I’ve had hundreds of conversations this year that started like someone consoling a little leaguer after a tough loss. And honestly, I get it. People feel like the momentum around climate has evaporated. Like the work has gone into hiding. The federal spigots are closing. Words like “climate” and “equity” are being scrubbed from websites. The mood has shifted from optimism to caution to something that looks a lot like despair. But here’s the thing: climate’s not dead. Not even close. 

We recommend two key actions for the U.S. EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to realize its full potential to reduce emissions, mobilize private capital, and address historic environmental inequalities.
1. Broaden GGRF Scope to Enable Financing of Nature-Based Projects
2. Capitalize a National Green Bank and Empower it to Leverage the Full Array of Funding Opportunities

We need locally-driven solutions, public-private collaboration, and innovative financing to address the water crisis in the Western United States. We outline our work with several partners in the West and Southwest U.S. to do just that - including our efforts with the Edwards Aquifer Authority in Texas to create a new type of cost-effective, flexible groundwater easement for the aquifer.

The share of new municipal bond issuances in the United States that were labeled green, social, or sustainable increased an average of 51% annually from 2014 through 2020, to reach a total of $27.6 billion last year. Yet not all ESG bond issuances are created equal. In many cases, the ESG-labeled bond disclosures center on intended use of proceeds rather than actual project outcomes. Enter the Environmental Impact Bond (EIB)—a tool for municipalities seeking to better serve citizens, build community resilience, attract new sources of capital, and secure the best possible rate for their bond.