Catherine (Cat) Long

Bloomberg's Heesu Lee reports on positive carbon market developments from New Zealand. 🇳🇿 👉NZU carbon prices have surged on the back of constrained supply. 🚀 👉The same thing will happen in the VCM through 2025 as more corporate demand collides with drastically reduced issuances on a per-project basis. 📈 👉Or not. In which case the climate is stuffed, because as we are reminded weekly, we are not getting there without much more corporate finance, much faster. 🌎 #ReduceANDInvest

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Great to see the connection between consumer and producer starting to happen. What is regenerative you ask? Well good news - you can now find out. Backstory’s Prove solution is part of ensuring that data exists to help you better understand what it means to be buying food from farms that are in a state of regeneration.

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A highlight for me at #SFClimateWeek was hearing Saul Griffith speak, one of the thinkers I most admire on ‘how’ we’ll solve this climate problem. Saul is a walking encyclopedia of electrification data, who throws out things like “3% of US emissions is Australian coal burned in China to produce things like Barbie dolls” Some points he hit: - We need to frame the climate problem through the lens of the ‘committed emissions’ of greenhouse gases machines we have built will emit over their lifetime (for example if you buy a gas car this year it will create pollution for 20+ years) - We already have 1B GHG producing machines in the US to decarbonize (something like 8-20B machines globally)… think everything with an engine: cars, building heaters, washer/dryers, industrial machines, lawn mowers etc etc - If all these machines live out their natural life the emissions they cause will take us over 2 degrees C temperature rise - To avoid the worst of climate change we need to build 20B replacement machines running on electricity & renewable energy, and install them within 20 years - The biggest barriers to this effort: 1. Finance, 2. Regulation, 3. Supply chain

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Three big climate tech sessions on next week!

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At least 20 consumer brands are launching $15/ton internal carbon fees in 2025. The new Climate Label, supported by the non-profit The Change Climate Project, requires participants to set an internal carbon fee on their Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. The fee will ratchet up each year and hit $21/ton by 2027. Companies must use at least 10 percent of their transition budgets toward value chain abatement, and the balance on climate action beyond their value chains, which can include purchase of carbon credits. Participating companies so far include: REI, Allbirds, Klean Kanteen®, Alter Eco, and more. I wrote more about how the new Climate Label works over on Trellis. 🔗 to article in comments

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Just a few days to go before Australia’s largest global summit for #climate and nature, Impact X Summit Sydney 2024 🌏🥳 And this isn't just a summit; it's a declaration of war against climate catastrophe. ⚡ The two-day event will see corporate titans, leaders of industry, government bigwigs, investors, and climate action advocates from all walks of life across Asia Pacific coalesce to create urgency around the need for near-term action, demonstrating bold commitment to achieving 2030 goals and accelerated implementation on #netzero. 📅 It comes on the heels of the recent Federal Government announcement of Australia’s Future Made in Australia Act, set to revolutionise our manufacturing and #cleanenergy sectors, boosting jobs and economic resilience. 🔋 The unprecedented alignment between the public and private sectors could trigger a seismic shift towards green-energy self-sufficiency and global competitiveness in the industry. 💪 Let's remember the stakes. The World Health Organization has laid it out plain and simple: by 2030 to 2050, climate change could be responsible for a quarter of a million additional deaths each year. We're talking about lives lost to hunger, disease, and extreme weather, all because we didn't act soon enough. As lead partners and the driving PR force behind Impact X Summit Sydney, we're doing our part to propel this nation towards a sustainable, net-zero future. 🌿 What about you? This isn't a spectator sport; it's the fight of our lives, and we all need to be in it together. So, what's your move? Because when it comes to saving the planet, there are no sidelines. Tap 'Connect,'🔗 hit follow 👍 + Repost 🔁 for more technology, finance, sustainability and climate updates! 🌐🚀

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Today's big news 📰 🗞 🌏 Aussie Tech’s Climate Crisis: Start-ups Face Capital Crunch 💸 **By Yolanda Redrup, Rich List co-editor** 🚨 At least 100 Australian climate tech start-ups are at risk of shutting down in the next nine months without an urgent capital injection, threatening to set the industry’s growth back years, according to the sector’s leading community network. The frank admission from climate tech community organisation, Climate Salad, comes after high-profile hydrogen aviation pioneer Universal Hydrogen collapsed last week, having burnt through almost $150 million. 💥 Universal Hydrogen’s cash had come from investors including Australian Peter Barrett’s fund Playground Global and @Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue, as well as Airbus Ventures, Toyota Motor Corporation, and GE. It had been unable to raise additional capital and an attempt to merge with Florida-based Silver Airways had failed. ❌ Climate Salad co-founder Mick Liubinskas warned that with more than one-sixth of the 600 companies in the group needing to raise capital just to survive the year, Universal Hydrogen’s fate could be a portent of locally based casualties. ⚠️ ### 🌉 Bridging the Gap “We’ve built a lot of momentum in the last three years, it’s gone from a whole new industry to 600 companies, and we’re on the cusp of the industry globally being big enough to support it. But, we need a one-year bridge,” he said. 🌱 “We need a mix of government, venture, and mixed financing with an international focus. I’d love to think the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation can bridge the gap, but will it move quickly enough, and will it take enough risk to support this new industry? 🌍 ### 💵 The Capital Requirements The capital requirements for any deep tech start-ups with a manufacturing component are also more extensive than software companies, often prioritized by VCs. 🏭 “There’s a real public interest and desire to see a dramatic shift in emissions and see us moving the dial. It’s great there’s so much attention on it, but it’s a double-edged sword – there’s more competition of early-stage start-ups trying to solve very similar problems in similar ways competing for scarce resources,” Cicada Innovations chief executive Sally-Ann Williams FTSE said. 🌿 Despite the concerns of the start-ups, it is not all doom and gloom for the climate tech sector, with new quarterly numbers from Cut Through Venture showing that climate and clean tech was the second most popular category in local deals in the second quarter. 📈 It tracked $344 million of investment across ten deals, placing it behind fintech, but ahead of biotech and artificial intelligence. 💡 ### 🏆 VC's on the hunt There are eight climate tech venture funds currently in the market trying to raise, including climate advisory group Pollination and VC funds Jekara Group and Tenacious Ventures. Will this open up enough dry powder to fund such an important sector? #technology #investment #climate

