Invested In Climate

Most of our episodes go deep into specific opportunities to address climate change through new technologies, investment opportunities, advocacy, and policy. This episode takes a step back to look at climate and impact investing, how they’ve evolved in recent years, and where they’re heading. Not only have climate and impact investing exploded in recent years, but they’ve also become more mature spaces with more opportunities, tools, nuances, and complexity. So I was thrilled to zoom out for this conversation and speak with a true pioneer and leader in this field, Jenn Kenning. Jenn is the Founder and CEO of Align Impact, an independent specialized impact and financial advisor to high-net-worth families, individuals, and foundations. Align is an Inc. 5000 company and Jenn is one of the most recognized voices in impact investing and wealth management. She was selected for Private Asset Management’s “50 Most Influential Women in Private Wealth,” and her firm recently earned global recognition as one of the top 200 impact companies of 2023 by Real Leaders. So sit back and enjoy a true expert’s take on climate investing past, present, and future. Here we go. In today’s episode, we cover:[2:46] Jenn’s background & work at Aligned Impact[4:00] How has mission-line investing changed over the years?[6:06] Examples of how intersectionality is creating opportunities for investors[9:16] How clients’ investments compare today vs. in the past[11:48] Opportunities Jenn is most excited about in the climate tech space[14:33] Strategies that investors should & shouldn’t consider[17:12] How is ESG playing out[21:48] The role of finance in accelerating our response to climate change: what's working & what needs to change[23:56] Systemic change & what it looks like when it's working [25:57] Gaps in finance AI[27:55] Why it’s hard for individual advisors to weave climates or social priorities into portfolios[29:19] How retail investors can support changes & what else needs to happen[31:13] The future of climate investingResources MentionedAlign ImpactConnect with Jenn KenningConnect with Jenn on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?Get in touch!

Decarbonization requires not only eliminating fossil fuels as a main source of energy, but also replacing them as key ingredients in objects we use every day. If you want a crash course on just how much our material world depends on fossil fuels, check out the book How the World Really Works by Vaclav Smil. It’s a fascinating, though sobering read, and one of Bill Gates’ favorite books. Today’s episode focuses on pigments, a great example of fossil fuels hiding in plain sight. Take a look around you right now. See any objects that are black in color? Replacing the petroleum in the black pigment used in millions of objects with a carbon-negative material is the focus of an innovative startup called Nature Coatings. Today we’re joined by Nature Coatings founder and CEO Jane Palmer and one of her investors, Dan Fishman, a General Partner at Regeneration.vc. I loved this conversation as it really pushed my thinking about the work needed to truly transition from fossil fuels, and the enormous opportunities for innovators who can lead the charge. Enjoy. In today’s episode, we cover:[3:20] Regeneration.vc & how Dan came to work on climate[5:37] Jane’s background & how it led to Nature Coatings[7:39] Carbon black & why it’s a problem[9:08] How BioBlack is made & how it compares to carbon black[11:09] The scale of the carbon black problem[11:59] How is BioBlack a carbon-negative product[14:00] Dan’s perspective on why Nature Coatings is an attractive business[16:01] Nature Coatings’ biggest priorities right now[17:02] Nature Coatings’ traction, customers, companies they’re looking to reach & status[19:05] The future that Jane envisions for Nature Coatings[21:29] Rethinking ingredients in everyday products[24:11] Others in the petroleum-replacement space[25:06] Other exciting opportunities in the space from the investor perspectiveResources MentionedNature CoatingsRegeneration.vcConnect with Jane Palmer & Dan FishmanConnect with Jane on LinkedInConnect with Dan on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships? Get in touch!

