Climate Innovation

Designing a better reality through regenerative urban development

Szilvia Szabó — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:16:29 +0000

Designing a better reality through regenerative urban development

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Regenerative Design

Urban Development

Climate Innovation

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Regenerative Design

The natural and built environment is exposed to increased pressure due to the impacts of climate change, which is only expected to intensify over time.

Architect Kevin Loftus believes that at the heart of addressing this challenge is bad design, which can be and should be replaced with design solutions that positively impact people and the planet.

After spending a decade abroad, studying and working internationally from the UK to China and the Netherlands, he recalls experiencing a growing awareness of the built environment's impact on the natural environment.

“I became disillusioned with the industry and current business as usual. This was the motivation to begin a new form of practice that seeks to find solutions to the key challenges facing the built environment from an environmental perspective, ranging from low-carbon design to creating sustainable communities through co-design.”

After returning to his hometown, Ballina, in County Mayo, he set up the social enterprise ACT Studio, which stands for Accelerating Change Together, in 2021 with former colleagues James McConville and Tom Lindsay to fulfil this ambition.

Their team comprises architects, urbanists, and policy specialists working to accelerate the Green Transition and deliver projects that combine regenerative approaches with social impact.

As design director, Kevin oversees setting standards and design processes across projects, including continuous research and developing new techniques to achieve regenerative and net-positive outcomes.

He explains that “currently, the design and construction of our towns and cities are disconnected from natural processes that support ecological stability”.

Kevin Loftus, Architect, Co-Founder and Design Director at ACT Studio

As Kevin sees it, conventional design approaches often overlook issues like the urban heat island effect, stormwater flooding, fragmentation of natural corridors, dispersed land use, and high embodied and operational carbon emissions.

“To design regeneratively means adopting a holistic approach, where we are mindful of the inputs and outputs of the systems we create. This awareness allows us to ensure that outputs can be reused in ways that either reinforce the system or act as positive resources for nature.

For example, a regenerative design might include an orchard park that grows fruit for local consumption, composts its waste on-site, harvests energy from the composting process, and uses the compost to plant more green spaces nearby.”

Generating surplus energy through renewable sources to be shared elsewhere or using strategic planting to absorb stormwater, thus reducing pressure on stormwater systems while creating green spaces for both people and nature, are other examples of the same logic, according to Kevin.

ACT Studio team views nature as a fundamental partner and asset in creating urban spaces while adopting circularity and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) principles.

He emphasises that aiming to "do no harm" is insufficient and that we need solutions that actively work to restore the planet, making regenerative design more a necessity rather than a choice.

“Achieving social and cultural change, essential for environmental transformation, requires tangible examples that prove a different way is possible.

Our projects aim to serve as these examples, showcasing a future where humanity exists in harmony with the natural world.”

Reimagining Sustainable Town Centre Living - Scotch House Development in Ballina, County Mayo, designed by ACT Studio. Image: ACT Studio

One of their latest projects is reimagining town-centre living to attract people back to urban areas by transforming Scotch House in Ballina through revitalising vacant, above-shop units and adding new residences by stacking them above existing rear structures, connected by a series of shared gardens.

The core concept reflects ACT Studio's regenerative and social approach as it integrates offering amenities like open green spaces, own-door access, and even on-site growing opportunities with a new public laneway to encourage active travel and enhance the public realm.

“The development will generate a surplus of renewable energy, with new units constructed from a straw panel system that sequesters carbon within the building’s structure”,

shares Kevin.

Recently granted planning permission, the project aims to create a model for urban regeneration.

Having worked with various development projects, Kevin believes embracing complexity and being willing to iterate is crucial to translating regenerative concepts into actual developments.

Their development process involves challenging the status quo and exploring options from different angles, including clients, consultants, and other project stakeholders, so this “collaborative approach ensures that ideas for regenerative solutions can emerge from everyone engaged in the project”.

Another project that Kevin feels represents the benefits of a holistic approach is the Bioeconomy Tapestry development, located at Cill Ulta, a Centre for Sustainability, which aims to promote food sovereignty, sustainable energy, farm-to-fork research, Irish agricultural heritage and crafts, and the Irish language.

“In collaboration with Rhatigan Architects, we designed a masterplan to expand the site’s capacity by adding new food production facilities, a greenhouse with labs, a bioeconomy research centre, and new educational spaces."

Designing an Ecosystem for Bio-economy Innovation at the Bioeconomy Tapestry development, located at Cill Ulta, a Centre for Sustainability. Image: ACT Studio

He adds that 25% of the site is reserved for nature and habitat areas, protecting endangered Irish species like the corncrake, and the site development plans are designed to accommodate crop rotation and designate shifting areas for pollinators.

“The centre will explore ways to make native crops more resilient to climate change and promote regenerative farming practices at both local and national levels.”

Despite the significant potential of regenerative design, there are numerous challenges.

As Kevin has observed from his experience working on various development projects, one of the primary obstacles is the lack of understanding of the pressing nature of our climate and social situation.

Challenging existing mindsets and leaving the certainty of “business as usual” is another area where a lot needs to be done besides shifting government policy and regulation that would support innovative design instead of blocking it.

“I wish our culture of consumption could be replaced by a culture of care. If we based our decisions, policies, and laws on the principle of caring for others and the environment, our mission would effectively fulfil itself.”

Kevin and his team also developed an in-house tool called Accelerating Action software product to offer a practical solution for making impact matter more by providing metrics and visuals.

“This tool uses the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a foundational framework to demonstrate alignment with SDG targets, helping communicate a project’s impact. It can also be used in early-stage workshops to assess the potential impact of a project, guiding its overall direction.”

