Untangling Climate Finance

In this episode of the The Future of Finance podcast, host Georges Dyer sits down with Sean Penrith, founder and CEO of Gordian Knot Strategies, to explore how capital can be more effectively deployed to combat climate change. With two decades of experience in climate finance, Sean shares insights into the firm’s mission to mobilize $1 billion annually by 2030 through innovative climate investment strategies. They dive into the power and pitfalls of voluntary and compliance carbon markets, the potential of nature-based solutions like reforestation, grassland restoration, and peatlands, and the challenge of aligning returns with impact. Sean also reflects on systemic barriers, the importance of systems thinking, and the role of policy in scaling climate solutions. It’s a deep and candid conversation about connecting capital to climate action—and doing it with integrity.Keywords: Climate finance, carbon markets, nature-based solutions, impact investing, gordian knot strategies, systems thinking, philanthropic capital, reforestation, voluntary versus compliance markets, credit enhancement mechanisms--About: The Future of Finance PodcastJoin us as we dive into the transformative power of finance and its potential to create a sustainable, equitable future. Hosted by Georges Dyer, Executive Director of the Intentional Endowments Network, this podcast brings together trailblazing experts, visionary investors, passionate students, and innovative thinkers across finance, academia, sustainability, policy, and civil society. Through engaging conversations, we explore big ideas like sustainable investing, impact-driven strategies, reimagining capitalism, tackling climate change, reducing inequality, and reshaping economic systems to better serve people and the planet. Whether you’re a student aspiring to shape the future of finance or an investor seeking meaningful impact, this podcast is your gateway to understanding how the financial system can evolve to meet today’s challenges and restore the natural systems we all depend on. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation shaping the future!Learn more here: https://thefutureoffinance.podbean.com/

In this episode, Jay speaks with Maria Filmanovic, Co-Founder and Director of Abatable, to explore how risk, transparency, and trust are helping reshape the voluntary carbon market. They dive into why carbon market integrity must go beyond quality, and how a more rigorous approach to risk is key to scaling credible climate finance.Maria explains how Abatable is helping organizations navigate carbon procurement with better data, stronger due diligence, and tools like the VCM Investment Attractiveness Index. She also shares insights into how political, operational, and methodological risks shape project viability, and what it takes to build investor confidence in a complex and fast-evolving landscape.Tune in to learn why risk is the missing piece in many climate finance conversations, and how Abatable is working to turn carbon markets into engines of real, lasting impact.--About:⁠Untangling Climate Finance⁠ explores the dynamic field of climate change finance through conversations with industry experts about topics including climate solutions, global carbon markets, carbon projects, novel technologies such as AI and distributed ledger, and much more.If you have any questions, comments, a future guest recommendation, or are interested in joining Jay for an episode, please shoot him a message at: ⁠jtipton@gordianknotstrategies.com⁠Credits:The podcast is produced by ⁠⁠Gordian Knot Strategies⁠⁠.It is written, narrated, and edited by ⁠⁠Jay Tipton⁠⁠.Music is by ⁠⁠Diamond_Tunes⁠. 

Tuesday, July 15, 2025Sliced: Grants in Climate FinanceThis edition of Sliced dives into an unsung hero of climate finance - grants. From supporting frontline communities to unlocking innovation, grants are powering some of the most importat, but often overlooked, climate solutions.--Sliced is a weekly short-form dispatch released every Tuesday that features original thought pieces from our team members with the goal of slicing apart the various complex aspects of climate finance. If you want to check out the written version of Sliced, click here. And if you want to receive Sliced to your inbox, click ⁠here⁠. Sliced is produced by ⁠Gordian Knot Strategies⁠. It is written, narrated, and edited by ⁠Jay Tipton⁠. Visit us at www.gordianknotstrategies.com. Music is by ⁠Coma-Media.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025Sliced: Climate Finance and Extreme HeatThis edition of Sliced dives into how climate finance can help cities adapt to extreme heat - with insights from Europe’s record-breaking summer and innovative solutions like Seville’s ancient-inspired cooling project.--Sliced is a weekly short-form dispatch released every Tuesday that features original thought pieces from our team members with the goal of slicing apart the various complex aspects of climate finance. If you want to check out the written version of Sliced, click here. And if you want to receive Sliced to your inbox, click ⁠here⁠. Sliced is produced by ⁠Gordian Knot Strategies⁠. It is written, narrated, and edited by ⁠Jay Tipton⁠. Visit us at www.gordianknotstrategies.com. Music is by ⁠Coma-Media.

