Sustainable Finance helps move the resources people need to develop a just and prosperous world. Alongside the public and private sectors, we work to transform the global financial system so that capital flows at the speed and scale the climate crisis demands — mobilizing capital, aligning financial actors with climate goals, and building a resilient, just, and zero-emission future for all.
The challenge
While progress has been made toward mobilizing climate finance in recent years, reaching an estimated $2 trillion in 2024 — nearly double 2018 levels — it’s not nearly enough. According to recent estimates, the investment required to combat climate change will reach over $7 trillion annually by 2030 — leaving a significant gap.
Finance must also flow in the right direction: away from unequally distributed, high-carbon activities and towards activities that improve livelihoods and build resilient communities in the long term.
To truly unlock sustainable finance at scale, we need to build bridges across a range of sustainability issues by identifying public and private finance levers and pathways to drive equitable mitigation and adaptation.
The opportunity
As calls for financial system reforms gain momentum, there is an opportunity to shift the conversation from commitments to real-world benefits for all members of society. Sustainable Finance ensures funds flow to key sectors and communities, steering critical transitions and aligning financial frameworks with climate and development goals at the global, local, and sectoral levels.
Governments that effectively deploy public finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation open up substantial opportunities, driving down the costs of cutting-edge technologies and supporting communities in transition.
The private sector also has a central role to play. Through sustainability disclosures, innovative financial structures, and responsible political engagement, the business community can help drive toward the technologies and transitions that strengthen long-term competitiveness and resilience.
Our approach
Fundamental changes in global financial and economic systems must take place to foster a resilient, just, and prosperous world.
We address this by:
Sparking climate action investment
We support grantees working to ensure that investments by the public and private sectors enable a virtuous cycle of climate action.
Mobilizing and shifting finance
We support opportunities for G20 countries to strengthen financial regulation, fiscal policy, and public finance to align and mobilize capital with climate goals and drive significant progress towards deploying sustainable finance at scale globally, working with regional and sector experts, funders, and local organizations to maximize impact.
Centering community development
Our grantees help trigger economic development and support mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and justice-centered strategies that ensure investments in emissions reductions benefit all communities — particularly those most vulnerable to climate impacts — and are shaped through inclusive, locally grounded practices.
Impact
By 2030, public and private finance levers work together to mobilize capital at the speed and scale the climate crisis demands, reducing emissions and building resilient economies. Here’s how we’ll get there:
