GenZero

✏️🌱Education and advocacy are instrumental to advancing climate action. GenZero is glad to have had the opportunity to participate in a sharing session with youths at the Climate Youth Development Programme’s (CYDP) Induction Week co-organised by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Singapore (MSE), National Climate Change Secretariat, Singapore (NCCS), and National Youth Council Singapore (NYC), where our Vice President of Strategy and Development Hui Qing Soh 苏慧卿, shared insights on what inspires her to lead #ESG efforts at #GenZero and the roles of different players in mobilising international #climateaction.   "Pursuing #sustainability is truly a calling and a passion. As a mother of a two-year-old daughter, what keeps me up at night is whether she and her future children will still have a hospitable planet to call home in the coming decades. How can we ensure that our actions today pave the way for a sustainable tomorrow for many more generations to come?" In terms of catalysing #climate action, she shared about the importance of #carbonmarkets in enabling a #justtransition, and as a tool to reduce the green premium of emerging low-carbon technologies to accelerate their adoption. 👏 Thanks CYDP for providing a valuable platform for #youths and the climate ecosystem to connect and collectively deepen our understanding on the various pathways to advance climate action. 💚 Also special thanks to fellow speakers Fam Wee Wei, Director of Climate Change & Sustainability at Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore) (MTI), Su-E Yap, Director of Corporate Engagement at The Nature Conservancy, and Hana Chambers, Multilateral Climate Engagement Manager from the International Energy Agency (IEA) for the engaging discussion, as well Arun Vignesh, Assistant Director (Global Partnerships) of the National Climate Change Secretariat for moderating the session.

GenZero is proud to be a member of the #Singapore Carbon Market Alliance (SCMA), launched today by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and IETA at the #BloombergSustainableBusinessSummit by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore), Ms Low Yen Ling. Frederick Teo, CEO of #GenZero said: “A robust carbon market, with appropriate guardrails and incentives, coupled with high-quality carbon credits will be key levers in bridging the financing gap and accelerating climate action. The Singapore Carbon Market Alliance is a display of commitment towards building an ecosystem of players with the shared goal of responsibly developing and actively participating in the carbon markets. As an investor in the carbon markets, we support and encourage the cross-sharing of insights to deepen knowledge within the industry in order to drive greater financing towards climate solutions.” Here's what you need to know about #SCMA and the role it's playing in Singapore's net-zero future: ✳ First platform in Singapore aimed at helping Singapore-based corporates access high-quality Article 6 carbon credits ✳ Aims to connect companies with leading international developers and suppliers of high-integrity carbon credits through workshops and networking sessions ✳ Facilitates updates and exchanges on the Singapore government's requirements and initiatives in carbon credits For further information on the SCMA, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gau799fw

Striking an optimal risk-reward balance in nature-based solutions is challenging. "Pockets of capital willing to put their money in for first loss remains nascent," shared GenZero Head of Investments Kimberly Tan in a recent interview with Genevieve Redgrave from Environmental Finance. "Blended finance with different types of capital and goals will therefore be critical in helping to scale the market. Greater flows of concessionary capital and insurance will also be needed to provide greater certainty for investors to make investments into nature projects more actionable." In terms of enhancing #integrity and #trust in #carbonmarkets, she also noted the importance of ongoing methodology enhancements to enable investors to have greater certainty about the projects they are underwriting. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/g9THCmPg

📣 Reporting live from the #Baku Olympic Stadium!   In a mere 4 months, this site will be transformed into a bustling hotbed of negotiations and activities as governments, climate negotiators and industry leaders dive head first into #COP29.   #GenZero visited Baku, Azerbaijan, this week and the growing excitement in the summer air was palpable as the city gears up to welcome thousands of #COP delegates in November. Being on the ground in Baku, we couldn’t help but note the bevy of #electric cars dominating the roads and #infrastructure being constructed in preparation for the climate crowd.   However, while the city is well-poised to play the role of a great host, the true success of COP29 hinges on the outcomes of #climate negotiations and discussions. The months in the lead-up to November will be critical in shaping the narrative that will take centre stage over the two weeks. Here’s what we’ll be keeping our pulse on during COP this year 👇 🌐 Operationalisation of Article 6 following #COP28 🌍 Agreement on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) 💰 Progress on the Loss and Damage Fund   While #Azerbaijan is known as the Land of Fire for its vast natural oil and gas deposits, the name of the historic city of Baku, nestled by the Caspian sea, is believed to mean ‘the city where the wind blows’.   Could COP29 in Baku bring some much needed green winds of change this November? 🌬🍃   We sure hope so, as the clock is on and we’re only 110 days away now. Let the countdown begin! ⌚

