Sustainability
3 minutes
04/03/2025
Frontier Connect Forum: Mobilising Capital into Sustainable Infrastructure and Nature by 2030
Foresight’s Frontier Connect Forum at the Eden Project convened stakeholders from government, environment, finance, and science to explore scalable solutions that drive public and private investment in sustainability.
Overview
The discussions underscored the urgency of mobilising capital to accelerate the energy transition, invest in nature-based solutions, and decarbonise sectors beyond power.
Background and Urgency of Discussion
Despite the pressing need to mobilise capital into these sectors, there are still significant barriers to overcome:
- Risk and Investment Models: Traditional short-term investor expectations often clash with the long-term capital needs of decarbonisation and sustainable infrastructure projects, resulting in a significant financing gap.
- Regulatory Barriers: Current regulatory frameworks frequently complicate infrastructure expansion and deter private investment in critical assets like grid infrastructure and natural capital.
- Scaling: Critical areas beyond wind and solar—such as long-duration energy storage, green transportation, and nature-based solutions—need significantly more funding, accelerating progress on achieving a comprehensive energy transition.
A Focus on Actionable and Innovative Solutions
Day one kicked off with an insightful keynote from Niclas Sundström, Partner at Worthwhile Capital Partners which led into engaging panel discussions with speakers from NatureFinance, London LGPS CIV Limited, Lawyers for Nature, Coal Pension Trustees Services, Innovate UK, Investec, Astrid Advisors, Worthwhile Capital Partners, Helaba and Fera Science Ltd.
Building on the momentum from day one, we challenged attendees to create thought-provoking pitches, tackling the challenge of mobilising capital at scale into sustainable infrastructure and nature by 2030.
Guided by a panel of experts – from fund managers to sustainability leaders and advisors – we explored innovative, practical solutions to scale sustainable investments. A big thank you to our incredible attendees, speakers, and sustainability partner, the Eden Project, for driving these important conversations forward.
Watch our three themed film round-ups to find out more.
Energy Transition
Discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities of integrating renewable energy into existing infrastructure. Key takeaways included the need for policy alignment, technological innovation, and diversified investment strategies to ensure a resilient and efficient transition to sustainable energy systems.
Decarbonisation Beyond Power
Beyond electricity, industries such as transport, construction, and heavy industry require urgent action to cut emissions. Experts highlighted the role of regulatory frameworks, financial incentives, hydrogen and cross-sector partnerships in accelerating decarbonisation efforts across these critical sectors.
Nature-Based Solutions
Nature plays a vital role in climate resilience and carbon sequestration. The forum explored how protecting and restoring natural ecosystems can be integrated into investment strategies, ensuring biodiversity conservation and long-term economic benefits. A key takeaway was the importance of viewing nature as infrastructure and financing it accordingly.
Looking Ahead
The forum reinforced the need for global collaboration and systems thinking to mobilise capital at scale. These discussions continue on the Frontier Listen podcast—listen here. To stay involved, sign up for the Frontier network mailing list.
