The 2020 world proved full of challenges and surprises. This was certainly true for Nexus. Globally, greenhouse gas emissions plummeted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of our clients – an airport-purchaser of carbon credits – suddenly had almost no emissions to compensate! Carbon markets suggested a cautious comeback, even amidst the uncertainty around future rules for carbon projects which are awaiting the COVID-postponed UN climate negotiations.
For Nexus, our longest-running carbon project, the Vietnam Biogas Programme, came to an end, resulting in unprecedented sales of carbon credits. At the same time, we continued to issue and sell credits for a variety of other stakeholders (see e.g. like Nazava and Hydrologic).
Within Nexus’ impact investing mandate, we facilitated access to 870,000 USD for projects in Cambodia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia, consolidating our presence in the SEA region. One of our impact investment funds more than doubled its portfolio and expanded its geographical presence to three different countries. With funds available for reinvestment from the Clean Energy Revolving Fund, Nexus itself became an investor in the Pioneer Facility.
We further collaborated with the UN Environment Programme, the National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development Secretariat and SHE Investments in Cambodia in Empower: Women for Climate Resilient Societies Project.
In May, I arrived at Nexus as Executive Director at the peak of pandemic craziness when our little team was spread across six countries and eight time zones. Together, we have attended and hosted online and hybrid meetings like never before (see the CEW panel). In 2021, we look forward to sharing our new strategic plan 2021-24 which is in the making.
From our digital meeting screen to yours, we wish you optimism, (renewable!) energy and impact for 2021!
