Climate KIC

Introducing the Climate KIC Academy: Closing the green skills gap The green transition isn’t moving fast enough, the technology is out there, people have good ideas but the critical green skills gap is slowing progress. Only 1 in 8 workers have the green skills needed to drive sustainability ambitions. That’s not enough. The transition to a sustainable economy isn’t just about technology—it’s about people who can lead, innovate, and collaborate effectively to make change happen. That’s why we created the Climate KIC Academy. Our mission is to bridge the skills gap by equipping changemakers with both technical expertise and transversal leadership skills. What we offer: ? Training in critical green skills like circular economy, urban design, and sustainability frameworks delivered in collaboration with our partners. ? Development of leadership, communication, and systems thinking skills to drive real impact, building on Climate KIC 15 years internal/first-hand? experience. ? A network of industry leaders, policymakers, and community advocates working together to accelerate climate action We’re calling on funders, partners, and future participants to join us in shaping the future. Whether you’re looking to gain skills, support the mission, or collaborate on programme delivery—this is your opportunity to be part of the transformation. The transition needs people who can think, connect, and lead differently. The Climate KIC Academy is here to prepare us. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/etEyw_2M #GreenSkillsGap #ClimateLeadershipAcademy #PrepareChangeMakers #LeadTheTransition The Climate Reality Project

?? Carbon farming is not just about carbon. Earlier this month, over 1,000 participants gathered in Dublin and online for the 2nd European Carbon Farming Summit, organised by Climate KIC, as part of the Project Credible consortium, and in partnership with Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We’ve captured the major conversations, key voices, and most important takeaways in our summit recap article — now live: ?? https://lnkd.in/errvSWiB Would you like to be part of what’s next? Register your interest here for the 2026 European Carbon Farming Summit: ?? https://lnkd.in/eAM_qPw6 Missed the summit? Join us for our webinar ‘Carbon Farming in Action: Key Insights from the European Summit’ on Thursday 3 April at 12.00 CET: ?? https://lnkd.in/ePWcF2iu Let’s shape the future of regenerative agriculture together. #CarbonFarmingSummit #RegenerativeAgriculture

Industrial-urban symbiosis is helping local businesses, city administrations and regional governments tackle interrelated challenges of energy costs, raw materials, and environmental footprint, all while revitalising local economies and increasing community resilience. The Hubs4Circularity Community of Practice, one of the initiatives Climate KIC is leading, is building a space for these actors to come together and learn from each other, to create local hubs where full-scale circularity is the norm. We spoke with some of the local authorities implementing these hubs, from Norway and Finland to France and the Netherlands, to understand what challenges they faced, how they overcame them, and what advice they have for other cities and regions looking to undertake their own journey to circularity. Read more: https://bit.ly/4c4pohU #Hubs4Circularity

Calling all Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs) and start-ups in London and Dublin eager to leverage AI for #ClimateAction, amplify their impact, and accelerate the journey towards sustainability. ?? Get access to specialised workshops, customised mentorship, and an influential network—this fully-funded programme provides climate innovators the essential skills, insights, and relationships needed to scale effectively. If your work combines climate solutions, AI technology, and entrepreneurial spirit, apply now! Open call documents available here: https://bit.ly/3EzIlMI Submit your application today: https://bit.ly/4ijIJxW Spaces are limited in each city: London: 10 ESOs and 10 Start-ups. Dublin: 5 ESOs and 10 Start-ups. Apply soon—applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Climate KIC is Europe’s leading climate and innovation agency and community. Our role is to orchestrate solutions and learning to make systems change happen at pace and scale. This initiative is funded by Salesforce, supporting the next generation of climate pioneers. ??

Climate KIC joins the Coalition for Higher Ambition, convened by Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, to urge EU leaders to commit to at least 90% net domestic emissions reductions by 2040 and deliver an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). ?? Climate action isn’t just about meeting targets—it’s about securing economic resilience, energy security, and social well-being. A strong 2040 climate target will provide certainty for businesses, investors, and policymakers to accelerate the green transition. As Kirsten Dunlop puts it: “Europe’s competitive future depends on bold transformation, not incremental transition. The Clean Industrial Deal must enable this transformation by integrating policy, finance, and innovation to ensure industrial change is not only possible but inevitable.” Europe has a choice: lead the way with ambitious, science-backed climate targets now or fall behind in the global green transition—putting jobs, economic stability, and people’s well-being at risk. ?? Read more and join the call: https://lnkd.in/eijaQ42Q #ClimateAction #EU2040 #GreenTransition #NetZero #ClimateLeadership

