Taimur Malik

The latest data on the plastics pileup from Crunchbase: as plastic waste soars, so does investment in solutions. Over $300 million has been invested in the last year in companies developing greener consumer products, alternative materials, and improved waste management techniques. Notable solutions include CA based ZenWTR (creating water bottles from recycled ocean-bound plastic), and with Travis Kelce as a lead #investor, Tel Aviv startup UBQ Materials (straddling both waste & alt. material categories), and Hamburg based traceless materials (creating plant based, plastic-free and home compostable materials from leftovers of ag food production). #Sustainability #Startup #Green

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I'm an impact investor and aggregator of alternative funding models; here are key points to consider regarding supporting the transformation of regional regenerative systems with a focus on equitable outcomes: The regenerative agriculture investment landscape is growing, with $321.1 billion in managed assets integrating sustainable food criteria and $47.5 billion related explicitly to regenerative agriculture. (1) Emerging asset classes like farmland, cash, and fixed income are ripe for rapid development to enable regenerative agriculture. (1) As an impact investor, you can support the growth of these alternative financing models while also advocating for mechanisms that prioritize equitable access and community-led initiatives. (1,2) Partnering with local organizations, credit unions, and mission-aligned financial partners can help channel capital to the farmers and communities most in need. (1) Ultimately, transforming regional food systems requires a systems-level approach considering interconnected social, environmental, and economic factors. (2) As an impact investor, you provide patient, flexible capital and technical assistance to enable this holistic, equitable transition. (1,2) 1. https://lnkd.in/gM8GUu2x 2.https://lnkd.in/gvBibV4H

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On May 28th, I'll embark on Terra.do's flagship educational fellowship - Climate Change: Learning for Action. 🌍 In their words: It's a 12-week climate fellowship designed to understand the complexities of climate change and ultimately arrive at your perfect climate role. 🌱 My reasoning: It's a powerful addition to anyone's toolkit, no matter what work they do. Whilst I consider myself knowledgeable about climate change, there's always room for learning, and a lot of my studies have been theoretical and about human systems — what can be done, rather than the intricate workings of climate change itself. 🧠 It's exactly the scientifically rigorous, up-to-date, and structured learning that I need in order to develop and support solutions to climate problems with optimal efficacy. 🔀 Serious problems are interdisciplinary, and this cohort complements our unique individual skill sets — specialised self-study can only get someone so far, and this will equip me to explore individual interests and problem areas with big-picture thinking. 💸 I was sceptical about the price, but Terra accommodates early-career professionals and students for accessibility, so don't let this be a deterrent without investigating for yourself. 🎥📝 Curious? I'll be documenting my experiences along the way! And if, like me, you're interested in developing a razor-sharp grasp of climate science principles, feel free to use this referral code when looking at Terra.do courses: https://lnkd.in/ekCiQ8BY #TerraDo #LearningForAction #ClimateChange

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Such a pleasure to talk with my friend Joanna Pineda on her podcast about what we're doing at Soil Upside! The pull-out quote about carbon compels me to say... There are so many other benefits to climate smart & regenerative ag: improved farm resilience to drought and flood, rural community development, food security, biodiversity protection, water source protection, watershed restoration and so much more! It's really easy to say all of that, but farmers & ranchers are the ones that are living and breathing the complexity of this, making stepwise progress (often with significant setbacks) and taking big risks changing the management practices of their operations. This is complex work and we're trying to help producers by demystifying the chaotic, complex and opaque funding landscape. Here's the episode: https://lnkd.in/ew5TGkgY

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📰 📣 🎇 PR needs to be a core capability for climate tech startups. As climate tech startups launch new technologies and business models to reduce GHG emissions and remove CO2 from the atmosphere, they likely need build markets for their offerings. In addition to "traditional" activities like customer research, product development, and sales, climate tech startups also need to invest in PR capabilities to increase awareness of their solution and influence public policy changes. Thanks to Alex Constantinople (Bessemer Venture Partners), Alex Wilhelm (TechCrunch), JOHN OBRIEN (SBS), and Kelly Ferguson (Claroty) for putting together this great PR guide for startup founders. My takeaways (which I think are true of any stage company in any sector). 🎯 Set clear objectives for your PR activities that support with your business goals 🗣 Be an authentic storyteller -- tell your personal narrative about why / how you founded your company 📈 Don't be afraid to talk about your solution AND your business results 🎣 Nail your messaging to have a hook, details, what in it for them, and an ask 📆 Plan for PR to be a consistent part of your company's operating calendar 💸 Right-size your investment in PR based on your company's size and need Check out the full summary & transcript!! #climatechange #climatecareers #startups

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New technology analysis post coming next week, today I'm sharing my article on the origin and evolution of offsets. it's important that we keep in frame how long it can take to develop new solutions and how much of that goes on without public awareness. To be successful in addressing climate change we need a variety of strategies and we need broader buy-in. VCMs are imperfect but improving and they are acting as the proving grounds that will help regulators and policy wonks to act with greater authority and confidence. Take a peek and let me know where you agree or disagree. p.s. if you have special requests for analysis articles, or want to talk about the problem you're tackling, drop a comment.

