The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), created during the COP26 climate conference in 2021, has incorporated the sector specific Venture Climate Alliance (VCA).
Made up of 23 VC firms across the US and Europe, VCA members have committed to supporting a transition to net zero or negative carbon emissions by 2050, and are expected to take concrete steps to achieve this goal.
This net zero aim applies both within the respective firms and in their roles as investors and advisors to their portfolio companies.
Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of England and co-chair of GFANZ, said: “Investing into climate solutions is a critical, foundational pillar of a comprehensive, economy-wide transition to net zero, and one of the four financing strategies in the GFANZ net zero transition plan framework."
He stressed that "in keeping with our industry-led approach to date, we welcome the launch of the Venture Climate Alliance as a new sector-specific alliance under GFANZ, and applaud efforts by venture investors to establish workable and high-integrity standards for tracking the contributions of early-stage innovations in the transition to net zero."
In joining the VCA, member firms have also committed to inventory their direct Scope 1-3 carbon footprint and to reach net zero or negative emissions for their own firm’s operations by 2030 or sooner.
Members will also be expected to encourage and assist their portfolio companies in setting their own targets to achieve net zero alignment by 2050 or sooner. Disclosure guidance is expected to be developed over the coming year.
Gabriel Kra, managing director at Prelude Ventures and founding member of the VCA, said: “We invest in climate tech companies that are transforming multi-billion dollar industries. As public markets, asset managers, and policymakers implement 2050 decarbonization goals, disclosure of climate-related risks, carbon emissions, and impact will matter for everyone, including those at the earliest stages of business building.
Kra stated that "as investors, it’s our role to prepare our teams for the realities of the markets that they’re operating in.”
The VCA’s additional founding members are Capricorn Investment Group, DCVC, Energy Impact Partners, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Kleiner Perkins, S2G Ventures, Union Square Ventures, World Fund, and 2150.
Additional members include Obvious Ventures, Congruent Ventures, Valo Ventures, Clean Energy Ventures, Fifth Wall, Overture Ventures, Blackhorn Ventures, Spring Lane Capital, Azolla Ventures, Systemiq Capital, The Westly Group, Innovation Endeavors, and ReGen Ventures. It is supported by Great Circle Capital Advisors, a climate finance advisory firm.
Earlier this year, a report from advocacy group Reclaim Finance accused members of GFANZ of hypocrisy for providing a total of $270 billion to 102 major fossil fuel expanders since joining the alliance.
