future ⬇ #boarddiversity #executivewomen #howwomenlead #howwomeninspire #howwomeninvest https://lnkd.in/e73BzPwc  

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Great opportunity for women and POC GPs and fund managers with Bridge Funding Global, a data-driven fundraising platform and investor community for top-performing underrepresented Emerging Managers.  Criteria for members selection: Diversity and Leadership: The Bridge prioritizes funds led by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those that are 30% or more women-led or led by people of color. Fundraising Stage: This network welcomes funds at all stages of their financial journey, whether you are currently fundraising or considering future fundraising efforts. Geographic Focus: While the primary focus is on U.S.-based funds, the Bridge recognizes the value of global perspectives. Non-U.S. funds that strongly align with our Limited Partners' investment theses may also be considered. The Bridge just launched its application process, which will run until June 15th. Here is the link for GPs to apply: https://lnkd.in/eTWzFwjH There is an upcoming info session on June 6, 2024 to answer all questions related to the process as well as benefits. Registration link: https://lnkd.in/e3d-x2Gn

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Kiarne Treacy provides super practical and real advice to bolster awareness of your sustainability action and avoid greenwashing. - use your own photographic and other assets in your marketing showing what YOU are really doing. Not stock imagery or sharing someone else’s work as though it’s your own. - back your facts with the research that informed them - keep talking about the actions that are taking I do believe that this separates the field. Just take a look at Mike Smith, zeroco.com.au Pete Ceglinski Seabin™ Sharka 🦈 Hornakova 🌊 Donut Waste Elien Degraeve Roger Cohen C2Zero all hands on, passion driven, committed to their vision, sharing, talking and with plenty of their their own, original content - because they are actually doing the work! That’s shifting the dial. Showing what’s possible and building tribes of champions to get momentum.

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Throwback Thursday: Download 'Good, Bad, Bezos and Beyond,' a compelling case study shedding light on the impact of grassroots organizations on billionaire climate philanthropy. Discover the power of organizing to shift capital and resources towards community-led solutions for Environmental Justice (EJ) and Climate Justice (CJ). This report offers invaluable insights and recommendations; the need for frontline holistic, complex, and regenerative approaches to address CJ. As the report aptly states, 'if scaling the big greens was going to get us there [to solving the climate crisis], we would have won already.' Download the report to dive into the transformative potential of grassroots leadership. Download at: https://bit.ly/4aMcxPU #GrassrootsClimateAction #CommunityLedPhilanthropy #EquitableClimateFunding #FrontlinePower #BillionaireAccountability

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https://lnkd.in/eDjxekHv The Charter will become the visual arts pillar of UN Climate Change’s Entertainment & Culture for Climate Action alliance, which aims at accelerating the transition of arts, film, music, and other relevant sectors to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and to inspire climate action beyond the sector through artistic expression and innovation. “In order to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, it is essential that all sectors take transformative climate action now,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell. “In addition to reducing its global emissions, arts and culture play a critical role in inspiring people to imagine and realise a low carbon, just and climate-resilient future." The Art Charter brings together more than 1,000 members in over 70 countries committed to using creativity, science-based information, and collaboration to create system-wide change.

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Echoing Green announces the launch of the Signal Fund, a financial tool that provides capital to social innovators at critical growth stages. Signal launches with $15.6 million raised and prioritizes founders with overlooked potential for scalable social impact. Signal Fund aims to test a new set of financial mechanisms and model more broadly accessible investment vehicles that can help fuel transformational social change and innovation globally. It will disrupt the current funding landscape that is misaligned with the needs of social innovators. “In the current economic climate, fundraising for entrepreneurs has become increasingly difficult,” said Echoing Green President, Cheryl L. Dorsey. “Through Signal Fund, we are strengthening and de-risking a new pipeline of social innovators — ones that we believe will expand the set of leaders who are too often overlooked by mainstream philanthropy and financial institutions. This fund can help proven social innovators move past the proverbial valley of death that so many start-ups face, achieving organizational milestones recognizable to traditional investors without compromising impact.” #YesWeInnovate https://lnkd.in/dgfjDqAd