Headline image: ACT Studio

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Climate tech conference advocates for change in the US despite expected regressive anti-environmental policies

Climate Journal reporting — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:06:28 +0000

Climate tech conference advocates for change in the US despite expected regressive anti-environmental policies

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The GTF Connect international event series, initiated by leading global climate innovation platform GREENTECH FESTIVAL, will host two days of thought-provoking discussions, networking and awards to advocate for the green transition in Los Angeles at the iconic Avalon Hollywood on November 14th and 15th.

This year's central theme is “Business as Usual is Dead,” aiming to emphasise the need for a new era where green innovation and leadership drive the economy, and profit-only priorities are in the past.

Nico Rosberg, Sustainability & VC Entrepreneur and co-founder of GREENTECH FESTIVAL, commented: “This year’s GTF Connect in Los Angeles is about uniting to transform today’s unprecedented challenges into opportunities for a better tomorrow.

Business as usual is Dead, and we’re eager to dive deep into what this means for the future of sustainability, innovation, and green technology.”

Nico Rosberg, Sustainability & VC Entrepreneur and co-founder of GREENTECH FESTIVAL

With two main categories, the ‘Start-up’ and ‘Changemaker`, GREEN AWARDS will present exciting US-based climate innovators on the first day.

The lineup for nominees includes start-ups such as Ascend Elements, Twelve, and Lyten, which are making waves by drastically lowering emissions in the battery and jet fuel spaces using innovative materials and technologies.

The conference will take place on the second day and is jam-packed with inspiring leaders and influential creators sharing insights, as well as the GREEN START-UP SLAMS and GREEN INVESTORS CRUNCH sessions with various networking opportunities.

Debates on stage will explore topics like “Can the LA Olympics be a Movement for Good?” and “Is Sustainable Hollywood just another Fairytale?” besides discussing equitable cities, energy transformation, and accessible mobility for all.

One of the renowned speakers, Erin Simon, VP and Head of Plastic Waste at the World Wildlife Fund, says:

“We need to design solutions for the future we want, not the reality we are in. I am not saying we don’t need to be grounded, but we need to think outside of today’s barriers if we want actual change.”

GTF panel discussion, Berlin. Image: GREENTECH FESTIVAL

Attendees will have the chance to hear from changemakers, including Adam Lenz, Head of Sustainability at Waymo, Conyers Davis, Global Director of USC’s Schwarzenegger Institute and Nurit Katz, Chief Sustainability Officer, UCLA, to name a few.

After hosting GTF Connect events in London and Singapore in 2024, the Los Angeles conference will welcome approximately 600 guests, including a 50-person business delegation from Germany led by the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner.

Marco Voigt, Co-Founder of GREENTECH FESTIVAL, shares what drives them to advance the green agenda:

“… green leadership deserves to be recognised, and we want to play our part by providing the platform and inspiration for business leaders to see what’s possible when green business innovation, technology, and leadership unite.

We have learned a lot from our peers across the globe on our 2024 tour, and we’re excited that GTF Connect has the opportunity to return to Los Angeles a second time, especially given that we aim to celebrate and promote green change across the entire planet.”

Those interested in joining the GTF Connect event in Los Angeles can avail free tickets on the event`s website.

The GREENTECH FESTIVAL is a leading global platform for business sustainability, uniting innovators, changemakers and communities to showcase cutting-edge green technologies, share actionable insights and accelerate the decarbonisation of industry.

By expanding globally, the festival aims to celebrate and promote green globally, as organisers firmly believe this world urgently needs sustainable transformation.

Read more insights with Erin Simon, Vice President and Head of Plastic Waste and Business at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a participant in the "Creating Change" panel discussion at the GTF Connect Los Angeles event on 14-15 November:

Read the article >>

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“The circular economy is a natural manifestation of where innovation is going”

Szilvia Szabó — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 16:14:28 +0000

“The circular economy is a natural manifestation of where innovation is going”

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This article is part of the 'Celebrating Circular` initiative and story collection that spotlights trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

It aims to highlight the encouraging achievements of companies that participated in the MODOS circular economy training provided by Local Authorities to local businesses and supported by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and Dublin City Council.

Expert Insight

Declan Bogan is a senior consultant driving the training pillar within Goodbody Clearstream, which provides global leadership in corporate climate affairs, ESG, and sustainability services.

Over the last 25 years, he has worked on sustainability, innovation, and strategy projects across multiple organisations. As a business consultant, he gained experience and understanding of the fundamental drivers of innovation and design thinking across product, people, portfolio, and business model proposition elements, which he uses to advance sustainability projects and developments.

His colleague and Managing Director at Goodbody Clearstream, Brian O’Kennedy, was part of the original team of trainers who created the initial content for the MODOS training programme, taking on the introduction to circular economy and supply chain management sessions.

Declan Bogan, senior sustainability consultant at Goodbody Clearstream

Circularity requires business model innovation and system-level change

Declan now hosts modules for the MODOS course to introduce the concept of circularity and its business adaptation while covering carbon management and design thinking. He highlights that integrating sustainability and circularity takes a holistic approach that goes far beyond product development, as it is more about how you manage all aspects of your business.

“Becoming truly circular requires business model innovation and system-level change within an organisation,” Declan shares, adding that this makes it hard to get companies on board since they need to put time and effort into managing change.

In his experience, the circular economy has gained ground in the business world, but it is still far from being part of the core strategy.

Highlighting practical circular solutions to shift mindsets

He adds that businesses must first see the value of adopting sustainability to shift priorities, start thinking about how this could apply to their enterprise, and explore how to benefit from these changes.