If you’re listening to this podcast you clearly care about climate change and it might bother you that your 401k is likely investing in fossil fuels. Many employers have yet to offer sustainable 401k plans, and it sends billions of dollars of capital into fossil fuels every year. Even ESG funds often invest in fossil fuels.Today’s conversation is about making it easier for everyday investors to invest more sustainably. I’m joined by Zach Stein, Founder of Carbon Collective, a startup offering green 401ks and other sustainable financial products, and by Shaandiin Cedar, an investor at Powerhouse Ventures who invested in Carbon Collective. We talk about Zach and Shaandin’s backgrounds, ESG investing and the need for more sustainable investment options, Carbon Collective’s potential and traction, and what else is needed to finance the kind of climate progress we need. There’s lots in this one that’ll get you thinking. Enjoy.In today’s episode, we cover:[3:15] Zach’s background and how he came to start Carbon Collective[4:34] Shaandiin’s background and work at Powerhouse Ventures[5:34] Background on Powerhouse[7:31] Powerhouse’s investment thesis & companies they are looking for[8:37] Carbon Collective’s theory of change[12:59] Carbon Collective’s unique approach[16:00] Fossil fuel divestment[17:10] Carbon Collective’s business potential & why Powerhouse invested[21:29] Carbon Collective’s master plan & how it’s going[24:53] What’s critical for success[26:59] Status of Carbon Collective’s returns & customer base[30:43] What Carbon Collective is aiming to accomplish in 12-18 months[31:45] Sustainable 401ks & addressing market friction[36:53] What else needs to happen to accelerate climate action?Resources MentionedCarbon CollectivePowerhouse Ventures Connect with Zach Stein & Shaandiin CedarConnect with Zach on LinkedInConnect with Shaandiin on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?Get in touch!

We often hear about public commitments to reach net zero, but not the nuance, choices, costs, and complexity big companies face when working to decarbonize their global operations. Behind the scenes, any company that is making climate commitments has teams of people focused on decarbonization strategy, carbon accounting, and reporting to figure out how to ween their companies off of fossil fuels and emission-heavy practices in the most effective and cost-effective ways. It’s a laborious task that requires a ton of data and analysis.This is where SINAI Technologies comes in, a start-up focused on helping companies understand and analyze their decarbonization choices. Today we’re joined by Maria Fujihara, founder and CEO of SINAI, and Lauren Densham, who leads ESG and impact initiatives at Energize Ventures, one of Sinai’s recent investors. We talk about SINAI’s concept of decarbonization intelligence, why their technology is needed, its impressive growth, its plans for the future, and what this all means for any company working to decarbonize. I learned a lot in this one and imagine you will too. Enjoy. Resources MentionedSINAI Technologies Energize VenturesConnect with Maria Fujihara & Lauren Densham Connect with Maria on LinkedInConnect with Lauren on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?Get in touch!

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Valley of Death? It’s the phase of development that often kills off startups before they can reach scale. One key challenge is needing to test and refine their technology and gain true validation.  For a few lucky startups, this is where the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator comes in to help them develop pilots that provide the insights and credible third-party endorsement needed to grow their technology. The incubator is part of the Department of Energy-backed National Renewable Energy Lab, an institution that’s central to the United State’s investment in renewable energy. Today, we’re joined by Trish Cozart, the Director of NREL's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, who oversees the Incubator. And, we’re also joined by the founders of two startups that recently participated in the lab: Adam Cohen from NineDot Energy and Tanya Barham from Community Energy Labs. We talk about what makes the incubator unique, how it’s helped these two companies, what they’re aiming to achieve and much more. Enjoy! In today’s episode, we cover:[3:15] National Renewable Energy Laboratory & the role it plays[5:01] Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator & the types of companies it supports[7:07] Tracking growth after participation in the Incubator[7:29] Advice for companies that need to get through the Valley of Death[9:01] Community Energy Labs, the problem it’s aiming to solve & what led Tanya to start the company[11:09] NineDot Energy, the problem it’s aiming to solve & Adam’s founding story[13:32] Tanya’s experience with the Incubator & differences in the NREL experience[17:39] Adam’s experience with the Incubator: focuses & outcomes[19:55] Trish on the support offered by the Incubator[22:07] Energy storage & why its important, especially in New York[24:03] How is NineDot different[25:45] NineDot’s partnerships & learnings[28:15] NineDot’s overall traction & current measurements[29:23] What are community buildings & why focus on them[34:56] Community Energy Lab’s technology & what makes it different[39:40] Community Energy Lab’s overall traction & achievements so far[42:04] New cohorts for the Incubator & what to expect for the future[43:04] NineDot’s role & what is needed to get there[43:58] What the future looks like for Community Energy LabsResources MentionedWells Fargo Innovation IncubatorNational Renewable Energy Lab, NREL's Innovation and Entrepreneurship CenterNineDot Energy Community Energy LabsConnect with Trish Cozart, Adam Cohen & Tanya BarhamConnect with Trish on LinkedInConnect with Adam on LinkedInConnect with Tanya on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?Get in touch!