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🎉 Big news! We’re about to launch Project Level Data for the Australia Carbon Market. Join the waitlist to be the first to get insights on the release. Designed to provide more detailed insights, our new "Projects" module for the Australian market will be packed with innovative features, including: 🌿 Project-level data from 2,000+ projects: Methodology, project type, location, status, SDGs 📊 Pricing: Daily pricing for projects at the segment level (e.g. HIR, Savanna Fire Management, etc.) 📈 Issuances: Annual project issuances of ACCUs ☘️ API integration: Empower seamlessly your internal systems with our data 👉 Register your interest here: https://lnkd.in/ddcz2Y88 Be among the first to explore the extensive capabilities of this VAI new module. You'll receive early trial access and exclusive updates. #CarbonMarket #Sustainability #Innovation #ACCU #EmissionsReductionFund

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💰 NSW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY 📣 Exciting news for startups and innovative SMEs! Investment NSW has launched their MVP program. And while, yes - you may just be the Most Valuable Player - they're really on the hunt for applicants with a Minimum Viable Product. The program offers grants from $25k - $50k to support businesses in the critical product lifecycle stages between early-stage research and mature investment opportunities. The aim is to drive the commercialisation of highly innovative and new products, providing the necessary funding to turn groundbreaking ideas into market-ready solutions. Key benefits of the MVP Ventures program: → Financial support to bridge the gap between initial research and securing larger investments → Encouragement for the development of pioneering products that can lead to significant market advancements → Assistance in accelerating the path from concept to commercialisation 🖥️ Go to: https://lnkd.in/gj9hsUHR Georgine Roodenrys Nicole T Garofano, PhD, AAIP Cle-Anne Gabriel Lisa McLean Charlotte Connell Sally-Anne Käsner Anna Minns Caitlyn Touzell Neil Makepeace GAICD Mick Liubinskas ⚡️ Michael Batko Louella Carr #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #ZeroWaste #NetZero #NSW #Innovation #Startups #SMEs #MVPVentures #Commercialisation #InvestmentNSW #MVP

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Countering carbon through both offsets and removals are vital to the challenge of Climate Change. Every sustainability director that turns around and says "we are initially focussed on reducing our carbon footprint" is missing the bigger picture (and running down the clock ⏱ ). The journalists out there criticise and says it removes the need for large corporations to reduce further, quicker. I disagree - we need to do everything we can, but it is impossible to reduce to zero so there will always be a place for Carbon Credits. At SkootEco | B-Corp we help businesses on a bespoke basis to choose projects that are aligned to their sector or even specifically their business. By speaking with project operators directly we look to obtain keen pricing - without pushing the projects too hard (and given they truly need the money) we feel more comfortable this way. Whether you need 10 tonnes or a fixed 3 year contract of 200,000 tonnes - contact us to find out what we can deliver for you. Just ask the likes of Goodenergy or Addison Lee where we have helped counter carbon emissions with Gold Standard projects. And whether it is Carbon Offsets or Carbon Removals we can help guide and navigate to create a blend. Offsets have the amazing capacity to deliver huge social value, whilst removals are more efficient at creating a net removal from the planet - both have their place, but just need more independent research to ensure their claims!

