“Biodiversity provides a service to humankind, but we’re treating it as a free service and not actually valuing it. In fact, we’re doing the opposite — destroying it. ”
— Martin Berg
Have you ever stopped to think how we’re treating biodiversity like it’s free to use? Our planet’s biodiversity does a great service for all humankind, and it’s time we give it the financial value it deserves.
This is the core of natural capital investing, and today’s guest, Martin Berg, is here to share its inner workings.
Martin is the CEO of Climate Asset Management, and he made his way into climate finance at the UN’s first Climate Change Conference following the Kyoto Protocol. His commitment to climate and nature-based solutions has led him through several leadership and strategy positions over the past two decades, integrating natural capital investing and carbon finance across both private and public sectors at organizations like the European Investment Bank, Merrill Lynch, RNK Capital, and the OECD.
Martin shares how Climate Asset Management started off as a joint venture between HSBC and Pollination, becoming a global asset management leader in the field of natural capital investing, carbon offsets, and innovative financial vehicles that bridge the two.
The company is now investing across all asset classes, themes, and geographies, and even managing capital on behalf of high profile corporates such as Apple, among other large institutional investors.
In this episode, Martin shares his thoughts on how natural capital investing not only addresses climate change but also offers significant, long-term financial returns. He emphasizes the importance of moving large amounts of capital to this space for our planet’s future, and delivers a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities in natural capital and carbon finance.
Tune in to learn how nature’s value can turn into real financial gains that drive positive environmental impact.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Connect with Martin: LinkedIn
- Climate Asset Management LinkedIn page
- Climate Asset Management website
- Previous episode with Tammy Newmark and her EcoEnterprises Fund
SHOW NOTES:
[0:00] Meet Martin Berg & his early experiences at the UN & OECD
[13:15] Becoming a Carbon Finance Specialist at RNK Capital in New York
[21:26] Martin’s time at Merrill Lynch, the European Investment Bank, & Pollination
[42:19] An overview of Climate Asset Management
[48:50] Martin defines what natural capital investment is
[53:35] Climate Asset Management’s theory of change & investment examples
[01:02:45] What makes a strong nature-based investment?
[01:10:00] The investment process at Climate Asset Management
[01:23:53] Apple’s Restore Fund & The Future of Natural Capital Investing
[01:32:14] Rapid fire questions
MORE MARTIN BERG QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW:
“In order to solve the climate and nature problem, we need a real change in how large scale capital is being deployed. We need to move capital from activities that are destroying nature to ones that are actually improving nature. ”
— Martin Berg
“I think the private equity sector will wake up and see how supply chain and other companies are linked to nature. This will allow much more capital to enter this field. ”
— Martin Berg
