Climate & environment

Seaya’s founder Beatriz González is optimistic about prospects for the sector, despite the current tough investment environment and political uncertainties surrounding the pace of the energy transition.

In a new report, the consultancy highlights how private debt funds continue to support growing companies in emerging markets, with the total target size of funds currently open for investment standing at €44bn. 

The new fund is focused on emerging markets and made its first two investments into social enterprise One Acre Fund and into a blue bond issued by the International Bank of Ecuador.

This is the third climate tech fund by the Dutch investment platform which has seen assets under management jump 80% in a year.

The FAIR-La Croix barometer of social finance has revealed a 15% increase in retail solidarity-based savings, with total savings exceeding €30bn.

Impact Expansion has raised €150m for Impact Expansion Fund I and announced the fund’s first investment in Belgium into sustainable energy solutions provider BeliVert.

The funding will support the growth of Swiss-based carbon removal developer Neustark which has developed a technology aimed at decarbonising the construction industry.

British International Investment, the UK’s development finance institution, is funding a second green bond arranged by Symbiotics, lending to MSME banks supporting India’s green energy goals.

There is a growing need among investors to combine financial returns with investing for a societal good, the global wealth management brand of  French banking giant Crédit Agricole Group said.  

The World Economic Forum’s annual report on the energy transition finds many countries are still heading in the right direction, but that progress is slowing.