Global Capacity Building Coalition Unveils Accelerator to Enhance Climate Finance Initiatives
The Global Capacity Building Coalition (GCBC) has recently made headlines with its innovative initiative: the GCBC Accelerator. Launched during the Ecosperity Week 2025 in Singapore, this program aims to advance the development of capacity-building projects that are crucial for mobilizing sustainable finance, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).
With the pressing challenge of climate change, it is essential to support financing for the energy transition, and the GCBC is at the forefront with this new effort. The GCBC Accelerator will provide selected high-potential projects with invaluable resources, expert advisory services, and the networking opportunities necessary to advance their initiatives.
Mary L. Schapiro, who heads the GCBC, emphasized the importance of this initiative by stating, “Emerging markets and developing economies need access to the tools, resources, and support necessary to accelerate the clean energy transition.” The launch of the Accelerator signifies a pivotal step in acknowledging and solving the financing gap that EMDEs face, which is currently estimated at around $2.5 trillion annually for sustainable development.
This funding gap is alarming, but Schapiro highlights an equally promising potential: nearly half of the required financing is expected to stem from domestic resource mobilization. This insight indicates a transformative opportunity for growth if financial institutions and professionals in local economies can be empowered efficiently. The role of capacity-building cannot be overstated; it is critical in unlocking investment potentials through well-informed decisions and targeted strategies.
The GCBC Accelerator will consider applications from organizations, partnerships, and programs that focus specifically on building climate finance capacity for EMDEs. These applications will fall into three distinct categories: 1) mobilizing sustainable finance, 2) enhancing climate capabilities, and 3) fostering innovation. By categorizing initiatives, the Accelerator aims to streamline the support process, ensuring projects receive the resources they need to thrive.
Currently, capacity-building resources are often disorganized and hard to access, which presents significant barriers to making progress. The Accelerator aims to dismantle these barriers by not only spotlighting innovative capacity-building initiatives but also providing the support needed for these projects to scale effectively.
SSchapiro stated, “This Accelerator program is designed to identify and scale innovative efforts that support capacity-building, drive economic opportunity, and help build more resilient, sustainable economies.” The call to action for this initiative is clear: it is a chance for organizations and individuals involved in climate finance to unlock opportunities that lead to tangible investment in EMDEs.
The program will offer extensive support for selected initiatives, which will include expert advisory, partnership facilitation, operational assistance, and marketing support. This tailored aid will effectively bolster the capacity-building activities of chosen initiatives, ensuring they are well-equipped to address the challenges at hand.
The application phase is currently open, with a deadline set for 11:59 PM ET on July 4, 2025. The selected projects will be announced during the New York Climate Week in September 2025, generating excitement and anticipation within the climate finance community.
About the Global Capacity Building Coalition
The GCBC comprises a collaborative effort amongst leading climate finance organizations and was launched with the aim of accelerating and scaling climate finance capacity building. The coalition has a pronounced focus on empowering financial institutions and finance professionals, especially in EMDEs, to meet the demands of the UN’s Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG).
The GCBC represents an unprecedented global initiative spearheaded by the U.N. Secretary-General's Special Envoy Michael R. Bloomberg at COP28 in December 2023. As financial institutions increasingly seek capacity-building support, the GCBC stands ready to facilitate these essential connections.
The initiative’s potential impact is profound, representing not just the scaling of financial resources but also the creation of sustainable opportunities that can lead to more resilient economies worldwide.