Climate Change & Resilience

CDFIs Invest in Sustainability and Climate Change Solutions

Intensifying wildfires. Rising sea levels. Scorching heat, devastating drought, and deadly floods. Everyone everywhere feels effects of our changing planet, and climate change disproportionately hurts low-income, low-wealth communities. Clean energy and other sustainability solutions are expensive and often require financing that’s out of reach for underinvested communities.

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 offer trainings and coaching to help people learn new jobs skills in clean energy, building a green economy that benefits people and the planet.

A group of people install a solar panel in a 10-acre solar garden owned by the Denver Housing Authority.

CDFIs Drive Climate Change Solutions and Resiliency

CDFIs finance individuals and organizations underserved by traditional finance and can attract additional investment dollars to climate change solutions.

Currently, 55% of OFN’s member CDFIs offer green lending products to support clean energy production and energy efficiency projects.

Related

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

CDFIs are the right vehicle to bring green finance where it’s needed most.

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Renewable and Energy Efficiency Financing Grant

CDFIs are essential partners in offsetting the impacts of climate change.

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Environmental Justice

CDFIs invest in the most urgent issues of our time to create sustainable change.

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Partner with CDFIs for a cleaner, more equitable world.

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