“The circular economy is a natural manifestation of where innovation is going. Embracing circularity is next for innovative businesses,”

says Declan, explaining why it is crucial to present circularity as a solution for businesses.

This is one of his focus areas while delivering the MODOS course modules, where one element is introducing design thinking to help participants uncover the practical applications of the circular economy and start shifting their mindset.

His approach is to make circularity real through case studies that shine a light on what it means to adopt it at different levels.

“I aim to open participants` minds and prepare them more for the modules coming up later so they can better apply that knowledge and connect it with their own situation,” Declan says.

Learn more about the Celebrating Circular initiative!

The 'Celebrating Circular` digital publication and online story collection spotlight trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Explore stories>>

Download the digital publication unveiling stories of changemakers and expert insights!

Read it here>>

Mixing different perspectives

Declan emphasises that these modules are more than lectures, as sessions take deep dives into practicality and peer-to-peer learning facilitated by world-class presenters bringing in multiple voices and a wide range of expertise.

“The richness of perspectives brought into the MODOS course through a unique selection of trainers gives participants a special advantage in fully embracing this learning opportunity.”

Since all trainers have worked in this field, they can share real-world experiences in different areas, also adding a touch of reality check on adopting change and implementing these practices.

With almost thirty years of experience in sustainability, innovation, and business, Declan is dedicated to being part of the solution and driving the transition towards a sustainable economy. He enjoys sparking change through education and sharing his expertise with more people.

Finding ways to make change happen

“What excites me the most nowadays is scaling up impact and finding ways to make change happen. I love the feeling of waking up in the morning with the question of who or what I will change now.”

The MODOS course is one of the many platforms where Declan passionately shares what he has gathered over the years and supports leaders in finding their own way of making a difference.

“I believe the energy Joanne Rourke and her team have put into developing the MODOS programme is a force for change, and it shines through the training.”

He adds that the programme definitely has the potential to grow bigger, along with its powerful vision of making businesses more sustainable and circular.

Looking into the future, Declan believes that access to finance and further support would make it even more appealing to companies to invest time in learning and upskilling in sustainability, enabling them to develop innovative services and products.

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Supercharging carbon offsetting with nature-based solutions

Szilvia Szabó — Tue, 14 May 2024 08:50:47 +0000

Supercharging carbon offsetting with nature-based solutions

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Nature-based Solutions

Carbon Offsetting

Climate Innovation

Topic

Nature-based Solutions

Although the primary goal is to reach climate targets by extensively reducing carbon emissions, there is still an increasing need for offsetting, creating a significant market for validated carbon projects.

UK-based climate-tech company Earthly provides investment opportunities through high-quality nature-based solutions that remove carbon, restore biodiversity, and improve livelihoods.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines nature-based solutions as actions to “address societal challenges through the protection, sustainable management and restoration of ecosystems, benefiting both biodiversity and human well-being”.

Earthly's mission is to help businesses embrace this approach and remove at least 1 billion tonnes of carbon by 2030 by investing in nature.

Right after its launch in 2020, the start-up attracted prominent global brands, and Oliver Bolton, Co-Founder and CEO, says one reason is that they have a rigorous process to screen each project and invested the first two years not to cut any corners to establish a portfolio that partners can trust.

“With partnerships, it`s all about trust. We aim to build long-term strategic collaborations and offer tailored solutions to match our partners' values with geographic locations and delivered impacts,” Oliver explains.

Oliver Bolton, Co-Founder and CEO of Earthly

They developed an extensive assessment tool that analyses 106 data points and aggregates information from data partners to evaluate and rate investable projects based on their impact on carbon, biodiversity, and people.

In addition, a well-curated independent scientific board and satellite monitoring also feed into the screening process, ensuring that only the highest integrity and trusted projects are selected.

“There is huge nervousness around greenwashing at a time when showing climate leadership would be so important. Companies should be brave to talk about their climate action and not give in to greenhushing," Oliver adds.

To support partners in communicating their involvement, Earthly also provides a unique 3D digital visualisation tool that aggregates the partner`s impact into one visual as an island, presenting a proportion of the projects they invested in.

'“Nature is abstract, and we wanted to make it more realistic and relatable. It also offers an opportunity for our partners to better engage with their stakeholders, use these visuals in their external communications, or even make their ESG reporting more engaging.”

Each project is transparently featured on Earthly`s website with detailed information, a simple visual guide on the overall impact score, and a link to relevant SDGs besides the potential impact and type of investment needed.

Their project portfolio includes mangrove restoration in Pakistan, woodland regeneration in Scotland, and agroforestry in Kenya, among others.

One of their highest-rated projects is a peatland protection and restoration program in Indonesia that aims to bring degraded land back to life by protecting and rewetting 22,900 ha of peatland rainforest in Sumatra.

So far, it has prevented the release of over 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere and improved a critical biodiversity region home to over ten critically Endangered Species and 19 Vulnerable Species, enhancing the livelihood of locals.

Image: Earthly / Eden Reforestation Projects

Mangrove planting in Madagascar is one of the investment opportunities offered by Earthly.

This trail-blazing project run by Eden Reforestation Projects has reforestation and poverty alleviation at its heart.

To date, they have planted over 334 million trees across eight countries and created opportunities for locals to work.

Although Earthly`s main role is to screen projects, derisk investments, carry out ongoing evaluations to monitor impacts, and report on outcomes, Oliver shares that they are now exploring opportunities to co-invest in origination projects, which means they would get involved in creating projects from scratch.

