Event Report, Green Capital: Driving Climate Action through Philanthropy and Sustainable Investments

The recent Green Capital: Driving Climate Action through Philanthropy and Sustainable Investments webinar, hosted by Philanthropy Impact on Tuesday 29 October, brought together leaders from finance, venture capital, and impact investing to explore the essential role of capital in addressing climate challenges.

The panel included Arun Kelshiker, Former Head of Asset Allocation and Portfolio Strategy at Standard Chartered Bank, Darshita Gillies, Founder & CEO of Maanch and Estia Ryan, Head of Research at Eka Ventures, alongside renowned chair Jamie Broderick, Deputy Chair at the Impact Investing Institute.

This thought-provoking discussion underscored the need for cohesive action from governments, capital markets, corporations, consumers, and philanthropic entities to tackle the climate crisis.

The Chair, Jamie Broderick, opened by discussing the urgency for substantial capital investment in both climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Panellists shared their expertise, focusing on the ways investors can deploy capital to effectively address the climate crisis, including the need for innovative financial models to attract and sustain investments in climate action.

Capital Allocation and Climate Solutions: Arun Kelshiker highlighted the transformative impact of regulatory frameworks, such as the EU’s green initiatives and the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), on driving responsible investing. He explained the growing integration of philanthropic and institutional investments and emphasised that balancing financial returns with impactful outcomes is increasingly critical to steering global capital toward sustainable initiatives.

Philanthropy and Blended Finance: Darshita Gillies addressed philanthropy’s unique role in filling funding gaps for climate action, particularly where neither government nor private sector investments are active. She described blended finance as an essential mechanism for de-risking investments and catalyzing private sector engagement, noting the SDG Loan Fund as a successful model that attracts private investment by offering risk mitigation through philanthropic contributions.

Venture Capital’s Role in Climate Finance: Estia Ryan shared insights into the role of venture capital in advancing early-stage climate tech solutions. Venture capital does not apply for every single climatetech innovation, but rather asks of a very specific kind of business model which can accrue both financial and impact returns in lockstep, enabled by technological scalability. 

Innovations and Controversial Aspects in Climate Investment: Panellists delved into innovative yet sometimes contentious aspects of climate finance, like carbon capture and storage (CCS). Estia Ryan called for a balanced approach that includes philanthropic and governmental support to foster such technologies, particularly for applications in the Global South. The group agreed that while venture capital is essential, public and private sector collaboration is equally important to ensure these solutions meet global needs.

Solutions: Arun Kelshiker highlighted the transformative impact of regulatory frameworks, such as the EU’s green initiatives
and the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), on driving responsible investing. He discussed growing capital allocations and structures around blended finance,  a strategic approach combining public, philanthropic, and private capital to catalyze investments in projects that drive social, environmental, or economic impact, often in sectors or regions where traditional financing may be limited. 

A vibrant Q&A allowed the audience to explore how different capital forms can unite to address climate challenges and the specific roles philanthropy can play in climate finance. Attendees inquired about funding models, such as green bonds and sustainability-linked bonds, which directly tie returns to environmental outcomes. The discussion highlighted the significance of financial tools like green bonds, which allocate funds to specific climate projects, and sustainability-linked bonds, which incentivise companies to meet sustainability targets.

The discussion forged a collaborative framework for tackling environmental challenges head-on. The webinar concluded with a powerful call to action: to drive impact through a multi-faceted approach that involves the alignment of talent, capital, consumer demand, and regulation. Panellists encouraged participants to actively consider how their personal theories of change and climate-focused investments could contribute to a sustainable and equitable future.

They emphasised that responsible investment in climate solutions requires not only the integration of innovative financial instruments but also a commitment to rigorous collaboration and strategic philanthropy. Together, these elements can drive meaningful and lasting environmental and social impact, inspiring all participants to take action.

As we move forward, let us each reflect on how we can contribute to this vital work and make a difference in our communities.

For those interested, you can watch the full event recording here.

Report by Mia Rose, Administration and Communications Executive, Philanthropy Impact