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Exploring the intersection of sheltertech and climate tech uncovers immense potential for transformative impact. The built environment, responsible for a significant share of global emissions, offers a prime opportunity for innovation and sustainable development. This journey through the emerging opportunities in sheltertech investment has revealed a pressing need to bridge the gap between our climate ambitions and the realities of urban development. By prioritizing investments in affordable, sustainable housing technologies, we have the power to catalyze climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. This is not just about building homes; it's about reshaping our future towards a more sustainable and equitable world. Let's take this call to action seriously and leverage sheltertech as a pivotal arena for driving environmental sustainability and social well-being. For a deeper understanding and to explore the opportunities within sheltertech, I encourage you to check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eHrjw3c5 #Proptech #ShelterTech #Sustainability

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It takes 50 years to reabsorb deforestation emmissions! You often hear/read me drone on about the critical importance of avoidance carbon credits, particularly in the context of avoided deforestation. Steve Zwick elegantly summarised why those in the nature based solutions space insist on avoidance credits, citing this 2019 paper from Nature: One hectare of deforestation emits 355 tons of CO2 (all at once). One hectare of reforestation absorbs 6.7 tons of CO2 per year. In other words, it will take 50 years for newly planted trees to reabsorb the carbon released by every hectare deforested today. Reforestation is great, but stopping deforestation and degradation is critical. When you find yourself in a hole and want to get out: first, stop digging. https://lnkd.in/eyjqSEED

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How sustetability impact other key sectors  The growing trend among Venture Capital investors for sustainability is transforming diverse economic sectors, with agriculture at the forefront of this revolution. What is driving this change and how does sustainability benefit other sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, and clean technologies?  The integration of Environmental, Social, and corporate Governance criteria (ESG) is driving a significant transformation in agriculture.  It is also crucial to promote this sector, not only because of its environmental and economic implications but also because it plays a fundamental role at the social level. Particularly, its development and improvement in agricultural practices not only seek to increase productivity and environmental sustainability but also to guarantee food safety and promote social equity in access to these resources.  In this way, investors are increasingly recognizing that sustainable practices are not only ethical but also profitable. Examples of how ESG investing has led to more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices range from the adoption of soil conservation techniques to the implementation of smart irrigation systems. They undoubtedly reflect the transformation of agriculture into a green revolution.  Innovation in agriculture  Technological innovation is a fundamental pillar in this transformation. Technologies such as precision agriculture and the use of the Internet of Things for crop monitoring are revolutionizing the way agriculture is practiced. Precision agriculture, through the use of sensors and data analytics, allows farmers to monitor the conditions of their crops in real-time and optimize their farming practices. From precise fertilizer application to early detection of plant diseases, these technologies are improving efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.  Benefits of using these technologies  The positive impact of these sustainable agriculture practices is not only limited to this sector. The implementation of renewable energy on farms, such as the installation of solar panels or wind turbines, not only reduces the carbon footprint of farms but also contributes to the diversification of the energy matrix and the development of rural communities. In addition, the adoption of sustainable infrastructure, such as efficient irrigation systems and farm buildings designed to maximize energy efficiency, generates a triple impact: environmental, social, as well as cost-effective. It is worth noting that the quest for sustainability is transforming agriculture and other key economic sectors. The integration of ESG criteria and the adoption of innovative technologies generate economic, environmental, and social benefits. Collaboration between the different parts of the ecosystem, from companies, governments, and investors, is essential to accelerate this transition to a greener and more equitable economy.