In this episode, Jay speaks with Eric Wei, Carbon Credit Program Director at the Global Water Center, to explore how carbon finance is being used to scale safe water access in some of the world’s most underserved regions. They dive into how water-based carbon credits are emerging as a powerful, if underutilized, tool in the climate finance toolkit.Eric explains how Global Water Center (GWC) is helping small and mid-sized water project developers access the voluntary carbon market, generate long-term operational funding, and build resilient, community-owned infrastructure. He also shares details about GWC’s new Carbon Aggregation Platform (CAP), designed to lower the barriers for smaller developers and accelerate project deployment.Give it a listen to learn why water is more than a co-benefit in climate finance - and how carbon credits can help turn a global crisis into a scalable solution.Resources:Eric Wei - ewei@GlobalWaterCenter.org Global Water Center - https://globalwatercenter.org/--About:⁠Untangling Climate Finance⁠ explores the dynamic field of climate change finance through conversations with industry experts about topics including climate solutions, global carbon markets, carbon projects, novel technologies such as AI and distributed ledger, and much more.If you have any questions, comments, a future guest recommendation, or are interested in joining Jay for an episode, please shoot him a message at: ⁠jtipton@gordianknotstrategies.com⁠Credits:The podcast is produced by ⁠⁠Gordian Knot Strategies⁠⁠.It is written, narrated, and edited by ⁠⁠Jay Tipton⁠⁠.Music is by ⁠⁠Diamond_Tunes⁠. 

Tuesday, June 17, 2025Sliced: How to Volunteer for the Planet and CommunitiesThis edition of Sliced explores how to volunteer for the planet and your community - from local cleanups to virtual organizing. Wherever you are, there's a role for you in the climate movement.--Sliced is a weekly short-form dispatch released every Tuesday that features original thought pieces from our team members with the goal of slicing apart the various complex aspects of climate finance. If you want to check out the written version of Sliced, click here. And if you want to receive Sliced to your inbox, click ⁠here⁠. Sliced is produced by ⁠Gordian Knot Strategies⁠. It is written, narrated, and edited by ⁠Jay Tipton⁠. Visit us at www.gordianknotstrategies.com. Music is by ⁠Coma-Media.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025Sliced: Protecting Grasslands with Climate FinanceThis edition spotlights grasslands - vital yet vanishing ecosystems that store carbon, support biodiversity, and feed over a billion people. We explore how climate finance is helping restore them, from carbon markets to catalytic capital. and highlight the Savory Institute’s groundbreaking EOV model driving outcome-based impact on the ground.--Sliced is a weekly short-form dispatch released every Tuesday that features original thought pieces from our team members with the goal of slicing apart the various complex aspects of climate finance. If you want to check out the written version of Sliced, click here. And if you want to receive Sliced to your inbox, click ⁠here⁠. Sliced is produced by ⁠Gordian Knot Strategies⁠. It is written, narrated, and edited by ⁠Jay Tipton⁠. Visit us at www.gordianknotstrategies.com. Music is by ⁠Coma-Media.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025Sliced: Why Smart Investments Start with Ecological UnderstandingIn this edition, we explore the hidden risks of planting the wrong trees in the wrong places. Using Galicia’s wildfire-prone eucalyptus forests as a case study, we dive into why due diligence is essential in nature-based investments. Not all green solutions are created equal - ecological context matters.--Sliced is a weekly short-form dispatch released every Tuesday that features original thought pieces from our team members with the goal of slicing apart the various complex aspects of climate finance. If you want to check out the written version of Sliced, click here. And if you want to receive Sliced to your inbox, click ⁠here⁠. Sliced is produced by ⁠Gordian Knot Strategies⁠. It is written, narrated, and edited by ⁠Jay Tipton⁠. Visit us at www.gordianknotstrategies.com. Music is by ⁠Coma-Media.

In this episode, Jay speaks with Chris Slater, CEO & Founder of Oka, The Carbon Insurance Company, to explore how insurance is becoming a cornerstone of climate finance and a key enabler for carbon project development. They discuss how carbon insurance is reducing financial risk, unlocking investment, and helping climate projects scale faster and more securely.Chris breaks down how Oka’s insurance products - like Pre-Payment Protect and Non-Payment Protect - are designed to work alongside banks, investors, and impact funds to structure deals and support capital flow into high-quality carbon projects. He also talks about why project developers carry most of the risk in today’s markets, and how Oka is shifting that burden through tailored coverage.Give it a listen to learn how risk mitigation is driving climate finance forward, and why insurance might be the unlock the carbon markets have been waiting for.--About:Untangling Climate Finance⁠ explores the dynamic field of climate change finance through conversations with industry experts about topics including climate solutions, global carbon markets, carbon projects, novel technologies such as AI and distributed ledger, and much more.If you have any questions, comments, a future guest recommendation, or are interested in joining Jay for an episode, please shoot him a message at: ⁠jtipton@gordianknotstrategies.com⁠Credits:The podcast is produced by ⁠⁠Gordian Knot Strategies⁠⁠.It is written, narrated, and edited by ⁠⁠Jay Tipton⁠⁠.Music is by ⁠⁠Diamond_Tunes⁠. 

Tuesday, May 13, 2025Sliced: Biomass StorageIn this edition, we explore Biomass Storage - an emerging solution in carbon dioxide removal. With innovations in terrestrial and marine storage, biomass is quickly becoming a player in the path to net-zero.--Sliced is a weekly short-form dispatch released every Tuesday that features original thought pieces from our team members with the goal of slicing apart the various complex aspects of climate finance. If you want to check out the written version of Sliced, click here. And if you want to receive Sliced to your inbox, click ⁠here⁠. Sliced is produced by ⁠Gordian Knot Strategies⁠. It is written, narrated, and edited by ⁠Jay Tipton⁠. Visit us at www.gordianknotstrategies.com. Music is by ⁠Coma-Media.