Alternative financial practices and instruments - Revision history

Karlijn Schipper at 09:20, 18 October 2019

2019-10-18T09:20:38Z

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	==Shapes, sizes and applications==		==Shapes, sizes and applications==
	Some examples of alternative financial practices and instruments aim at strengthening public finance and the real productive economy. See for example the book “The public finance we want” (2019) <ref> https://www.tni.org/en/publicfinance </ref>. Examples are: 1) Socially responsible [https://www.thegpsc.org/sites/gpsc/files/landmark_success_stories_2014_-_eng_0.pdf public procurement]. 2) The public support of local cooperatives and democratic enterprises by donating land or loans for a fair price, 3) Reclaim public ownership of services such as water and energy-services, based on participatory governance models. As is the case in for example [https://www.tni.org/en/article/from-terrassa-to-barcelona-cities-and-citizens-reclaim-public-water-and-other-essential Barcelona]. 4) A citizens basic income paid with a complementary social currency that can be spent in local businesses <ref> http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Fessud_Policy-brief_9_Voluntary-Degrowth-by-Redesigning-Money-for-Sustainability-JusticeResilience.pdf </ref>. 5) Citizens’ wealth funds and 6) New public and democratic banks which organized itself according to alternative governance arrangements (Examples are Costa Rica’s Banco Popular, Germany’s Sparkassen, ‘Belfius is ours’)		Some examples of alternative financial practices and instruments aim at strengthening public finance and the real productive economy. See for example the book “The public finance we want” (2019) <ref> https://www.tni.org/en/publicfinance </ref>. Examples are: 1) Socially responsible [https://www.thegpsc.org/sites/gpsc/files/landmark_success_stories_2014_-_eng_0.pdf public procurement]. 2) The public support of local cooperatives and democratic enterprises by donating land or loans for a fair price, 3) Reclaim public ownership of services such as water and energy-services, based on participatory governance models. As is the case in for example [https://www.tni.org/en/article/from-terrassa-to-barcelona-cities-and-citizens-reclaim-public-water-and-other-essential Barcelona]. 4) A citizens basic income paid with a complementary social currency that can be spent in local businesses <ref> http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Fessud_Policy-brief_9_Voluntary-Degrowth-by-Redesigning-Money-for-Sustainability-JusticeResilience.pdf </ref>. 5) Citizens’ wealth funds and 6) New public and democratic banks which organized itself according to alternative governance arrangements (Examples are Costa Rica’s Banco Popular, Germany’s Sparkassen, ‘Belfius is ours’). This also raises the question on how to assess the extent to which corporate activities contribute to the common good (see the example of the common good matrix below).

	A community-based approach that is not based on money, market or state welfare arrangements is [https://hourworld.org/ Timebanking] (as described by [http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/resource-hub/time-banks TRANSIT]). This is “a values-based mechanism for reciprocal service-exchange that focuses on the contributions everyone can make to meeting needs within a local community. The value of all services in time banking is equal. The unit of exchange and account is simply the hours spent giving or receiving service”. Read more about this approach below.		A community-based approach that is not based on money, market or state welfare arrangements is [https://hourworld.org/ Timebanking] (as described by [http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/resource-hub/time-banks TRANSIT]). This is “a values-based mechanism for reciprocal service-exchange that focuses on the contributions everyone can make to meeting needs within a local community. The value of all services in time banking is equal. The unit of exchange and account is simply the hours spent giving or receiving service”. Read more about this approach below.
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	==Illustration==		==Illustration==
	Timebanking is a complementary currency based on the exchange of services using the time spent on delivering the service. Think of simple and more complex services such as walking your neighbor's dog, teaching piano, helping people with disabilities. These different types of services are valued equally. Timebanking originated in Japan and the US, and then spread worldwide. It provides communities in their needs by helping each other without involvement of money, markets or welfare arrangements. In this sense, this system is less vulnerable to for example inflation and crisis. Researchers of the [http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/content/original/Book%20covers/Local%20PDFs/253%20Time%20Banks%20-%20Case%20study%20report%20Time%20Banks-2017.pdf TRANSIT] project described the transformative potential of timebanking as “the potential to develop new and different relationships in society that are grounded in values different from those of otherwise dominant societal systems (...)”. Secondly, it increases the level of useful activity independent of formal employment, professionalised welfare services and/or money.		'''Timebanking''' is a complementary currency based on the exchange of services using the time spent on delivering the service. Think of simple and more complex services such as walking your neighbor's dog, teaching piano, helping people with disabilities. These different types of services are valued equally. Timebanking originated in Japan and the US, and then spread worldwide. It provides communities in their needs by helping each other without involvement of money, markets or welfare arrangements. In this sense, this system is less vulnerable to for example inflation and crisis. Researchers of the [http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/content/original/Book%20covers/Local%20PDFs/253%20Time%20Banks%20-%20Case%20study%20report%20Time%20Banks-2017.pdf TRANSIT] project described the transformative potential of timebanking as “the potential to develop new and different relationships in society that are grounded in values different from those of otherwise dominant societal systems (...)”. Secondly, it increases the level of useful activity independent of formal employment, professionalised welfare services and/or money.