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INVESTING IN CLIMATE TECH IS SOOO SIMPLE: PART I After a spectacular closing session to #ClimateWeekSF at 9Zero, I thought I'd share a few morsels from our sustainable VC session (organized by Niki Gastinel & moderated by Ron Erd w/ fellow panelists Joshua Posamentier Nare Janvelyan, PhD & Shaun Chaudhuri). Top 3 DD questions I seek to answer: I         Would I work for this person? I've been a founder 5x (3 startups, 2 VC funds) & always seeking to grow. When I'm being pitched by a founder, I imagine what it would be like to work for them, because, while team is important, the CEO is everything. The CEOs I back have: ·     Command of the Market: They are intimate with & drive discourse on distro channels, market players/dynamics, the competitive landscape & where the ball is going. All about founder-market fit! ·     Evangelical Sales Ability: They’re always selling, intelligently, whether it’s for recruiting, fund-raising, distribution... ·     EQ IQ: I back intelligent founders but I want that paired with street savvy & deep understanding of what to prioritize & when, not just how to do it. I look for emotional intelligence & how they read the room & adjust comms. I look for CEOs that have done the hard work on their own personal growth & have the right lens to make big decisions. ·     Battle-tested: I look for founders that are resilient & risk-tolerant. They have been tested in some aspect of their lives: personal challenges (athletics, hardship, military) and/or professional challenges. II        Is there a Big Accessible Market (BAM)? ·     Big TAM: I invest in companies seeking unicorn performance (financial & impact). Matters less where the TAM is today but more importantly where it's going. ·     Clear and Present Sales Channel: I want to see a beefy sales channel(s) with a clear decision maker; tangible, massive pain for this painkiller solution (not a vitamin); and an accretive path for the customer. Know who your actual buyer is. Hint: It’s not the sustainability exec! ·     Weighted Average Pipeline: I want to see a well thought out, organized sales pipeline that is dynamically linked to your financial forecasts & produces a justifiable exciting ARR forecast. ·     Product Market Fit: Because we do seed, we only see the beginnings of traction & sometimes focusing too much on fit can lead to a false negative. This is the time for risk-taking & iteration so you can learn. It’s more about DDing the product as an extension of how the team thinks & executes. III      Is There Big Accessible Impact? ·     Paul Hawken: We have Paul & he is unabashed about rooting out pretenders when it comes to impact. If he doesn’t buy your impact, we won’t invest. It’s that simple. ·     Qualitative: Because we are software first & seed stage investors, we don’t do hard core quant on your impact. We do our best to gauge the potential decarbonization impact of your company at scale. You know it when you see it. What questions do you ask?

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A fascinating categorization of #CDR in an article exploring the "#CDR #emissions gap" in the latest edition of Nature Climate Change: > Conventional CDR on land: This includes #afforestation, in which trees are planted when previously there were none, and #reforestation, which means restoring areas where the trees have been cut down or degraded. > Novel CDR: This includes all CDR methods that are not based on #forestry and #landuse change, such as #biochar, #directaircapture (#DAC) and #bioenergy with #carboncapture and storage (BECCS). I understand this grouping, but I would argue that categorizing #CDR by Engineered Solution and #NatureBased solution might be more telling. I suspect it allows a more accurate assessment of scalability and #CarbonInvestmentEfficiency (#CIE). https://lnkd.in/gzTdydN3

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🌍💡 Embracing Interoperability: The Evolution of Carbon Markets 💡🌍 The landscape of carbon markets is rapidly evolving, with a significant shift towards fungibility and interoperability. What does this mean? We (at the SoHo Global Climate Fund) spoke with leading climate fund manager, Charles Bedford of Carbon Growth Partners, to shed light on this important trend in the carbon markets. It's about creating seamless connections between compliance and voluntary markets, allowing for the exchange and recognition of carbon credits across borders and sectors. This trend marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts towards combating climate change. By enabling carbon credits to be fungible and interoperable, we're fostering a more efficient and scalable approach to carbon pricing and emissions reduction strategies. Companies and organizations now have greater flexibility to participate in markets that align with their goals. #CarbonMarkets #ClimateAction #Fungibility #Interoperability #Sustainability #Innovation #GlobalImpact

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Climate Capital Guidebook: The Biden-Harris Administration is releasing a new Climate Capital Guidebook to provide a simple, comprehensive map of capital programs across the federal government that are available to climate-related start-ups, small- and medium-sized businesses, and their investors. While larger, institutionally-backed climate companies may have the resources to identify and access federal funding opportunities, smaller enterprises may face greater challenges in navigating these federal programs. https://lnkd.in/eJ3QV4Fw #climatechange #climatetech

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You may have seen a number of articles in the last day or so with the headline: "Market-based approaches to forest conservation like carbon offsets and deforestation-free certification schemes have largely failed to protect trees or alleviate poverty, according to a major scientific review published Monday." Actually, the articles are almost all the same and appear to be based on this article in Phys.org: https://lnkd.in/eM-i3zzu They all end with the same quote from one of the authors: "We advocate for a radical rethink". I was curious - what is this 'radical rethink'? I couldn't find the major scientific review when I looked for it on IUFRO - International Union of Forest Research Organizations' website Monday (what a "busy" website!). Despite getting plenty of coverage (I first heard about it listening to the BBC World Service news on the radio yesterday morning) the review is not on the IUFRO front page, nor in the "latest news" feature. I couldn't find it in the Publications drop-down menu. Sigh. I gave up... With renewed determination, I found it today tucked away under a hyperlink that unhelpfully says a new study "is being developed": https://lnkd.in/eJZHBN4A I have now read the 153-page report. The 'radical alternatives' are presented in less than one page, right at the end (on p150): - a reduced consumption/de-growth discourse - local-based, people-centered approaches There is no justification nor evidence provided to support how these alternatives are likely to be any more effective than market-based approaches. There is some interesting stuff in the review (if I have time, I would like to say more about chapter 2), but the headlines are overblown.