Talking about challenges, he says, “Budget cuts will push these projects aside first, and you can only fight funding challenges by showing the relevance and return on investment in an easy-to-understand way that gets all your teams and departments to see why this is important.”

As of today, over 600 partners have invested in nature-based projects through Earthly, which allows Oliver and his team to increase their impact and further develop their operations.

On a personal level, Oliver feels it is such a privilege to work in a way that turns money into impact and that he gets to see the result of his work. “Having my son born, I would like to have a conversation with him that this is what I have worked in.”

His passion doesn`t stop at building Earthly. He has a track record of building purpose-driven ventures, such as Europe's first B Corp drinks company, Waterbomb, and other projects.

He recently embarked on a new adventure by launching the Wilding Earth monthly video series on YouTube that features the UK's leading nature regeneration projects and the inspiring people behind them.

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Meaningful local climate actions spotlighted in UNDP`s new campaign

Szilvia Szabó — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:58:01 +0000

Meaningful local climate actions spotlighted in UNDP`s new campaign

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Climate Communication

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The Climate Action Explained new video series was launched by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to take viewers on a world tour featuring viable and scalable climate solutions from all corners of the world to spark action.

The four episodes available on YouTube, hosted by UNDP’s Goodwill Ambassador and actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, cover specific topics representing high-demand and high-opportunity areas of impactful and ambitious climate action.

They focus on how forests can help fight climate change, sustainable energy, climate adaptation and youth inclusion, featuring solutions from 12 countries across five continents, including Cambodia, Ghana, Georgia, Egypt, Panama, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe.

How do we adapt to climate change? - Climate Action Explained video series

“The climate crisis can feel overwhelming and scary, but we do have the solutions we need to address this challenge head-on,”

said Cassie Flynn, Global Director of Climate Change at UNDP, regarding the campaign.

She added that “what we now need is to boldly scale up these solutions, together.”

In the climate adaptation episode, a citizen of Tuvalu, a country comprised of nine islands in the South Pacific, illustrates the devastating impact of flooding, which has damaged the homes of many community members living in more exposed areas.

Finance Minister of Tuvalu Seve Paeniu says the only way for his country to protect its shores and people is to reclaim land, build upwards, and rehabilitate the coastal foreshore, which they started to work on in their capital city.

The case of Tuvalu serves as a chilling preview of the challenges many coastal nations will face as sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, reinforcing the urgency of finding effective adaptation strategies.

The journey takes viewers further to Kenya, where water scarcity is an everyday battle – another issue already affecting many people worldwide.

Yvonne Nyokabi, UNDP Kenya Project Officer, explains that involving local communities and harnessing their knowledge is crucial in finding viable adaptation strategies while ensuring the livelihood of these communities.

Another well-known topic that still lacks mainstream solutions, explored in the Climate Action Explained video series, is “How do forests help fight climate change?”

Local voices from Ecuador share the fact that they lost over 60 per cent of their forests due to agriculture and other activities, which caused environmental damage and provoked social challenges involving indigenous tribes

How do forests help fight climate change? - Climate Action Explained video series

The Life Plan program that is implemented there supports local people in making informed decisions about managing their environment and lives in a way that restores and protects natural habitats while allowing them to stay connected with their heritage and make a living.

Deforestation is far from being an isolated issue, and Ghana is one of the many countries facing this challenge.

The campaign spotlights how they are working to restore and protect over 300,000 hectares of land to maintain sustainable forestry management that would help not only people now but also generations to come.

Finding clean energy sources is a top priority in making a low-carbon economy a reality, and the “What does clean energy look like?” episode highlights challenges alongside available scalable solutions.

In the series, the need for electricity is showcased through a hospital in Zimbabwe that requires access to energy 24/7 to meet the needs of its patients and save lives.

This hospital and hundreds of other facilities have benefited from the “Solar for Health” program, which provides solar panels to generate electricity and lower emissions.

The campaign also emphasises the importance of including young people in climate action, as they will be the ones dealing with the impacts of climate change.

How are young people becoming climate leaders? - Climate Action Explained video series

An example from Georgia features a youth inclusion project that trains Young Climate Ambassadors through a program encouraging participants to implement small-scale but impactful projects in their local communities.

This can be as simple as bringing attention to underutilised parks to inspire people to reconnect with nature and enhance their overall well-being.

Additionally, case studies from India and Panama point out the vital role of education and making information accessible to youth of all ages, highlighting that this is not at all evident to be included in state-provided educational programs.

The Climate Action Explained video series is part of UNDP’s efforts to ignite public conversation and mobilise action on climate change ahead of the COP30 climate negotiations, which will be held in Brazil in 2025.

“By presenting the solutions already available in developing countries around the world, Climate Action Explained aims to show that meeting climate targets is possible if we set the right priorities and deliver the right support – from climate finance to knowledge to technology - needed to implement them,”

says Mehmet Erdogan, Communications Lead at UNDP Climate Hub.

He adds that depending on the interest and support in this trailblazer video series, the organisation hopes to produce more episodes in the future, as there are many more stories to tell and issue areas that are demonstrating impact.

The video series is also underpinned by the work of UNDP’s flagship initiative, Climate Promise, and the newly established UNDP Climate Hub, which delivers the UN Systems’ most extensive portfolio of support on climate action in nearly 150 countries worth over $2 billion in grant financing.

Headline image: Getty Images

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What are the alternative ways of funding climate innovations?

Bronagh Loughlin — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 09:26:51 +0000

What are the alternative ways of funding climate innovations?

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Funding

Climate Innovation

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Funding

Climate technologies and purpose-driven enterprises can help us to rapidly curb greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net zero by 2050.

