Ideas should address barriers to climate investment in emerging markets while supporting a net zero economy transition

Successful ideas will receive seven months of instrument design, market analysis, and funder, investor, and implementation partner networking support

Apply here until 22 December 2021; selected ideas will be announced in March 2022 

The Lab will host a webinar for applicants on 16 November. Register here

London, 22 Oct 2021 – Today, the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (the Lab) started its eighth annual cycle with an open call for innovative climate finance solutions to address barriers to climate investments in emerging markets while supporting a net zero economy transition. 

These ideas receive over seven months of intensive instrument design, market analysis, and funder, investor and implementation partner networking support from high-level leaders from both the public and private sectors, and Climate Policy Initiative’s team of experts

The application deadline is 22 December 2021, at 17:00 PST, and the new class will be announced in March 2022. Submit your idea here.

In 2022, the Lab will develop seven climate finance ideas from three thematic streams and three regional programs, plus one wildcard slot for the best idea regardless of the sector or geography

  • Sustainable Food Systems: ideas that support sustainable food systems, including those that enhance biodiversity 
  • Climate Adaptation: innovative financial instruments that resolve market barriers and support scale-up of private finance for solutions that build climate resilience.
  • Zero Carbon Buildings: proposals that resolve market barriers and support scale-up of private finance for solutions that generate climate benefits in the buildings and construction sector.
  • India: climate finance that supports infrastructure for renewable energy, energy transition, and other channels for green growth. 
  • Brazil: finance solutions to drive funds for the country’s national climate priorities. 
  • Southern Africa: innovative climate finance instruments that target any sector and will be implemented in any country, or group of countries, from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
  • Wildcard: Any idea that addresses barriers to sustainable investment at scale in emerging economies.

The ideas will be selected based on four criteria: actionability, innovation, catalytic potential, and financial sustainability. Successful applications should present sustainable finance vehicles capable of offering returns for private investors, creating jobs and other local economic benefits, improving climate resilience or decreasing emissions, and ideally support other Sustainable Development Goal co-benefits, such as gender equality. 

On 16 November, the Lab is hosting a webinar (register here) that will cover the 2022 call for ideas’ application process. The session will present case studies from previous cycles and a Q&A segment. The Lab will also host a Portuguese webinar on 18 November (registre-se aqui). 

The Lab, an initiative of over 70 public and private investors and institutions, accelerates investment solutions to support sustainable development goals in emerging markets. Created in 2014, the Lab has launched 55 instruments that have collectively mobilized over USD 2.5 billion. 

Earlier this month, the Lab won the United Nations Global Climate Action Awards. The award recognizes the world’s most innovative, scalable, and replicable examples of action to tackle climate change.

About the Lab

The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance identifies, develops, and launches innovative finance instruments that can drive billions in private investment to action on climate change and sustainable development. The Lab is the 2021 UN Global Climate Action Awards and is funded by the German, Swedish, and UK governments. Climate Policy Initiative serves as Secretariat. 

Contact

Rob Kahn 
Head of Communications 
rob.kahn@cpiglobal.org

Júlio Lubianco 
Communications Associate 
julio.lubianco@cpiglobal.org

*This was updated on Nov 8 to include the new Zero Carbon Buildings Lab stream