Webinar

Watch On Demand: From Ambition to Bankability – What Really Unlocks Carbon Market Investment?

Posted on by Terence Plato
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON DEMAND

The webinar explored the key ingredients that transform carbon projects from ambitious ideas into bankable investments. Speakers highlighted that while capital exists for high-quality carbon projects, access to that capital depends on much more than having a strong climate impact narrative.

Across different project types and financing structures, a number of themes emerged consistently: credible offtake agreements, strong project differentiation, robust MRV systems, regulatory clarity and developer readiness. Investors increasingly require evidence of delivery, realistic risk management structures and projects that can demonstrate long-term commercial viability.
The discussion also reinforced that project developers must understand the type of capital they are seeking and ensure their project maturity aligns with investor expectations. Ultimately, successful fundraising requires strong fundamentals, clear market positioning and the ability to build confidence among financiers and carbon buyers alike.
“Capital is available. It’s really about how you bring all the ingredients together.”
– Vibhav Newell
MODERATOR:
  • Reshma Shah, Carbon Markets Lead, FSD Africa
SPEAKERS:
  • Martin Freimuller, Co-Founder & CEO, Octavia Carbon
  • Vibhav Newell, Climate Finance Director, UpEnergy
  • Zarek Pasha, Head of Carbon Finance, Standard Chartered
KEY TAKEAWAYS

Differentiation Drives Investor Interest – Carbon projects need a clear and credible point of differentiation. Investors and buyers are increasingly looking for projects that stand out through innovation, quality, impact or market positioning.

Offtake Agreements Remain Critical – Bankable offtake contracts continue to be one of the strongest signals for financiers. The credibility of the buyer, contract structure and delivery commitments play a major role in unlocking investment.

MRV and Data Quality Build Confidence – Robust monitoring, reporting and verification systems are becoming increasingly important. Investors want confidence that projected carbon outcomes can be measured, verified and delivered.

Match the Capital to the Project Stage – Different investors have different risk appetites. Project developers must align their financing strategy with the maturity of their project and the expectations of potential funders.

Regulatory Clarity Reduces Risk – Policy certainty, Article 6 frameworks and clear carbon market regulations help reduce investment risk and make projects more attractive to capital providers.