Our Services

Green Finance

What is Green Finance?

Green finance refers to private investment to fund environmentally sustainable projects and outputs that address climate change, biodiversity loss and other environmental challenges. These investments include funding to support a transition to sustainable agriculture, habitat restoration and renewable energy.

The UK government has set a target is to mobilise more than £1 billion per year in green finance in England by 2030. Alongside public funds, this will contribute to the achievement of the Government’s environmental goals as set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan.

For farmers and land managers, alongside public agri-environment scheme payments, green finance offers the opportunity for additional revenue streams which invest in their holdings and receive financial support to transition to low carbon, nature positive farming models. Examples include, the Woodland Carbon Code, Biodiversity Net Gain, and Green loans.

Our Expertise

Cumulus Consultants has in-depth knowledge of the rapidly growing green finance sector and its interaction with sustainable farming, forestry and fisheries. We have experience of working with green finance developers and investors, government bodies, environmental NGOs, landowners and farmers, and have gained significant insight into the opportunities which green finance offers.

We are passionate about catalysing investment into regenerative or sustainable farming, forestry and fisheries, and related investment into green or blue natural capital. We support the integration of green and blue finance into these sectors, and seek to realise synergies by blending public and private finance.

Our Green Finance services

Our key green finance services include strategic research and consultancy, and investment readiness advisory – please see the service descriptions below:

Strategic research and consultancy

Cumulus provides strategic research and consultancy to governments, corporate and institutional landowners, and supply chains seeking to realise private environmental funding and investment opportunities relevant to their ambitions and activities. We recognise that private green finance is an important enabler alongside policy, regulation, agri-environment and other public funding, and more established private financing mechanisms. Green finance itself is complex with different and rapidly evolving nature markets, approaches, technologies and providers. We scope, research, assess options, undertake economic analysis, and develop strategy to harness current and emerging green finance opportunities. We also support clients by engaging with green finance providers, advising on new developments and upskilling in-house staff.

Investment readiness advice

Cumulus provides investment readiness advice to landscape partnerships such as Landscape Recovery, NEIRF and FIRNS funded projects, as well as individual estates, to enable these to benefit from private environmental funding and investment, and linked public sector support. We specialise in land manager engagement, land management costings and payment rates, market demand assessment, buyer and investor engagement, and blended finance. We have a good understanding of current and emerging nature markets and buyer/investor needs and a strong track record of successful collaboration with project partners and advisers.

“Thanks for all your excellent work on our NEIRF project, your expertise and quick turnaround has been very much appreciated.”

Nene Park Trust

“It is always a pleasure to work with Cumulus. Your expertise, understanding and professionalism is outstanding.”

Kilnsey Park Estate

“It’s been great to have the opportunity to work with you on a second ELM Test & Trials Project and I look forward to further opportunities to work together in the future.”