However, to scale and deliver these solutions, climate tech companies and purpose-driven enterprises need to be able to access funding opportunities.

One of the biggest hurdles for impact entrepreneurs is securing adequate funding for their initiatives.

They may face challenges with having to pay higher upfront costs but also many investors can still be unfamiliar with or sceptical of the potential and impact of sustainable businesses.

With this in mind, many impact entrepreneurs find they must develop innovative business models, demonstrate their value proposition, and look for alternative sources of finance such as impact investing, green bonds, or crowdfunding.

They may also lack knowledge concerning climate finance, and this lack of education can act as a significant barrier.

It was for these reasons that Esme Verity, a Fundraising and Alternative Funding Expert, set up Considered Capital, a hub of empowerment and education.

Having worked with thousands of founders to connect them with the right sources of funding and support, Esme found early on that when founders are not shown all funding options, they hit a brick wall with their business.

Esme says: “I’ve personally coached over 100 purpose-led founders over the past 12 months to raise funding, and one of the biggest challenges I see is that most founders do not understand what type of funding is best for their business.

Esme Verity, Founder of Considered Capital

The funding landscape can be very difficult to navigate; it’s complex, time-consuming, and vast.

Part of our work at Considered Capital focuses on this issue, recognising that accessing funding is challenging and purpose-led founders need tailored support.”

She adds: “I built Considered Capital to support founders in feeling more confident and thinking outside the box when going after what they need to build a successful business.

Raising money can feel like a long, complicated slog. However, with education, and a community of brilliant minds and supportive energy, founders feel like they are in this together and reinforce one another’s confidence.”

So far, Considered Capital has empowered thousands of founders to think beyond VC-style funding and consider other funding routes.

They are determined to challenge the notion that venture capital is the only way to fund your business and to find a funding fit that aligns with your values.

Esme explains: “Our mission is to open up alternative funding and the world of funding options available for startups, founders, and socially-led businesses.

We’re educating people across the globe on all of the alternative routes to funding businesses through our free events, workshops, and our flagship programme, the Alternative Funding School.”

The Alt Funding School aims to support purpose-led founders to get funded, helping entrepreneurs explore the full range of funding options, which allows them to select a route to funding and build a fundraising strategy that best aligns with their business and values.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2023, the leading risk facing the world over the next decade is failing to mitigate the environmental crisis.

Climate technologies and purpose-driven enterprises could play a massive role in helping us achieve global climate goals.

However, without investment and funding opportunities, these trailblazing initiatives and solutions cannot take their wings and fly.

Climate incubators and accelerators have an important and multidimensional role to play in supporting new low-emission and climate-resilient technologies to be developed, embraced, and utilised by society.

Beyond helping entrepreneurs access funding, accelerators can provide an environment to test innovations besides getting quality advice and guidance. Image: Canva

One of the most well-known global programme for start-ups to catalyse, innovate, and scale the potential for their climate solutions is the ClimAccelerator from Climate-KIC .

This accelerator has been running for the past 10 years and is being scaled to break new groups in areas such as carbon reduction, resilience and adaptation, and more.

Ireland is one of the countries that offers entrepreneurs more options to choose from to embrace climate innovation.

The 2050 Accelerator powered by Dogpatch Labs and supported by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is helping to make Ireland the leading platform for sustainability innovation.

The Green for Business program is run by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) in Ireland and offers practical mentoring and other support for SMEs to integrate sustainability into their businesses.

Accelerate Green is an executive accelerator designed to help entrepreneurs scale their purpose-driven businesses, supported by Bord na Móna in conjunction with Resolve Partners.

Recently, Trinity College Dublin launched a brand new accelerator programme for SMEs focusing on the built environment. This six-month virtual programme enables businesses to scale up innovations that can decarbonise the sector.

The number of green accelerators and supports is rising across Europe and beyond; however, more accessible funding is needed to ensure we can achieve a net-zero economy by 2050.

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“There is such potential for startups to solve some of the world’s biggest problems”

Bronagh Loughlin — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 15:47:34 +0000

“There is such potential for startups to solve some of the world’s biggest problems”

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Insights with Ashley Shak

Head of Sustainability and Innovation Programmes, Dogpatch Labs

I’m probably one of the few people at Dogpatch who hasn’t worked either at or with a startup previously. My academic background is in international sustainable development, which means that up until recently, my professional experience was primarily within the public sector.

I’ve worked for countless NGOs, non-profits, and government and UN agencies around the world. A lot of people may think that someone working in the non-profit sector versus the startup world is like night and day, but there are a lot of similarities in the personality type that succeeds in both industries.

For instance, there’s a huge amount of passion driving the company or organisation forward, paired with a hugely disproportionate lack of money.

These days at Dogpatch, I can call upon my experience in the development sector to work in similar areas, such as emerging markets and ‘reverse innovation’.

I think, eventually, the non-profit sector will play less of a role in international development, and the problems that need solving will be addressed by startups.

The potential behind using a startup as the solution means the business model can be scaled to other countries facing the same issues and have the money to deal with it.

Ashley Shak Head of Sustainability and Innovation Programmes, Dogpatch Labs

The impact that startups can and will have on the global markets and communities is an unknown quality with huge potential, and I’m looking forward to playing a part in the change here at Dogpatch.

It has been a driver for me to have as wide of an impact as I possibly could because I knew there were so many people out there who wouldn’t have the same opportunities that I have been afforded.

I was lucky enough to travel a lot during my childhood due to having such an international family, from the Netherlands to Brazil and Hawaii. I saw firsthand how different people lived around the world, and it impacted the kind of person I wanted to be, the subjects I studied, and the jobs I took.