Join us at The REALITY? Tour from The Climate Reality Project in Paris! We’re happy to be part of this transformative gathering, where the Climate KIC Academy will officially launch. We will also be delivering interactive workshops designed to unlock new ways of thinking and leading in the face of climate complexity. Meet the hosts: Solla Zophoniasdottir & Marina Gil Velasco will guide you through an eye-opening session on Leadership Mindtraps, inspired by the work of Jennifer Garvey Berger and our friends at Cultivating Leadership. ?? Why this matters: Human evolution favoured quick decision-making for survival—but in today’s world, this instinct can hold us back from addressing complex challenges like climate change. These ‘mindtraps’ shape the way we think, often without us realising, and can prevent us from taking effective action. ?? What you’ll gain: ? Discover how common mindtraps influence decision-making ? Learn practical strategies to overcome limiting patterns ? Engage in an interactive experience that challenges perspectives and inspires action ?Be the first to hear about the Climate KIC Academy Tag a friend who maybe interesting in attending! ?? Climate Reality Project | Paris | 28th March #Mindtraps #ClimateLeadership #GreenSkills #LeadTheTransition #ClimateRealityProject

?? How will the EU’s new industrial policies shape Europe’s green transformation? ? The European Commission has unveiled two key proposals: the Clean Industrial Deal and the Omnibus Simplification Package. These could redefine the future of businesses, innovators, universities, and stakeholders committed to sustainability. ? Join the Community CONNECT, a digital meet-up for all Climate KIC Community members. This month we’re bringing together experts and impact professionals to unpack these new policy changes and explore the opportunities ahead. ? ?? Date: Thursday, 20 March 2025 ? Time: 16:00-17:30 CET ?? Where: Zoom ? Sign up for an insightful discussion with Katarzyna Balucka - Debska, Head of EU Policy & Affairs at Climate KIC, followed by a group networking session with all participants. ? In this event, you will: ? Gain insights into how these policies will shape Europe’s green transition. ? Discover how they could impact your work and uncover new opportunities. ? Connect with like-minded impact professionals and explore collaborations. ? Register now ?? https://lnkd.in/edT-a3jW #CleanIndustrialDeal #ClimateCommunity #GreenTransition #CommunityCONNECT

?? Looking for your next big opportunity to accelerate climate innovation? These open calls are your chance to make an impact: ? 1?? Women TechEU - Support for women leading deep tech start-ups in Europe.????????????? 2?? #ClimAccelerator Organisers Expression of Interest - Run our flagship accelerator programme in your own context. ? 3?? Clean Cities Spain ClimAccelerator - An accelerator programme dedicated to start-ups with urban solutions. ? Check out all our funding opportunities on our website ?? https://bit.ly/3EzIlMI #SystemsChangeNow #OpenCalls #ClimateEntrepreneurship Clean Cities ClimAccelerator Climate KIC Entrepreneurship

??"The climate ecosystem must move beyond reliance on U.S. hegemony."?? The dismantling of USAID has left global climate orgs scrambling to survive. As Wallis Grant writes: "Ending these programs would have huge consequences for the economic mobility of marginalised entrepreneurs, such as women, young people, or people with disabilities, further entrenching inequalities." At Climate KIC, we’re working with our partners across Africa, Latin America, and Asia to build resilience and find new funding pathways. It’s time for global collaboration. Read more in this opinion piece originally published on Devex: https://lnkd.in/ehwpRDFE #ClimateAction #GlobalAid

??The 2nd European Carbon Farming Summit took place in Dublin, Ireland this week. As lead organisers within the Project Credible consortium, we were proud to welcome over 500 attendees in person, and even more online. In partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, we brought together a diverse group of participants – from policy makers and researchers to industry leaders and farmers – to strengthen our EU-wide network for carbon farming. ?? 5 key takeaways from the summit: 1. We need to listen to farmers. These are the people who work the land and feel the impact of climate change most acutely. We learnt a lot from what they told us during the summit, and we’re committed to ensuring their voices are heard. 2. Bridge the gap between science and practice. Research is critical, but it only drives change when it’s translated into real-world applications. Clear guidelines, methods, and standards are needed to ensure policies are practical for farmers – who are still unaware of carbon farming’s potential. 3. Carbon farming must go beyond carbon. Too much focus is placed on soil carbon alone. It should be a tool to trigger agricultural transformation toward more regenerative practices. And a broader landscape approach is needed, including agroforestry, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. 4. Finance and policy have to align. Blended finance (public + private) is needed to scale solutions, as the value of carbon is currently not enough to trigger the transformation necessary. It’s clear governments cannot fund everything alone in today’s political context. 5. We're not always speaking the same language. The summit highlighted misalignment in definitions and expectations. A more honest and open discussion is required about what carbon farming actually means. It’s a complex puzzle, and we can only solve it together. Although the summit has concluded, the real work begins now. In the next few months, we will collaborate with our network to draft a series of recommendations that shape the future of carbon farming. #CarbonFarmingSummit? ?? Tristan Copley Smith