Background
City finance lab
Background
The City Finance Lab, a joint venture between EIT Climate-KIC and South Pole, was founded to support the development of innovative and well-designed financial solutions which can remove barriers to investment in sustainable cities. Read more on the investment barriers cities face.
It is the first dedicated European platform to focus on the development of innovative financial solutions which increase investment in climate-resilient, low-carbon and green urban projects.
It supports financial innovators by bringing together leading city finance experts from public, private and philanthropic organisations to develop their ideas with the aim to implement, scale and replicate them. By doing so, it also aims to catalyse broader public and private sector efforts to increase green investment.
The City Finance Lab aims to mobilise EUR 500 million over the next five years for the transition to sustainable, low-carbon and climate-resilient cities.
Who is behind the City Finance Lab?
Lead partners
South Pole is a leading provider of global sustainability financing solutions and services. For more than a decade, South Pole has worked with a wide range of public, private and civil sector organisations to accelerate the transition to a climate-smart society. South Pole has mobilised climate finance for over 700 projects in emission reduction, renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable land-use, acting today ‘for a better tomorrow’.
South Pole acts as secretariat for the City Finance Lab. Contact us here: cityfinancelab@southpole.com.
Hans Peter Egler Director of Public Affairs South Pole
EIT Climate-KIC is a knowledge innovation community with a nine-year track record in catalysing innovation to address climate change, established and funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
EIT Climate-KIC is the main funder of the City Finance Lab. It supports the lab through its strong network of cities and actors in municipal climate finance and also provides communications support. As a funder, Climate-KIC features on the City Finance Lab Committee.
Teodora Virban Project Manager EIT Climate-KIC Low Carbon City Lab
Supporting partners
CDP is an international non-profit that drives companies, cities, states and regions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), safeguard water resources and protect forests.
The Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV) is an NGO which supports emerging and developing local authorities in accessing the necessary financial resources to finance their urban development projects. FMDV acts as an advisor and networking partner to the City Finance Lab and supports the lab in the selection of experts to support initiatives.
Global Infrastructure Basel (GIB) Foundation is a Swiss foundation based in Basel working to promote sustainable and resilient infrastructure through sustainable infrastructure design and financing on a global scale.
GIB acts as an advisor and networking partner to the City Finance Lab and supports the lab in the selection of experts to support initiatives.
The Center for Climate Finance and Investment at Imperial College London helps investors and policymakers to overcome the current lack of clarity about risk and return in emerging clean technology sectors. Imperial College acts as an advisor to the City Finance Lab.