I wanted to take advantage of that and chose a field where I would directly put back the work into communities that needed it most.

Sustainability has always been at the core of international aid and development, but it’s only recently become the hot topic to focus on in the tech world.

Now that I work with startups and in tech, I see my job as spreading the understanding that sustainability is way more than just the “green stuff”.

In an industrialised and developed economy like Ireland, it’s easy to focus solely on decarbonisation and net zero goals. However, social issues must not fall to the side.

It is our duty as professionals in the tech space, as individuals with power and resources, to have that positive impact.

Before working at Dogpatch, I was with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the UN agency working with the private sector, specifically on corporate sustainability.

When I started looking for a job in Ireland, I learned Dogpatch was about to launch a sustainability initiative, the 2050 Accelerator. This was a match made in heaven since I had been running global sustainability accelerators with the UN for the past couple of years.

I started as a programme manager, and that role evolved over the last year into my recent promotion to Head of Sustainability and Innovation Programmes.

Dogpatch has never had a Head of Sustainability before, but it became apparent that this type of role was needed as our organisation started to play an even bigger role in the space.

Each one of our programmes has a sustainability aspect to it, as our corporate clients all have an overarching sustainability strategy for which they will be held accountable.

I hope that in the future, my role won’t be needed anymore. I envision sustainability becoming so integrated into the daily operations, programmes, and strategy of our company that there doesn’t need to be one single source of truth or expertise in that area.

The 2050 Accelerator is one of the most exciting programmes I’ve ever worked on, and it’s been extremely rewarding to welcome the positive reactions since it launched last spring.

The idea behind this program is that we can have a huge impact on global sustainability goals by accelerating the adoption of new technologies from startups around the world.

2050 Accelerator program launch in Spring 2023. Image: Dogpatch Lab

We want to make Ireland a testbed for sustainability innovation by recruiting global startup talent to work with Irish corporate partners.

By pairing them together, we’re enabling corporates to trial new innovations while startups find a new route to market via new partnerships.

Operating alone, startups may struggle with finding the resources, time and customers to validate and improve their technology.

The 2050 Accelerator facilitates this, and the demand for this type of programme is super high.

What sets the 2050 Accelerator apart from other sustainability programmes out there is the focus on business development for startups.

Through the accelerator, we offer startups the priceless opportunity of partnering up with a corporation to develop paid pilots that will validate their tech.

By focusing on ensuring we can create pilot projects, we are making sure we have a real-life and measurable impact during the accelerator.

For example, BladeBridge, a startup that repurposes wind turbine blades into sustainable infrastructure, began working with ESB through the 2050 Accelerator.

Through the programme, they developed an e-mobility hub to charge and store ESB’s expansive network of e-bikes.

By utilising decommissioned wind turbine blades instead of virgin steel, they support vital key objectives aligned with ESB’s Net Zero goals, such as decarbonisation, the circular economy, and empowering customers to live more sustainably.

BladeBridge is repurposing decommissioned wind turbine blades into sustainable infrastructure. Image: BladeBridge

Collaborating with ESB in the 2050 Accelerator also means that we are connecting startups who need access to wind farms, telecommunication poles, e-mobility hubs, and more for their pilots. What Ireland lacks in geographical size, it makes up for in its connectedness.

That is something that Dogpatch has tapped into since its inception, working to create the most connected tech ecosystem in Ireland (and beyond!).

That connectedness is something that will become increasingly important in our efforts to tackle sustainability issues that plague all industries, markets, and communities.

Our response to climate change will have to be quick, efficient, and extremely risky, and these are all characteristics that startups and entrepreneurs embody every day.

Hearing about the most recent political conflicts, natural disasters, or social justice issues in the news can negatively affect the newest generation of business leaders.

The relentless grit and ambition of an entrepreneur are why there is such potential for startups to solve some of the world’s biggest problems.

We had a minister come in and speak at one of our sustainability events and told the audience that with every new policy and regulation his department introduced, that was an opportunity for an entrepreneur to create a new startup.

This is the type of thinking that will propel Ireland forward as a testbed for sustainability innovation, with Dogpatch creating those synergies between government, industry, and startups to get us there.

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The role of sustainable innovation in business strategy

Bronagh Loughlin — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 11:14:34 +0000

The role of sustainable innovation in business strategy

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Sustainable Innovation

Sustainable Business

Sustainability

Climate Innovation

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Sustainable Innovation

Innovation, by definition, is “the introduction of something new.” The new refers to products and services but also enhancements in business models or business processes. Sustainable innovation, driven by concern for the planet and resources, integrates sustainability management into business practices.

What is sustainable innovation, and how does it differ from traditional innovation?

Sustainable innovation consists of making intentional alterations to an organisation’s services, processes, and products to create long-term environmental and social benefits while ensuring economic profits for the business.

This kind of innovation allows companies to invent and provide novel services or products that directly contribute to achieving global sustainability.

However, businesses can also innovate sustainably while providing existing services or products when they integrate sustainable product design into their processes.

Process changes can happen in a multitude of areas, including production, design, marketing, and human resources. Some may ponder exactly how sustainable innovation differs from traditional innovation. The first way they differ may be the most obvious.

Businesses that engage in sustainable innovation go further than merely seeking profits. They think of growth in the long term and about investing in people and technology-for-purpose for the future.

Sustainable innovation intentionally aims to further the climate agenda. It requires organisations to actively embed issues like climate change and human rights into their innovation processes.

Finally, sustainable innovations need systems thinking and sustainable collaboration. When businesses engage in sustainable innovation, they cannot simply focus on their own business. Rather, they must look more broadly at the entire system they are part of.

