Climate finance
Mobilising climate finance at scale takes more than capital alone. We work with public, private and philanthropic partners to structure and deploy it effectively.
Energy access
Distributed renewable energy can transform how communities and businesses access power. We accelerate the development and deployment of solutions that reach them.
Venture acceleration
Promising clean energy innovators often lack the support to scale. We de-risk and accelerate the technologies and business models critical to the transition.
Supporting sustainable development through finance, innovation and clean energy
Access to clean, reliable and affordable energy remains far from universal. In many emerging economies, distributed renewable energy solutions exist but cannot reach the communities and businesses that need them most, held back by financing gaps, fragmented market ecosystems and limited enterprise capacity. Where energy is intermittent or unaffordable, the economic and social opportunities it could unlock – in agriculture, health, commerce and services – remain out of reach.
The transition to sustainable development depends on innovation reaching the market, finance flowing where it can have greatest impact, and enterprises having the commercial support to scale.
The Carbon Trust works with donors, investors, governments and enterprises across these challenges. We mobilise climate finance, accelerate distributed renewable energy deployment and support the innovators developing the solutions that markets need – across emerging economies in Africa and the Pacific through to innovation programmes in the UK.
Our sustainable development impact stories
Sustainable development depends on finance reaching the right markets, innovation finding its way to scale and clean energy becoming the foundation of local economic growth.
37 million
people reached with improved clean energy access through the Transforming Energy Access platform.
£162 million
committed across 336 projects in 48 countries through the Energy Catalyst programme.
£1.9 billion
leveraged in funding through the Transforming Energy Access platform.
2,000
ventures supported across the Carbon Trust programme portfolio
At the IKEA Foundation, we believe that tackling the climate crisis requires bold partnerships rooted in trust, innovation, and shared purpose. Our collaboration with the Carbon Trust over the years has exemplified this spirit. Together, we’ve worked to accelerate the transition to low-carbon systems that not only reduce emissions but also improve lives - especially in communities most vulnerable to climate change. As we sharpen our focus on place-based, locally-led solutions and systemic change, we are proud to stand alongside the Carbon Trust in building a more sustainable and equitable future for the many people.
Ayrton Forum 2026
Clean energy innovation in emerging economies needs more than good ideas: it needs finance, delivery partners and a route from pilot to scale. The Ayrton Fund, a UK Government commitment of up to £1 billion, backs the research, development and demonstration that makes this possible.
In June 2026, the Ayrton Forum brought together more than 300 leaders from 22 countries across government, finance, innovation, industry and civil society to mark five years of the fund and shape its next phase. Across its first phase, Ayrton-supported innovation has improved clean energy access for 46 million people, mobilised over £3 billion in public and private finance, and supported more than 250,000 green jobs. We are proud to be one of several delivery partners supporting this work, including through the Transforming Energy Access platform.