Today’s episode focuses on sustainable consumption. I know what you’re probably thinking – that the climate crisis requires systemic change and that shifting consumer behavior is slow, it's difficult and it simply won’t add up to enough in terms of the emissions reductions we need. And, I agree – sustainable shopping isn’t enough, but it’s still essential. Demand for climate-positive products helps accelerate new markets. And when consumers see that their choices matter, it influences what they work on, invest in and vote for.Over the years, there have been many attempts to get consumers to go green, but today’s guests have novel approaches that are gaining real traction. Jean-Louis Warnholz is the Co-Founder and CEO of Future, a recommendation and rewards engine driving sustainable purchasing. And Amandine Durr is the Head of Product at Back Market, an online marketplace serving the fast-growing interest in refurbished technology. We talk about both of their companies, how they got started, how they’re saving consumers money while protecting the environment, where they’re headed, how AI is helping, how refurbished goods have become a new category, the potential for everyday people to transform our economy and much more. Lots to learn and think about in this one. Enjoy. In today’s episode, we cover:[3:19] Future & the problem it’s aiming to solve[4:27] Jean-Louis’ journey & how he got involved in climate work[5:15] Back Market & the problem it’s aiming to solve[6:48] Amandine’s journey & how she got involved in climate work[8:01] Future’s products & what sets it apart [10:13] Future’s traction & consumer adoption[11:49] Future’s impact on climate & the environment[13:34] Future’s rewards system[14:39] Back Market’s products, its refurbishing process & how it stands out in the space[17:47] How the market for refurbished & secondhand goods has changed [20:17] Conveying Back Market’s refurbishment process to consumers[23:38] Handling the issue of planned obsolescence[25:55] The partnership between Back Market & Future[29:01] Future’s personalized recommendations feature[31:29] Spending areas where consumers could save money & improve their climate impacts[35:37] What’s next for Back Market[38:21] The B2B market[40:54] The future of shopping in 5-10 years & what needs to changeResources MentionedFutureBack MarketConnect with Jean-Louis Warnholz & Amandine DurrConnect with Jean-Louis on LinkedInConnect with Amandine Durr on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?Get in touch!