This includes other businesses, stakeholders and communities, and the natural environment. Ultimately, they have a quality understanding of exactly how their actions impact other businesses.

Why is sustainable innovation important for businesses?

Sustainability-oriented companies are more likely to survive and navigate crises, generate more revenue over the long run, and experience less share price volatility than those who do not focus on the environment.

Sustainable innovation can result in stronger business models, enhanced processes, newer market segments and so much more. It also helps to respond to consumer demand for more sustainable products and services.

A Deloitte survey has uncovered personal ethics play a significant role in career choices, and many are suited to work with purpose-driven organisations. In addition, businesses that care about the environment are generally more resilient compared to their competitors.

Those businesses that do focus on sustainability also have a better chance to produce more impactful and meaningful patents while embracing a broader thinking and learn from various perspectives.

How can sustainable innovation help the world?

Sustainable innovation embeds environmental protection in the ability to create new products which satisfy our needs in the long term.

Business as usual is no longer enough to tackle the environmental and social challenges our world faces. From large multinationals to micro-enterprises, all companies will have to innovate in order to survive and thrive in the future.

New thinking on how businesses can deliver primary business plans while creating improved socioeconomic and environmental benefits is a must for any organisation looking to become genuinely sustainable and ensure their place on the market.

Innovation is a critical ingredient in the new world of sustainability. It helps in distinguishing between the ‘followers’ and the ‘leaders’.

The business case for sustainability was previously based around business-as-usual elements like reputation, accessing a fantastic talent pool, cost savings, and resource efficiency.

However, leading organisations realise that within these environmental challenges, there are opportunities to re-invent services and products to achieve major market benefits.

Now, those who innovate sustainably can enhance energy efficiency, utilise more environmentally friendly materials, meet customer needs and alter behaviour, and get involved in the circular economy.

With all of this in mind, they can kickstart their journey to net zero, a transition all companies are bound to make sooner rather than later.

Developing a sustainability strategy

Below are some strategies and steps to help you get started.

Make sure you have achievable and clear goals and objectives

Sustainability has excellent potential to bring about business growth and success. However, this is only the case if you know what your specific objectives are.

Similarly, they must also be achievable for your organisation. You can do this by looking at the areas whereby your environmental impact could need some work and set timelines for those objectives.

Having these ideas will enable you to narrow down the scope of innovative ideas. This means you prevent the likelihood of vague and unclear initiatives, and you can meet your goals.

Make sustainability your company’s core value

This one is often a lot easier said than done, but everything your company does should adhere to a core value of sustainability. Making sustainability part of your culture will ensure that each decision you make already considers the ethical and environmental impacts of your actions.

Each manager, leader and employee needs to be aware of sustainable practices and ready to provide ideas.

The result of this is an expansion of your existing culture of innovation which will ultimately weave an environmental mindset into each new idea.

Be sure to make a public commitment to sustainability and leverage this

Dedicating your business to sustainability is not easy. Prioritising and reaching goals related to sustainability can be even more challenging. One of the reasons why commitments generally fail is because they are met with stakeholder resistance. A lot of the time, when given a choice, they would rather choose business objectives than sustainability targets.

This is particularly the case if these targets are unrealistic, vague, or they feel a lack of executive support. By making a public commitment to sustainability with clear targets, you make the first steps in being accountable. Publicly showing this dedication can open up a lot of opportunities for you to attract new customers, engage with current ones, and improve your bottom line.

By doing so, you also set the stage for the full company, encouraging and guiding each team member and stakeholder to focus their efforts on sustainability.

Sustainability should be part of each process

Another thing to note is that environmental practices do not just begin once a product is launched when the final idea is created or presented. Rather, it must be woven into each theme of innovation ideation and each facet of design from the moment of inception.

If you feel sustainability targets are an afterthought as opposed to a core part of every workflow and design, you could find it challenging to achieve them all.

Consider how hard it is, once the product is launched, to transform even the tiniest things like packaging. Sustainability should be thought about from the very beginning.

The time for businesses to take accountability and act is now, and sustainable innovation could be the missing piece to the puzzle. Sustainable innovation will not only enable your business to reap the benefits of sustainable business but also enhance efforts on global sustainability goals.

The key to progress with any problems is innovation and with the climate crisis, it is no different. For your business to succeed, it needs a thriving Earth to support it.

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Building a pipeline for social and climate innovation in Portugal

Szilvia Szabó — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:34:20 +0000

Building a pipeline for social and climate innovation in Portugal

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Social Entrepreneurship

Topic

Social innovation has gained significant attention in Portugal in recent years, with various initiatives, policies, and organisations focused on addressing social and environmental challenges through innovative solutions.

Casa do Impacto is Portugal's biggest impact entrepreneurship hub, based in Lisbon, incubating over 60 startups.

Inês Sequeira, Founder and Director of Casa do Impacto, highlights that since its opening in 2018, this hub for social innovation has put Portugal on the map of the impact ecosystem, gathering the resources and network to grow an impact venture.

It is a dedicated space where stakeholders contribute and collaborate to make the necessary paradigm shift in business, with over 3 million euros already invested in supporting social innovators throughout its activity.

The hub aims to create an exciting pipeline of innovative solutions linked with the 17 SDGs through accelerator and incubator programs and investment.

“Given the scope of Casa do Impacto's work, we intend to articulate the different interventions regarding their complementarity to constitute a "pipeline" capable of covering the various stages and needs of entrepreneurship initiatives and social and environmental innovation,” says Inês.

Inês Sequeira, Founder and Director of Casa do Impacto, Portugal.