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Good to see more progress from colleagues at The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) in efforts to build end to end integrity in the VCMs. The helps the buyers VCMI focuses on identity high integrity credits. https://lnkd.in/dJMSNxus #carbonmarkets #integrity #climatefinance

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We are living in a world that embodies our Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology investment thesis at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund: Escalating Geopolitical Tensions & Great Power Competition; The Climate Crisis & Severe Weather; Consumer Behavior & Demographics. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital

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Kudos to Abigail Bassett and Climatebase for the excellent explainer on carbon offsets and the new Biden administration framework. 3 Key takeaways: 1. We cannot abandon private sector financing of SDG projects. Bravo to the administration's attempts to re-establish U.S. leadership in global climate efforts. We need to embrace a range of climate change strategies beyond domestic regulation and public funding. 2. Not "throwing the baby out with the bath water" - While the Biden administration's carbon offset guidelines are not perfect and face valid criticisms, they demonstrate a willingness to explore innovative policy tools and leverage private sector resources to tackle climate change. 3. Establishing standards for high-integrity offsets can help combat greenwashing - Offset projects that drive real, additional emissions reductions can lead to substantive sustainable impact. This nuanced position acknowledges the complexity of the challenge and the need for pragmatic solutions that engage multiple stakeholders. Are the days of unilateral approaches that promote domestic fossil fuel industries without consideration for international collaboration or market-based solutions behind us? I hope so. https://lnkd.in/eMdeyXd3 #sustainability #carbonoffsets #solutions #SDGs

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🌎 In climate discussions, food systems often get short shrift, even though food systems are responsible for one-third of emissions, including the plurality of methane emissions, and even though food systems are likely as important to climate goals as energy production, when you include both emissions reductions and sequestration possibilities (see, e.g., https://lnkd.in/e_n_-meZ). So mega-kudos to TED Conferences for focusing their entire third climate TED (TED Countdown) on food systems. Bravo in particular to David Biello, Lindsay Levin, + Nicole Ng - brilliant program, flawless execution, and terrific emceeing! Too many highlights to hit them all, but I will just note one thing that I've not seen anywhere else: This this was *the largest cultivated meat meal in the history of the world.* Mega-kudos to Uma Valeti, MD and the UPSIDE Foods team for serving the entire conference. And here's one for the history books: At lunch, they ran out of mushrooms, so they subbed in cultivated meat! 😊 🤸‍♂️ Anyway, so many inspiring people doing so many inspiring and world-changing things. Thanks again to the entire TED, Leaders'​ Quest, & Conspirators teams for all your amazing work; I know it's a ton of effort to make something go that beautifully - bravo. The whole thing was a total inspiration. #INSPIRED #HOPEFUL #WINNING

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Landing back from #nyc and a great week at the Global AgInvesting conference, it’s clear that the weather has changed since last week and the presence of the winters #flooding has started to subside. When we ran a farming academy in Northumberland with the Understanding Ag, LLC - Experts in Regenerative Ag in October 2022, one of the profound comments was around the suitability for #agriculture and #regenerativeagriculture in the UK’s climate. Yesterday WIRED published an article on ‘the rise of the carbon farmer’ which provides a positive lens on the potential impact of agriculture to sequester carbon. If soil health beneficial practices are used to generate regenerative outcomes. Quoting UK #organic farmer Patrick Holden. “My farm’s been farmed organically for 51 years,” says Patrick Holden “I’ve built up soil carbon, my operation is now carbon-negative—if I was to switch to intensive methods then theoretically I could burn up that carbon stock. But if I was paid to be a carbon steward, I’m not going to do that.” Having experienced one of the wettest winters on record, let’s not forget the value of slowing down and filtering water with #healthysoils. Ryan Cameron Nicholas Burlington Addy Windsor-Clive Paul Benjamin Alvaro Aguirre Taimur Malik Jeremy Stroud Ananya Manna Jackson Baris Matt Jordon Regenerate Asset Management Regenerate Outcomes Rodale Institute https://lnkd.in/e8cP6AAu

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