At the R20 Foundation, we believe that cities and regions play a central role in the fight against climate change and its impact. We consider that local and regional actors are uniquely positioned to implement the transition to a sustainable economy, whereby natural resources are conserved, fossil fuel use is limited, public health is protected and enhanced, while societies promote equality.

Our efforts are designed to support subnational governments around the world to develop and finance sustainable infrastructure projects in the fields of sustainable energy, waste and sanitation and regenerative agriculture. Although local authorities are at the centre of our work, we recognize that fast-tracking the transition to inclusive, resilient, and low-carbon societies requires greater mobilization and collaboration between a wide range of stakeholders.

Our approach aims to “connect the dots” and foster understanding and interconnection between governments, project developers and public-private investors throughout the whole project development value chain.

In 2020, R20 incubated The Subnational Climate Finance initiative (SCF). SCF invests in mid-sized ($5-$75m USD) infrastructure projects, including sustainable energy, waste and sanitation, regenerative agriculture, and nature-based climate solutions. We partner primarily with subnational authorities to identify and implement these projects, financed with a blend of concessional and conventional capital, along with Technical Assistance grants that help mitigate risk and ensure financial and environmental goals are achieved.