As climate commitments become more ambitious, organizations are now faced with a pressing challenge: how to turn strategic decarbonization plans into real, financeable carbon projects. This was the central theme of our recent CarbonSmart Conversations, where climate strategists, project developers, and finance professionals came together to discuss the path from intention to implementation.
Planning Is Not Enough
Most companies today have outlined some form of net-zero roadmap. However, only a fraction have operationalized those plans into on-the-ground projects. Why? Because designing a credible climate strategy is only the beginning. The real challenge lies in translating those goals into bankable, scalable, and technically sound initiatives.
Speakers emphasized that project finance teams should not be the last to be involved. Instead, bringing finance leaders into climate strategy conversations early allows for better alignment between capital availability, risk appetite, and technical ambition.
What Makes a Project “Finance-Ready”?
A key question raised during the event was: “When is a carbon project truly ready for investment?”
The answers pointed toward a few essentials:
A well-defined carbon abatement potential, backed by reliable data
Strong MRV protocols (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification)
Risk mitigation measures – especially for emerging technologies or geographies
A clear business model for returns (e.g. carbon credits, energy savings, ESG-linked revenue)
From Fragmentation to Integration
One recurring theme was the disconnect between departments. Sustainability leads often drive carbon planning, while project execution depends on procurement, operations, and finance.
The most successful examples shared came from companies that built cross-functional carbon taskforces, integrated sustainability into CapEx planning, and developed a pipeline of “shovel-ready” carbon reduction projects.
A Look Ahead
The conversation closed with optimism. The tools, capital, and expertise do exist—but they require intentional alignment. As one panelist noted:
“It’s not about having the best carbon strategy on paper. It’s about having one project in the ground that works—and scaling from there.”
For organizations ready to turn climate ambition into financed action, this conversation made one thing clear: the time to build is now.
