Climate Change & Resilience

CDFIs Invest in Sustainability and Climate Change Solutions

Climate change affects all of us. However, it disproportionally impacts people in lower-income, lower-wealth communities who are more likely to be exposed to climate change risks and more susceptible to its damage. It’s also harder for these communities to offset climate change’s impacts and recover from its effects — solutions, like solar heating or housing renovations, are prohibitively expensive for many.

CDFIs help mitigate climate catastrophe through financing for people and projects underserved by traditional financial institutions. Many CDFIs finance energy efficiency and weatherization upgrades for older homes, clean energy projects, and sustainable businesses. Increasingly, CDFIs in rural, urban, and Native communities are investing in and helping communities transition to new economic engines, such as transitioning from coal to renewable energy.

More than lenders, CDFIs also help people learn new jobs skills in climate-supporting industries so they can secure a decent livelihood for themselves and their families.