#Carbon #finance and robust #methodologies are needed to scale carbon capture and storage (#CCS) projects globally. “Confidence in the quality of the #carboncredits generated depends on whether the methodology developed is robust and can stand up to international scrutiny. Revenue from carbon finance can help improve the economics of CCS projects and finance the adoption of costly CCS technologies,” says Anshari Rahman, GenZero’s Director of Policy & Analytics. CCS technologies are complex and vary significantly across different geologies and industrial applications. Costs for CCS projects can range from US$15 (S$20) to US$120 per tonne of carbon capture, depending on specifics such as emissions source and capture technology. “Developing a one-size-fits-all methodology that accurately captures these differences and balances scientific rigour with practicality is challenging... However, this may be a necessary investment to enable market participation for new actors and new solutions. Credible methodologies can unlock the full potential of CCS projects by attracting investment through informed economics," shares Anshari. Read more in The Straits Times at https://lnkd.in/g9JZk-_R

Close to half of the world's population have gone or will be going to the polls in #2024 as the world gears up for a year of #election campaigns. But what does the voting booth have to do with #climatechange? ✅ Approvals for projects and policies could slow amidst the shift in focus as governments gear up for campaigning ➿ A change in #government could bring a wave of change in domestic #policies and #regulations ✴ The appetite for international collaboration on climate could be affected by shifts in foreign and trade policies   While the jury is still out on the results of the various elections taking place globally, climate change will continue to deliver irreversible damage regardless of election outcomes. #Urgent action is needed to accelerate #decarbonisation.   Taking reference from the GenZero #Carbon #Scenarios, we see that carbon markets can provide a neutral platform to facilitate collaboration on climate action even amidst broader #geopolitical tensions. It is key that we continue to make strides towards building a robust and credible carbon markets to enable climate impact at scale. The following are three no-regrets actions that can be taken today to improve the impact of #carbonmarket, irrespective of how the months ahead play out: 1️⃣ Supporting the development of regulatory oversight in carbon markets 2️⃣ Providing clarity on the role of carbon markets in corporates’ decarbonisation pathways 3️⃣ Leveraging #digitalisation as a tool to enable integrity at scale   So elections vote aside, make your #climate vote count! For more details on the #GenZero #CarbonScenarios Report, check out: https://lnkd.in/ggeZ4yze

What do swamps, whales and underground rocks have to do with the #heatwaves that are plaguing the world today?   European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service noted that “June 2024 was warmer globally than any previous June in the data record” in their recent #Climate Bulletin. As global warming continues to break records, there is a pressing need to remove or avoid the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.   This is where swamps, whales and underground rocks have a crucial role to play as seemingly unlikely #carbon sinks.   🌾 #Swamps, including bogs, marshes and wetlands, are considered to be highly effective carbon sinks due to their immense root systems that store #carbondioxide and the slow rate of decomposition of roots and organic matter in such ecosystems due to the water-logged soil.   🐳 Apart from being one of the most loveable mammals roaming our oceans, #whales are great carbon sinks! Whales are capable of storing carbon in their bodies over a long lifespan, which can stretch up to 200 years. This translates to a potential for a single whale to sequester around 33 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, which is equivalent to the sequestration potential of approximately >1,000 trees over the same period.   ⛰ Underground #rocks, through new climate technologies, have the potential to store large amounts of carbon dioxide. #Geological #sequestration injects carbon from the atmosphere into rock formations deep underground where it is intended to remain indefinitely. However, more remains to be done to scale these technologies and bring down the cost curve to encourage adoption.    More critically, the key takeaway is that we need to continue to explore all avenues to reduce and mitigate the devasting effects of #climatechange. There is tremendous opportunity for climate action in every nook and cranny of Earth - be it through an unlikely area of wetlands, flora and fauna in our neighbourhoods, or through the unassuming rock formations that reside deep beneath our feet.   What are some other unlikely #carbonsinks that we might have missed out on? Let us know if our comments section below! 💚💡

