The climate doesn’t care where emissions cuts come from; what matters is that the world transitions to renewable energy quickly and cheaply. If it’s significantly cheaper to install solar panels in India than on a rooftop in California, then isn’t that where they should be built? 

In 2005, Premal Shah co-founded Kiva.org, a global anti-poverty effort that has loaned over $2 billion for low-income entrepreneurs in 80 countries. He recently applied a similar microfinance model to climate, creating renewables.org, with the goal of leveraging small amounts of money for the greatest impact.

Kinari Webb saw a similar opportunity in rain forest communities around the world. Currently, less than 1% of climate finance goes to these communities, yet transferring funds directly to the local people with the greatest stake in preserving their land can have outsized impact.

Where does the climate dollar go furthest? Join Climate One’s Greg Dalton for an illuminating and encouraging conversation with Shah and Webb.