Today, we’re going to talk about mushrooms. More than a delicious pizza topping, fungi can be useful in many different ways and it might even play a heroic role in addressing climate change. How might mushrooms help? Let's count some of the ways. They can be eaten and help reduce our dependence on animal protein. They can replace animal-based leather, sequester carbon, serve as a biofuel, improve soil health, and thereby reduce our need for fertilizers. They can accelerate reforestation, create an alternative to petroleum-based plastics and packaging, and finally, they can help break down and absorb pollutants. This last use case is called bioremediation and it’s the focus of the startup Mycocycle – a company that’s making impressive progress using mushrooms to clean up waste. We’re joined by Mycocycle Founder and CEO Joanne Rodriguez, as well as one of her investors Ryan Jeffrey, Senior Managing Director at the venture firm and accelerator, Gener8tor. We chatted about the opportunity to transform the waste management sector, how fungi can help, Mycocycle’s traction, Gener8tor’s investment thesis and how they’ve helped Joanne’s journey, and much more. Hope you enjoy this one, mushroom jokes and all. Here we go. In today’s episode, we cover:[3:25] Joanne’s background & how she got to where she is today[4:23] Ryan’s background & how he got to where he is today[5:52] What is Gener8tor?[7:11] Mycocycle, the problem it's aiming to solve & the company’s approach[9:37] The process of leveraging the power of fungi & nature to break down waste[13:47] Why did Gener8tor decide to invest in Mycocycle?[16:14] The role of fungi in battling climate change & the opportunity[18:06] The fungi-for-bioremediation business model[20:45] Surprises & lessons of working with fungi[21:19] The Department of Energy's Argonne National Labs & what it allowed Mycocycle to do[24:08] Mycocycle’s experience with Gener8tor’s accelerator[25:39] Mycocycle’s milestones[26:46] The types of companies that Mycocycle is looking to partner with right now[28:05] Mycocycle’s environmental impact & carbon measurement[29:34] John’s view of milestones & risks for Mycocycle to reach commercial success[30:57] How John sees the space in 3-5 years[33:15] How Joanne sees the space evolving & opportunities to improve waste management[36:34] What’s next for Mycocycle[37:36] A final mushroom jokeResources MentionedMycocycle Gener8torConnect with Joanne Rodriguez & Ryan JeffreyConnect with Joanne Rodriguez on LinkedInConnect with Ryan Jeffrey on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?Get in touch!

When it comes to climate policy we hear a whole lot about what’s happening or not at the federal level, and it's easy to miss the critical role of states and cities in responding to climate change. Whether you know it or not, your local government is shaping how your community is preparing for and responding to climate impacts. It’s also making choices driven by the climate transition that affect your daily life. Building codes, electric vehicle infrastructure, public transportation, waste management, green spaces – maybe these things don’t sound sexy, but they’re central to cutting emissions and creating more resilient, livable communities.Today’s episode focuses on cities, and we’re joined by two City Councilmembers who are leading the climate efforts of two major US cities. Yassamin Ansari is Vice Mayor and Councilmember of Phoenix, Arizona, and Nithya Raman is a Councilmember of Los Angeles. Both Councilmember Ansari and Raman care deeply about climate action, and in this conversation, we discussed how they’re setting their priorities, the progress they’ve made, their goals for the future, and much more. I learned a lot from this conversation and suspect you will as well. Here we go.  In today’s episode, we cover:[3:28] Councilmember Ansari’s background, city & focus on climate[6:59] Councilmember Raman’s background, city & focus on climate[9:13] The role of cities & establishing priorities[14:43] Phoenix’s Office of Heat Response and Mitigation[17:39] Climate justice & equity in LA[20:43] Zero emission policy & decarbonizing the built environment in LA[25:43] New rules & incentives for climate in Phoenix[28:30] LA’s biggest priorities & opportunities[30:41] Phoenix’s biggest priorities & opportunities[32:17] The role of public-private partnerships & examples[37:11] How cities influence the broader climate fight[41:00] How listeners can make a difference at the local levelResources MentionedPhoenix: City Council District 7Los Angeles: City Council District 4Vice Mayor Ansari's Climate RecordCouncilmember Raman's Environment InitiativesPhoenix's Climate Action PlanPhoenix Office of Heat Response and MitigationLA Ordinance: Zero-Emission ConstructionPhoenix Awarded $25M RAISE Grant to Build Rio Salado Bike/Ped BridgeLA Region's South Coast Air Quality Management DistrictConnect with Councilmembers Yassamin Ansari & Nithya RamanConnect with Councilmember Ansari on LinkedInConnect with Councilmember Raman on D4 WebsiteConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships? Get in touch!

