The Green Finance Institute (GFI) is a “UK Government-backed ‘action tank’” ¹ which promotes transitioning the world economy into dependence on “carbon-free” energy. ² The group seeks to push its agenda on businesses and government through legislation and financing of so-called “green” projects. Green Finance Institute seeks to transition to a global carbon “net-zero” economy by “channelling [sic] private capital” towards that goal. ³

Programs

Local Authority Decarbonization

Local Authority Decarbonization is a program of the Green Finance Institute, designed to leverage local governments to enforce the “net-zero agenda.” UK government studies suggest that 82 percent of all activity related to “greenhouse gas emissions” in the UK are potentially within the jurisdiction of local authorities to control. The goal is to use declarations of a “climate emergency” to institute environmentalist policies on a local level throughout the UK, which indeed has been accomplished in more than 320 councils (75%) since 2019. Local Climate Bonds (LCB) are often used to finance such initiatives. ⁴

Carbon Dioxide Removals

Another program of Green Finance Institute is Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDRs). ⁵ CDRs use technology and other methods like the planting of certain plants and encouragement of ecosystems which capture and remove carbon from the atmosphere. Examples include reforestation, but also using “chemical process to capture [carbon dioxide] directly from the ambient air.” ⁶

Global Green Bank Design Platform

The Green Finance Institute has worked with the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), ClimateWorks Foundation, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to create a global Green Bank Design Platform. The goal is to “support governments and institutions” in the push to transition the world economy towards reliance on weather-dependent sources of energy such as solar and wind power. The bank would function similarly to other environmentalist finance models. ¹

Green Finance Institute donated between $100,000 and $499,999 to the Rocky Mountain Institute in 2021. ² Rocky Mountain Institute has advocated banning gas stoves. RMI produced a report along with China’s National Development and Reform Commission, calling for “systemic change and economy-wide transformation” which has been criticized as a “hodgepodge of different data and methodologies.” ⁷

Nature Team (GFI Hive)

The Nature Team, or GFI Hive, is a project of the Green Finance Institute which seeks to further an environmentalist transition of the world economy by convening “sprint groups to identify barriers, and then co-design solutions.” The areas of focus for GFI Hive include biodiversity net gain, natural flood management, and UK agriculture. GFI Hive also advises on the UK’s Investment Readiness Funds. ⁸

The group also seeks wide adoption of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), which is a set of disclosure guidance for businesses to report on their environmental practices. ⁹

Funding for GFI Hive comes predominantly from charitable nonprofit organizations and the UK government. ⁸

People

Rhian-Mari Thomas is the CEO of Green Finance Institute. Thomas sits on an Independent Advisory Board for the carbon ratings agency, BeZero Carbon. She was a member of the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Thomas also co-chaired the initial launch of the Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). ^{10 11}

Emma Howard Boyd was chair of the Green Finance Institute from 2021 to 2024. She has also held board positions with left-of-center organizations such as ClientEarth, Climate Arc, and the European Climate Foundation. ¹²

1.  “Green Finance Institute, NRDC and Rocky Mountain Institute to Develop Global Green Bank Design Platform Addressing Climate Solutions.” NRDC, September 22, 2020. https://www.nrdc.org/press-releases/green-finance-institute-nrdc-and-rocky-mountain-institute-develop-global-green-bank.
2. “2020—2021 Annual Report.” Rocky Mountain Institute. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://rmi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/rmi_2021_annual_report.pdf.
3. “Home.” Green Finance Institute, November 28, 2024. https://www.greenfinanceinstitute.com/.
4. “Local Government & Green Finance: Climate Bonds & Retrofits.” Green Finance Institute, August 12, 2024. https://www.greenfinanceinstitute.com/programmes/local-authority-advisory-hub/.
5.  “Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDRs).” Green Finance Institute, August 12, 2024. https://www.greenfinanceinstitute.com/programmes/carbon-dioxide-removals/.
6. “Infographic: Governing Carbon Dioxide Removal.” C2G, February 20, 2020. https://c2g2.net/project/infographic-governing-carbon-dioxide-removal/.
7. Anderson, Collin, and Joseph Simonson. “Meet the Green Energy Group behind the Study That’s Driving Calls to Ban Gas Stoves.” Washington Free Beacon, January 15, 2023. https://freebeacon.com/biden-administration/meet-the-green-energy-group-behind-the-study-thats-driving-calls-to-ban-gas-stoves/.
8. “About Us.” Go to Green Finance Institute. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://hive.greenfinanceinstitute.com/gfihive/about-us/#:~:text=Our%20funding%20is%20provided%20predominantly,with%20additional%20support%20from%20government.
9. “TNFD UK Consultation Group.” Green Finance Institute. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://hive.greenfinanceinstitute.com/gfihive/taskforce-on-nature-related-financial-disclosures/tnfd-uk-national-consultation-group/.
10. “Our Team & People.” Green Finance Institute, September 27, 2024. https://www.greenfinanceinstitute.com/home/about-us/who-we-are/.
11. “Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE – Green Finance Institute.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhian-mari-thomas-obe-58005493/.
12. “Emma Howard Boyd CBE – London Climate Resilience Review.” LinkedIn. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-howard-boyd-cbe-4958b6a/.