Climate Finance Lab
Global platform connecting climate finance innovators with investors and enabling scaled-up private finance for climate action in developing and emerging markets.
Overview
The Climate Finance Lab is a global initiative that develops and scales innovative financial mechanisms to mobilize private investment for climate action in developing and emerging markets. It brings together a community of climate finance practitioners, investors, government bodies, and development finance institutions to identify barriers to climate investment and design new instruments - such as blended finance vehicles, risk-sharing mechanisms, and green bonds - that can unlock additional private capital. The Lab does not primarily issue grants but acts as a co-development and scaling platform for financial instruments that complement traditional grant-based climate finance.
What You Can Find Here
- Portfolio of innovative climate finance instruments developed through the Lab process
- Annual open call for climate finance innovations from practitioners and financial institutions
- Lab Fellows and Alumni network of climate finance professionals and organisations
- Research and design support for developing new financial mechanisms for climate investment
- Investor matchmaking and facilitation to connect instrument developers with capital providers
- Publications and case studies on scaling effective climate finance structures
Who Should Use This
- Climate finance professionals and financial institutions developing new investment vehicles for climate action
- Development finance institutions seeking to innovate their climate finance toolkits
- Governments and national development banks piloting new climate finance mechanisms
- Social entrepreneurs and impact investors designing climate-resilience or low-carbon finance products
- Researchers studying effective climate finance architecture and private sector mobilization
How to Get Started
- Step 1: Visit climatefinancelab.org to understand the Lab's current focus areas and portfolio of instruments
- Step 2: Explore the open call for climate finance innovations if you have a mechanism concept to submit
- Step 3: Review published case studies and instrument portfolios for learning and inspiration
- Step 4: Contact the Lab to explore potential collaboration if you are developing a complementary climate finance innovation
- Step 5: Follow the Lab's network events and publications to stay current on climate finance best practices
Things to Check Before Applying
- Climate Finance Lab is a co-development platform, not a grant-making body - it does not fund projects directly
- Lab participation is most relevant for financial institutions, DFIs, and governments designing climate finance instruments
- The annual open call for innovations is competitive - proposals should be for replicable, scalable financial mechanisms, not individual projects
- Lab activities focus on mobilizing private finance - pure public grant mechanisms are outside the core scope
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Climate Finance Lab give grants?
The Lab does not provide grants to individual projects. It provides design support, expert input, and investor connections to help develop and scale innovative financial mechanisms that mobilize private climate capital.
Who runs the Climate Finance Lab?
The Climate Finance Lab is supported by a consortium of organisations including ClimateWorks Foundation, Shell Foundation, and other climate finance champions. It is managed by an independent secretariat.
What is a blended finance mechanism?
Blended finance combines public or philanthropic funds with private capital to make climate investments viable in developing markets. Public money absorbs first-loss risk, making returns acceptable to private investors who would otherwise not participate.
Can startups apply to the Climate Finance Lab?
Yes, if you are developing an innovative climate finance mechanism (a financial instrument or product), not seeking project funding. The Lab annual call is open to financial innovators from any organisation type.
What types of instruments has the Lab developed?
Lab instruments have included facility structures for solar micro-grids, insurance products for climate-resilient agriculture, green bonds for cities in developing countries, and investment vehicles for sustainable land use.
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