Today, we're taking a deep dive into the ocean. Oceans are central to our planet’s climate system. They regulate temperatures, host a vast array of biodiversity, and here's a crucial point - they absorb about a quarter of all CO2 emissions, acting as a massive carbon sink.But this isn't without consequence. Ocean acidification is a direct result of climate change. It's a silent crisis happening beneath the waves, triggering a mass extinction of coral reefs and the diverse ecosystems that depend on them. And, then there’s the crisis of plastics – 10 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year.These threats are real and immediate, but so is the potential for innovation. In this episode, we’re joined by two people working hard to restore ocean health. Brandon Levy is Chief Product Officer at the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, and Bodhi Patil is an activist and organizer who founded Ocean Uprise, a platform enabling thousands of young people to support ocean activism. Both Brandon and Bodhi have their fingers on the pulse of the global effort to restore our oceans’ health. Despite the daunting challenges facing our oceans, this conversation was truly inspiring and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Here we go. In today’s episode, we cover:[3:37] Brandon’s story & role at SOA[8:46] Bodhi’s story & role at Ocean Uprise[15:10] The state of ocean health & how it’s linked to climate change[20:28] The state of ocean investment & SOA’s diversified strategy[24:30] The role of young people & the importance of youth leadership in creating sustainable oceans[30:44] Insights on SOA’s Ocean Solutions Accelerator[34:44] Current initiatives that Bodhi is excited about[41:02] What we need to know about deep-sea mining[44:51] How can listeners support SOA’s work[46:41] Bodhi’s calls to action for people inspired to do more to protect our oceansResources MentionedSustainable Ocean AllianceOcean UpriseParley for the OceansSustainable Ocean Alliance: Ocean Solutions AcceleratorSeabird VenturesFinless FoodsAKUAOnDeck Fisheries AISymbrosiaInvested in Climate: Saving the planet with seaweed, Symbrosia & Sway, Ep #25Coral GardenersInternational Seabed AuthorityNo Deep Sea Mining: Business Statement Supporting a Moratorium on Deep Seabed MiningLook Down ActionInnerLightOne World BreathConnect with Brandon Levy & Bodhi PatilConnect with Brandon on LinkedInConnect with Bodhi on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships? Get in touch!

Addressing climate change is not just about eliminating emissions and removing as much carbon from the atmosphere as possible. It's also about people – how their lives, livelihoods, and communities are disrupted by climate impacts as well as by investments in climate solutions. It’s an issue of equity. Pollution and climate-induced extreme weather are disproportionately felt by people of color and low-income communities. And, historically, large-scale investments in new industries have often disproportionately benefited wealthy people with privileged access. This is where the environmental and climate justice movement comes in. It's a movement that's grown in numbers, strength, and sophistication in recent years. It’s won hard-fought advocacy battles at all levels of government and has also influenced how stakeholders from all sectors think, talk about, and pursue climate action. At the center of this movement is the organization Climate Justice Alliance, a coalition of nearly 100 grassroots organizations, working to create what's called a Just Transition. In this interview, I’m joined by Marion Gee, Co-Executive Director of the Climate Justice Alliance, for a truly informative conversation on the state of the climate justice movement, the principles of a just transition, the role and strategies of the Climate Justice Alliance, and much more. Listen to this one with an open mind, give some thought to how equity issues show up in your work, and enjoy.In today’s episode, we cover:[3:53] The just transition movement, its history & the role Climate Justice Alliance is playing to support it[6:40] About Marion & how she got involved in this work[8:15] The core principle of equitably redistributing resources & power[10:53] What does a regenerative economy look like[12:47] Climate Justice Alliance’s member organizations & how they work together[14:21] How Climate Justice Alliance is creating more collaboration & why community-based organizations are important[16:35] Climate Justice Alliance’s six strategies[22:20] Move the Money: How it’s going & what should we expect to see in the future[24:37] The influx of interest & support for climate action in recent years[30:57] Unpacking the term technofix[33:07] The Inflation Reduction Act: Excitement, concerns & challenges[36:04] Exciting policy efforts & new programs[38:13] Things that must happen in the next few years to achieve a just transition[39:41] How can listeners helpResources MentionedClimate Justice AllianceJustice40 InitiativeWhite House Environmental Justice Advisory CouncilBezos Earth FundDetroit Black Food Security Network - Detroit Food CommonsThe Inflation Reduction ActCommunity to CommunityNuma’lo RefilleryConnect with Marion GeeConnect with Marion on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships? Get in touch!