Blueprints & Budgets: Building a Global Playbook for Inclusive Climate Finance | LCAW2025

During London Climate Action Week, BwB Managing Director and Global Head of Nature & Biodiversity and Gender Finance, Heather Matson, moderated a solutions-focused session on how cities can unlock, manage, and deploy finance for climate justice at scale.  Key Takeaways from the Panel:   

• From Plans to Pipelines: Cities are in urgent need of better tools to translate climate ambitions into bankable investment portfolios.  

• Structural Readiness is Key: It's not just about accessing funding. How cities organise themselves to receive and manage capital is critical. 

• Equity Must Be Baked In: Climate finance can only be effective if it is affordable, inclusive, and replicable, particularly in frontline communities. 

• Partnerships Power Progress: Multi-level collaboration across city, national, and investor ecosystems is essential to scale impact.    “We must ensure that climate finance doesn’t just flow, but that it flows fairly,” commented Heather. “Cities are at the heart of climate action. Without structures that enable them to receive and deploy investment effectively, we risk leaving ambition on the table and communities behind.”  A huge thank you to our co-speakers Aris Moro (C40 Cities Finance Facility) and Mohamed Gaafar (Gryd), and to session hosts Okhtapus - اختاپوس and Concave for creating space for this practical, inclusivity-focused dialogue.  What’s one innovation or reform you believe could help cities drive a just transition through climate finance? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.