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I spoke with Jade Sasser about her new book, “Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question,” which explores the complex intersection of climate change and reproductive decisions. We discussed the importance of diversifying the conversation around climate emotions, understanding climate anxiety as a collective experience, the challenges faced by climate-concerned parents, and cultural pressures around having children. Sasser emphasizes the power of inclusive dialogue and emotional resilience as we navigate this uncertain future together. Her insights provide much-needed perspective on one of the most profound questions of our time. Read our full interview through the link in comments. #ClimateAnxiety #ReproductiveJustice #HopeInAction

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This was the first line of my introduction to our 2023 report, ESG & Green Finance: What Next?: “The planet is at zero hour. How often have we heard that phrase over the past decades?” As I write 17 months later, this is the lead of a story last week: “The world is on the verge of a climate abyss, the UN has warned, in response to a Guardian survey that found that hundreds of the world’s foremost climate experts expect global heating to soar past the international target of 1.5C.” In fact, one-fifth of female scientists polled say they have opted to have fewer or no children. How not to despair at this, and indeed at nearly every other environmental story these days? How not to obsess about the world my 2 1/2 year-old granddaughter will encounter as she grows up on an increasingly resource-challenged and crisis-ridden planet? How do I respond to her father/my son sardonically thanking me for the world my boomer generation has largely been responsible for leaving them to grapple with? While I sympathise with the burden of new regulations place on businesses, I applaud them, lament that they come so late, and worry that they���ll be insufficient to bring about the change we so desperately need. And, as a dual American-European, I also worry that retrograde US politicians and officials continue to deny the urgency of the current ‘zero hour’ and obfuscate the inevitable reckoning that has already begun and will only continue to hammer virtually every corner of the planet. We have just published a new white paper and I struggle not to despair. Let’s face it – greed brought us here. Short-sightedness, selfishness and self-interest fed our desire to take what we could, however we could, and magical thinking that the consequences either wouldn’t ever come or at the very least would not be ours to confront. Every legitimate study so far – and the fires, floods, and other man-induced disasters that are some of the factors triggering massive social instability and migration, financial ruin, and the climate scientists’ haunting and mounting panic – indicate that we won’t be able to run away from what we’ve done. Can anything other than greed get us out of here? Will the cures inherent in the various pieces of legislation – that alphabet soup – be effective in drawing us back from the abyss? For example, can greenwashing, a practical application of both greed and selfishness, be policed into extinction? We can legislate. We can name and shame. We can try to induce behaviour change at a fundamental level by forcing transparency on finance and industry. And we can hope. Selfishly in my case, for the sake of my granddaughter, I certainly do. For now, though, I encourage you to download our latest white paper - Sustainable Finance: Navigating Through Choppy Waters #esg, #sustainablefinance, #climatechange

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Thanks to the Inside Network Jamie Nemtsas @laurence Parker-Brown for their CEO Forum. I did the opening interactive keynote on futures. What I remember from them was 1. AI would dramatically impact investing, i.e. holograms of thought leaders including the rise of digital deities. 2. The nation-state was now a stumbling block in creating a more equitable planet - the problems are planetary: solutions need to be as well. 3. A new model of global shareholding was needed so that anyone, anywhere, could safely invest (apps allowing fractional ownership), and 4. Disintermediation was here to stay ...thus, investment must be greener, more focused on all the eight billion, and that tech/ai would continue to disrupt in ways that we cannot imagine today. This was not the vision of the end of capitalism but clearly the outlines of a new global economic system.

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This is a good and important read on #FOAK projects and the ClimateTech Valley of Death, with good insight from some very sharp investors. One often overlooks aspect of this challenge is WHO will build these early commercial projects that are smaller and don't often appeal to top tier EPCs. Developing and building these projects will be a critical, often binary factor in the outcomes. https://lnkd.in/gbedmkmt

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