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🌿 Why Should You Be Concerned with Greenwashing? 🌏 In Australia, major companies are under scrutiny for what's being termed "state-sponsored greenwashing," utilising the government's Climate Active carbon neutrality certification despite murky rules. This lack of clarity has led to concerns raised by the consumer watchdog, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and leading to a Senate Inquiry and questions being raised over the sustainability claims of some of our biggest organisations. But why should you be concerned? ⚠ Risk of Misleading Claims: Companies exploit loopholes in certification, potentially misleading consumers about their environmental efforts. 🤡 Undermining Genuine Action: Greenwashing undermines genuine emissions reduction efforts, hindering progress towards a sustainable future. ✨ Transparency and Accountability: It's crucial to demand transparency and accountability to ensure businesses are walking the talk on sustainability. Join Olivia Whitaker, Sustainability Manager of L'Oréal Australia to get savvy to what to look out for to understand which sustainability claims are legitimate and which may be misleading. This Wednesday at 5.30pm! RSVP here 👉 https://lnkd.in/g_jhHNiA

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Alternative methodologies of making concrete are a hot topic, and again NZ may be punching well above its weight if the Neocrete plan comes off with key investors like Wavemaker Partners and NZ Green Investment Finance (David Woods and others) using volcanic ash. Then I read about an intriguing idea from Taupo Scoria Limited on using Taupo's waste geothermal heat to reduce the cost of drying wet scoria - making something similar to Roman cement (which peculiarly can be longer lasting than modern concrete as it has an unusual ability to "self heal.") Taupo Scoria - https://tauposcoria.co.nz/ Roman Concrete - https://lnkd.in/g3_nPqDA. #lowcarbon #CO2 #concrete https://lnkd.in/gChpyDHn

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Fellow Climatech founders, If you haven't completed your Climate Salad 2023 Industry report submission yet get in before it closes, it helps us understand our broader ecosystem and provides some great free publicity. #climatesalad #climatech #ecosystem

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Have you heard of the Textile Advisory Group? It evolved out of a summit organised by WasteMINZ and the Textile Reuse Programme at the end of 2023, which focused on textile product stewardship and how it could be beneficial for Aotearoa, New Zealand.   It has become abundantly clear that no one organisation can really make inroads in the circular economy, it is by nature dependant on multiple organisations. To achieve some level of circularity, particularly in a country the size of Aotearoa, the whole sector needs to participate. So we invited everyone to the table and gave the collective a very functional working name – the Textile Advisory Group or TAG.   TAG is made up of textile membership organisations (Textile Reuse Programme, Drycleaners and Launderers Association, Mindful Fashion and the Advanced Textiles Association), plus representatives across the textile value chain, from researchers to brands, community organisations and companies who provide end-of-life solutions, plus individuals from councils and other organisations with an interest in reducing the impacts of textiles.    It is a very collaborative and inclusive group that is working towards the common goal of nurturing a textile circular economy by establishing a voluntary product stewardship scheme in Aotearoa.   The group is working with Australia’s clothing product stewardship scheme Seamless and with representatives from the Pacific Islands. Taking a whole of region approach to Textile Product Stewardship to lift all boats. If you are interested in learning more or becoming involved do get in touch. #circulareconomy #fashion #textiles

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Welcome to the The Raaise Rundown—your weekly climate funding fix—designed to digest in less than a minute.  3 x CLIMATE STARTUPS 🐝 LB Agtech Holdings Pty Ltd: Simon and Ray have developed advanced monitoring solutions for beekeepers. It provides real-time data insights on hive conditions and enables remote management to enhance hive health and productivity. [Seed] 🇦🇺 🍽 Reborn: Brian has created a stylish, sustainable homeware brand with products made from 100% recycled materials in the UK. Their eco-friendly designs reduce carbon emissions and landfill waste, promoting a circular economy and supporting local production. [Seed] 🇬🇧 🔬 Certscape (HYpe Certification): Certify hydrogen at scale with ease. Their platform reduces costs and workload, providing live monitoring and data security, making it easier for producers to achieve and maintain certification across multiple schemes globally. [Pre-Seed] 🇦🇺 🇬🇧 For details on these (and more) climate startups > Raaise.co 2 x CLIMATE INVESTORS Closed Loop Partners invests in early-stage companies that drive the circular economy through innovations in material science, robotics, agritech, and sustainable consumer products. They focus on pre-seed and seed-stage opportunities, providing investments between $500K and $1M. Geo Focus: Global (with a focus on North America) Backed: Algramo, Algaeing, AMP Robotics, By Rotation, Earthodic and more. Pollination Pollination invests in climate and nature solutions, focusing on ventures with high commercial and environmental impact. They support early-stage to large-scale projects in nature-based carbon, regenerative agriculture, and climate tech, aiming to drive significant environmental and financial returns. Geo Focus: Global To connect and put your startup in front of these (and other) climate investors > Raaise.co 1 x ESSENTIAL INSIGHT Pitching: Ditch the Disconnect. Over the last few weeks we’ve been at a lot of climate startup demo days and pitch events, and typically most 3-5 min pitches have gone something like this; • Founder's story and the problem (often heavy and emotional). • Brief mention of the solution followed quickly by huge market projections. • Team credentials and a call to action. Maybe it’s just us, but we can’t shake the feeling something’s not quite right with this approach. The Disconnect: Jumping so abruptly from the problem's severity can feel jarring - "massive human suffering, so... big opportunity!" We understand investors want to see (and invest in) huge opportunities, but this transition just feels off. The Tweak: Spend more time and focus on showing your solution; • Demo your product (even a simple prototype). • Share real conversations with early (or target) customers. • Highlight early impact and traction, no matter how small. By showcasing what you're building and how it’s already helped your target customer, the potential for massive impact becomes clear. Pic: Our last Climate AI hack

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