A Strategic Framework for Philanthropies Tackling the Scale Gap

We are halfway through the defining decade for climate change mitigation. The technologies needed to decarbonize the global economy primarily exist, but require support to scale and commercialize. The core problem is no longer invention, but implementation. Promising solutions are bottlenecked by financial, regulatory, and operational barriers that prevent them from crossing the chasm from pilot to full deployment. This report explores why even strong technologies falter—and what it will take to unlock them.

Philanthropic capital has a critical role to play, not by filling every funding gap, but by strategically tackling the two forces that most often stall progress: market risk and execution risk. Through case studies and interviews with over 40 climate investors, this report offers a clear framework for how catalytic capital can accelerate scaling. For those serious about turning climate ambition into impact, this is a roadmap for action.