"Temasek is its people, people who share a mindset: the courage to innovate, resilience in the face of setbacks, and the tenacity to bounce back." GenZero is proud to celebrate #Temasek’s #50th anniversary by being a part of its 50 by Fifty series which outlines the birth of GenZero and our onward efforts to accelerate #decarbonisation globally. Told from the perspective of our CEO Frederick Teo, he shares about his journey with #Temasek, to taking the helm at #GenZero. He shared that future success hinges on a willingness to be #bold, #innovate, and forge #newpaths. “It's like placing stones across a riverbed, paving the way for a crossing. Laying the stones isn't enough. You need the courage to step onto them and complete the journey,” he says. The 50 by Fifty series presents 50 stories from Temasek’s staff, alumni, and beneficiaries who have been a part of Temasek's journey through the years. Together, they capture pivotal milestones of Temasek, and tell the story of an institution built By Generations, For Generations. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/g3fJ4HyP

“It has been an incredibly humbling learning journey. Tackling the challenges and issues involved in #nature and #biodiversity financing is complex and multi-faceted. Carbon financing for restoring and conserving natural ecosystems is also an enabler for driving positive biodiversity outcomes.” Speaking on a panel discussing ‘Biodiversity Finance and Nature-Related Risks’ at the Impact and Sustainable Finance Faculty Consortium Convening 2024, our Investment Director, Ling Min Hoon, shared her views on leading nature-based solutions investments at GenZero and the key tools the future generation needs to be equipped with to thrive in this space. “It requires a multi-disciplinary approach and the ability to think holistically and critically, taking into account the multiple stakeholders involved and impacted through the process,” she said. Key takeaways 👇 🌐 #Carbon, nature, and biodiversity are interlinked. It is imperative that we adopt a systems-level approach to solve issues holistically rather than in insolation. 🌳 Carbon projects are a way to deploy much-needed resources and financing towards positive biodiversity outcomes. #Naturebasedsolutions that aim to restore and conserve natural ecosystems often have co-benefits on biodiversity and local communities as well. 🎥 Carbon financing enables robust measurement, reporting and verification (#MRV) technologies to be deployed not just towards carbon stock monitoring through remote sensing, but also tracking biodiversity outcomes through the use of bioacoustic sensors and camera traps.   ⏳ Positive biodiversity outcomes can have a long gestation period, especially when it comes to the restoration of natural ecosystems on degraded land. We are racing against time, and it is key that we take action today. Thank you to the #Impact & #Sustainable #Finance Faculty Consortium for organising and inviting GenZero to be part of this exchange, and Professor Carlos Vargas, Ph.D., Joanna Tan from New Forests, and Guillermo T. from Citi for the engaging panel discussion! We look forward to more efforts to convene thought leaders and leading university faculty members who teach impact and sustainable finance courses to exchange experiences from across the globe to develop the expertise needed to propel the field forward.

Did you know that #rainforests are the oldest living ecosystems on Earth with some surviving in their present form for at least 70 million years? (credit to National Geographic) Let’s take a pause this #WorldRainforestDay to celebrate the diversity of life that owes its existence to this incredible ecosystem. A living museum of around 40,000 plant species and 2.5 million different insects, rainforests are believed to be home to half of the world’s plant and animal species. Aside from being home to the other living things we share this Earth with, rainforests also play an important role in: 🍃 Being a #carbon sink, taking millions of metric tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere every year ☁ Regulating weather systems through their absorption and creation of rainfall 🌱 Preventing soil erosion and flooding by anchoring the soil with their deep roots However, despite all the great contributions that rainforests have done for us, around half of the world’s rainforests have been destroyed in the last century. This translates to a massive loss of ecological wealth, with significant consequences for the planet's health. The #AmazonRainforest is particularly vulnerable, facing threats from illegal logging, cattle ranching, and agriculture. (#Photo below shows an aerial view of illegal Amazon #deforestation) If we continue with current rates of deforestation, the remaining rainforests could vanish within the next century. Here are some actions we can take to reduce deforestation and protect our rainforests: 1️⃣ Support rainforest #restoration and protection 2️⃣ Use less paper 3️⃣ Recycle paper and cardboard 4️⃣ Support sustainable wood products / by-products 5️⃣ Reduce meat consumption 6️⃣ Use less firewood 7️⃣ Share awareness on the severity of the issue and steps we can collectively make to drive change Let’s help keep our rainforests around for as long as we can. #WorldRainforestDay #Reforestation #Afforestation #Biodiversity #SayNoToDeforestation #Conservation