What is blended finance?

Why blended finance is gaining attention

Asia projects that could benefit

How much money is flowing in?

Drawbacks and risks of blended finance

COP30: Roadmap for US$1.3T climate finance

Public, private and philanthropic money is proving to be a successful mix to accelerate climate action. 

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

When it comes to climate action, financiers are increasingly turning to the Three Ps to find the cash they need: Public, private and philanthropic money. 

With trillions of dollars needed annually to shift the world away from polluting fossil fuels, cash-strapped governments don’t have the financial muscle to do this. Much of the money needs to come from the private sector, with philanthropy providing a much needed boost. 

This mix of money from all three, called blended finance, is designed to be cheaper concessional capital. It helps de-risk early-stage investments, especially in developing nations, and helps attract more investors. In 2023, climate blended finance totalled US$18.3 billion, up from about US$6 billion in 2015. 

But while the amount is growing, it’s still a fraction of what is needed. Are there positive signs blended finance can be significantly scaled up? And is there a risk only certain types of projects will be attractive candidates for blended finance?

Join Green Pulse hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty as they discuss these questions in this episode. 

Have a listen and let us know your thoughts!

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

1:13 What is blended finance?

5:16 Why is blended finance becoming increasingly talked about?

8:52 What are some of the projects in Asia that could benefit?

10:40 How much money has been flowing into blended finance, especially for climate projects?

13:04 But what are some of the drawbacks – is there a risk that some types of projects will miss out?

18:06 COP30: If a roadmap for US$1.3 trillion in climate finance is sketched out, this could be a big boost.

Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W

Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2

Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/jcvy

Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu

Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#greenpulse

Public, private and philanthropic money is proving to be a successful mix to accelerate climate action.&nbsp;
Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.
When it comes to climate action, financiers are increasingly turning to the Three Ps to find the cash they need: Public, private and philanthropic money.&nbsp;
With trillions of dollars needed annually to shift the world away from polluting fossil fuels, cash-strapped governments don&rsquo;t have the financial muscle to do this. Much of the money needs to come from the private sector, with philanthropy providing a much needed boost.&nbsp;
This mix of money from all three, called blended finance, is designed to be cheaper concessional capital. It helps de-risk early-stage investments, especially in developing nations, and helps attract more investors. In 2023, climate blended finance totalled US$18.3 billion, up from about US$6 billion in 2015.&nbsp;
But while the amount is growing, it&rsquo;s still a fraction of what is needed. Are there positive signs blended finance can be significantly scaled up? And is there a risk only certain types of projects will be attractive candidates for blended finance?
Join Green Pulse hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty as they discuss these questions in this episode.&nbsp;
Have a listen and let us know your thoughts!
Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):
1:13 What is blended finance?
5:16 Why is blended finance becoming increasingly talked about?
8:52 What are some of the projects in Asia that could benefit?
10:40 How much money has been flowing into blended finance, especially for climate projects?
13:04 But what are some of the drawbacks &ndash; is there a risk that some types of projects will miss out?
18:06 COP30: If a roadmap for US$1.3 trillion in climate finance is sketched out, this could be a big boost.
Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/848W">https://str.sg/848W</a>
Read her articles: <a href="https://str.sg/JLM2">https://str.sg/JLM2</a>
Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/jcvy">https://str.sg/jcvy</a>
Read his articles: <a href="https://str.sg/JLMu">https://str.sg/JLMu</a>
Hosts: Audrey Tan (<a href="mailto:audreyt@sph.com.sg">audreyt@sph.com.sg</a>) &amp; David Fogarty (<a href="mailto:dfogarty@sph.com.sg">dfogarty@sph.com.sg</a>)
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/JWaf"> https://str.sg/JWaf</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/JWaY"> https://str.sg/JWaY</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/JWag"> https://str.sg/JWag</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-stringify-link="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-sk="tooltip_parent">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#greenpulse

The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Podcasters: Audrey Tan & David Fogarty

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.
Podcasters: Audrey Tan &amp; David Fogarty
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.