Leuven: Building a City Climate Fund From the Ground Up

The City of Leuven in Belgium is shaping a climate fund that reflects the best of private markets, designed for public good. A recent article published by the European Commission explores how the Climate City Capital Hub (Capital Hub), a major initiative of the NetZeroCitiesEU platform, is helping this Mission City use innovative financial solutions to accelerate the transition to climate neutrality. Leuven’s Climate City Fund will help finance a portfolio of climate projects for district heating, clean mobility, and more. In addition, the Capital Hub has been working with the Leuven 2030 team on the design of a guarantee structure that aims to increase investor interest by reducing risk. “Leuven’s planned fund is a powerful, innovative fundraising and investment vehicle that will benefit all of the city’s citizens,” comments Àlvar Gener, BwB Associate and City Finance Specialist for Belgium, the UK, and Ireland within NetZeroCities. What types of projects would your city prioritise through a climate fund? Share your thoughts in the comments.