#USA #Climate Finance #Singapore #Global Capacity Building Coalition #Ecosperity

Global Capacity Building Coalition Launches Accelerator

On May 7, 2025, during Ecosperity Week, the Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC) announced the launch of its inaugural accelerator aimed at enhancing climate finance capabilities across emerging markets. Led by Mary L. Schapiro, the initiative seeks to celebrate and support high-potential capacity-building projects that mobilize sustainable funding to bridge investment gaps in developing economies.

The Need for Capacity Building

Emerging markets, excluding China, face an annual funding deficit nearing $2.5 trillion for sustainable development. It is essential for approximately half of this funding to come from mobilized national resources, presenting a transformative opportunity for growth. Strengthening local financial institutions and capacity among professionals in developing economies is a crucial lever to unlock investment potential. Unfortunately, resources for capacity building required for energy transition and sustainable development are often fragmented, hard to access, and unevenly targeted. The GCBC Accelerator aims to tackle these obstacles by highlighting and supporting the most innovative and effective capacity-building initiatives globally, directing capital where it is critically needed.

Embracing Innovative Efforts

The Accelerator is open to organizations, partnerships, or programs focused on strengthening capacities within or for emerging markets. It presents an exciting new opportunity for candidates to showcase their efforts in advancing the necessary climate finance development to facilitate the energy transition. Candidates can compete across three distinct categories: mobilizing sustainable financing, enhancing climate capacities, and fostering innovation.

In her remarks, Mary Schapiro emphasized the importance of empowering emerging markets and developing economies with the tools, resources, and support needed for a swift transition to clean energy. She stated, "This acceleration program is designed to identify and develop innovative efforts that support capacity building, stimulate economic opportunities, and aid in building more resilient and sustainable economies. The GCBC is excited to spotlight financial institutions, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders engaged in this vital work."

Tailored Support and Future Steps

The GCBC will provide customized support for selected initiatives through expert guidance, communications and marketing assistance, facilitation of partnerships, as well as practical and operational support for capacity-building activities. The names of the chosen candidates will be revealed during the New York Climate Week in September 2025. By recognizing and supporting these capacity-building efforts within the climate finance ecosystem and extending their reach, the Accelerator aims to help organizations and individuals unlock opportunities and speed up investments in the transition across emerging markets.

Comprehensive information about the Accelerator is available on the GCBC website, with applications closing at 11:59 PM ET on July 4, 2025.

About the Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC)

The GCBC is a groundbreaking global initiative that brings together key organizations involved in climate financing to accelerate and expand climate finance capacity building for financial institutions and finance professionals, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies. The Coalition is designed to strengthen collaboration and address the increasing demands for capacity building support among financial institutions in these countries to meet UN objectives and the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group's goals.

Launched by U.N. Special Envoy Michael R. Bloomberg and high-level officials from multilateral development banks and international finance during COP28 in December 2023, GCBC represents a concerted effort to mobilize support for sustainable financing initiatives around the globe. It invites interested parties to join the movement or support its activities in whatever capacity they can.