They run accelerator programs, such as the Triggers to help develop and support innovative projects focusing on environmental issues while responding to societal challenges induced by the climate emergency.

“As part of the process, we offer access to training, mentoring sessions, exchange of experiences and case studies, and, in addition to rigorous monitoring of the work carried out,” Inês further explains.

Furthermore, participants can benefit from accessing an extensive network of program partners.

“At Casa do Impacto, we strive to accelerate change and focus our efforts on bringing solutions to life that are able to combine climate justice and social justice.”

Inês thinks we need to create conditions where socially and environmentally responsible projects can emerge, saying that providing proper training, for instance, can significantly enhance the chances of having more and better ideas that can be transformed into enterprises.

They aim to support the consolidation and expansion of innovative, environmentally sustainable products and services in the market to become alternative responses and thus contribute to a fair and socially balanced climate transition.

“Social enterprises can contribute to building a more sustainable and just economy in various ways. I believe we need to collaborate more, pilot new solutions, invest when they’re ready, and close the circle.”

She emphasises that social enterprises are well-placed to change the tide in climate and social innovation while playing a vital role in creating future jobs, attracting investments and inspiring change.

They are keen to create a supportive environment where collaboration with other social innovators, organisations, and stakeholders is encouraged so they can have all the resources, expertise and support to bring their projects to life.

Regarding funding, Inês adds:

“Access to capital through grants, loans, or equity investment can remove financial barriers and support the growth of these projects. Casa do Impacto provides these innovators with the necessary tools and initiatives to help pre-seed and seed-stage projects secure finances.“

A rising topic in the country is the circular economy, which could be the most potent multifunctional instrument to tackle the current triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity and pollution.

Social enterprises from the Casa do Impacto community are also embracing circularity, such as La Virgule, which upcycles discarded sports and outdoor equipment to reduce waste and transform materials into usable products or Matterpieces, which design high-end cladding material made out of inert waste from demolitions, like glass, bricks, cement, stones.

Circular Economy Portugal (CEP) is an initiative that aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Portugal through knowledge-sharing, capacity-building and hands-on action.

Circular Pioneers from their community include Novonovo, a digital platform that helps the creative community to locate second-hand materials and products, reCloset, an online second-hand fashion platform and Vintage for a Cause, a vintage style clothing brand using industrial textile waste and support women through training.

Portuguese social enterprise La Virgule upcycles sports and outdoor equipment. Image: La Virgule

Nãm is Portugal's first circular urban farming project, producing mushrooms and natural fertiliser from coffee grounds collected in Lisbon. Image: Circular Economy Portugal

Portugal is also addressing the challenges of climate change with initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, increasing the use of renewable energy, and promoting sustainable practices backed by governmental grants and tools besides EU support.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) has recently announced that it will help to facilitate investments in Portuguese businesses involved with the sustainable energy transition, climate resilience, sustainable use of the marine environment and the circular economy.

One of the financial instruments launched as part of the Growth Blue I initiative involves a €28m blue economy-focused private equity fund, a trailblazer construction in southern Europe, according to EIF, allocating resources for blue economy investments with climate impact and sustainable development goals.

Inês looks into the future with much hope and envisions a new Hub in Lisbon where they can triplicate the number of projects incubated and promote more and more pilots with corporate and public organisations with Casa do Impacto’s Startups.

She also wishes to expand their activity to other locations in Portugal and scale abroad.

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European business decarbonisation platform company attracts $27M funding to scale

Climate Journal reporting — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:54:02 +0000

European business decarbonisation platform company attracts $27M funding to scale

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Greentech company Plan A, a corporate carbon accounting, decarbonisation, and ESG reporting software provider, raised $27M in a round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners due to its significant growth and innovative carbon data processing technology.

Known for leading the way in corporate carbon management, the enterprise already had prominent clients such as BMW, Deutsche Bank, Visa, trivago, and KFC, among others, using their digital sustainability platform to reduce and offset carbon emissions.

“The strength and flexibility of their platform truly has the capabilities to drive change and impact within organisations from across any sector and on a global scale, and to guide organisations both small and large on a holistic decarbonisation journey,”

said Julie Kainz, Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners regarding their choice to back Plan A growth plans.

Lubomila Jordanova, CEO of Plan A, (left) and Julie Kainz, Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners (right). Image: Plan A

Businesses are yet to meet the legally binding target of net zero greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions by 2050 set in The European Climate Law, with the recent addition of reaching at least a 55% reduction by 2030 compared to levels in 1990.

The fresh capital will further propel Plan A expansion in European markets, primarily focusing on France, the UK, and Scandinavian countries, while they aim to double their headcount and advance the platform’s features.

Lubomila Jordanova, CEO of Plan A adds:

“It's our mission at Plan A to provide made-to-measure software solutions and services to empower large and complex companies to decarbonise their operations and value chains and respond to the regulatory shift.”

This investment will enable the company to further its mission to empower many more businesses to self-manage their net-zero journey using its end-to-end SaaS platform.

One of the unique characteristics of this fully automated digital solution is that it operates based on integrating internationally recognised methodologies and standards, such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), making it a credible and reliable tool for companies to navigate sustainability reporting and implementations.

The Berlin, Paris, and London-based company was founded in 2017 to develop an end-to-end software solution from data collection over emissions calculation, target setting, and decarbonisation planning to non-financial reporting in one central hub.

Jordanova states that “climate change and the associated impacts pose an existential risk to businesses,” and with Plan A, they strive to empower large and complex companies to decarbonise their operations and value chains and respond to changes in regulations.

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