	The "Common Good ~~Matrix”~~ is an evaluation framework that gives guidance to assess the contribution of corporate activities to the common good. It is created by the movement “Economy for the common good” <ref> https://www.ecogood.org/en/movement/ </ref>. The Common Good Matrix describes 20 common good themes <ref> https://www.ecogood.org/media/filer_public/56/e8/56e8c64e-c940-431b-8e7f-dce680bb8737/ecg_full_balance_sheet_workbook.pdf </ref>. Themes include both issues of justice and environmental impact of activities. Think of values as fair business towards direct suppliers, human dignity in the workplace, ownership issues, environmental impact. In the assessment process, the organisation positions itself on a scale depending on how developed each value is in the organisation. The Common Good Matrix is the basis for creating a Common Good Report, a comprehensive account of an organisation's standing in relation to the common good. The Common Good Balance Sheet is an instrument which promotes a value-driven, ethical economy. Its impact and significance go beyond legal requirements in order to ensure the highest possible standards in the future.		'''The Common Good Matrix''' is an evaluation framework that gives guidance to assess the contribution of corporate activities to the common good. It is created by the movement “Economy for the common good” <ref> https://www.ecogood.org/en/movement/ </ref>. The Common Good Matrix describes 20 common good themes <ref> https://www.ecogood.org/media/filer_public/56/e8/56e8c64e-c940-431b-8e7f-dce680bb8737/ecg_full_balance_sheet_workbook.pdf </ref>. Themes include both issues of justice and environmental impact of activities. Think of values as fair business towards direct suppliers, human dignity in the workplace, ownership issues, environmental impact. In the assessment process, the organisation positions itself on a scale depending on how developed each value is in the organisation. The Common Good Matrix is the basis for creating a Common Good Report, a comprehensive account of an organisation's standing in relation to the common good. The Common Good Balance Sheet is an instrument which promotes a value-driven, ethical economy. Its impact and significance go beyond legal requirements in order to ensure the highest possible standards in the future.

	==References==		==References==

Karlijn Schipper: /* Illustration */

2019-10-18T09:14:17Z

Illustration

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	==Illustration==		==Illustration==
			Timebanking is a complementary currency based on the exchange of services using the time spent on delivering the service. Think of simple and more complex services such as walking your neighbor's dog, teaching piano, helping people with disabilities. These different types of services are valued equally. Timebanking originated in Japan and the US, and then spread worldwide. It provides communities in their needs by helping each other without involvement of money, markets or welfare arrangements. In this sense, this system is less vulnerable to for example inflation and crisis. Researchers of the [http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/content/original/Book%20covers/Local%20PDFs/253%20Time%20Banks%20-%20Case%20study%20report%20Time%20Banks-2017.pdf TRANSIT] project described the transformative potential of timebanking as “the potential to develop new and different relationships in society that are grounded in values different from those of otherwise dominant societal systems (...)”. Secondly, it increases the level of useful activity independent of formal employment, professionalised welfare services and/or money.

			The "Common Good Matrix” is an evaluation framework that gives guidance to assess the contribution of corporate activities to the common good. It is created by the movement “Economy for the common good” <ref> https://www.ecogood.org/en/movement/ </ref>. The Common Good Matrix describes 20 common good themes <ref> https://www.ecogood.org/media/filer_public/56/e8/56e8c64e-c940-431b-8e7f-dce680bb8737/ecg_full_balance_sheet_workbook.pdf </ref>. Themes include both issues of justice and environmental impact of activities. Think of values as fair business towards direct suppliers, human dignity in the workplace, ownership issues, environmental impact. In the assessment process, the organisation positions itself on a scale depending on how developed each value is in the organisation. The Common Good Matrix is the basis for creating a Common Good Report, a comprehensive account of an organisation's standing in relation to the common good. The Common Good Balance Sheet is an instrument which promotes a value-driven, ethical economy. Its impact and significance go beyond legal requirements in order to ensure the highest possible standards in the future.

	==References==		==References==

Karlijn Schipper: /* Transformative potential */

2019-10-18T09:11:52Z

Transformative potential

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	==Transformative potential==		==Transformative potential==
			The financial alternatives challenge existing power relations; between financial institutions and communities; between private and public institutions etc. For example [http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/resource-hub/time-banks timebanking] opposes the dominant values of competition, exploitation, scarcity-value and dependence, and promote voluntarism, cooperativism and co-production. Dominant power relations are framed as unjust and destructive to personal well-being, and social and ecological systems.

			Some of the financial instruments don’t change or alter the power relations within the financial system, because the focus is on leveraging conventional instruments (like debt-based instruments). These approaches might bare the risk of increasing financialization and strengthening the power of private actors and financial institutions (increasing private profit and not public benefit). Although we need to bare in mind that the situation might differ for indebted countries that cannot rely on public institutions <ref> https://www.tni.org/en/publicfinance </ref>. In this way, the second set of approaches might have less potential to radically transform dominant ways of working, thinking and doing.

	==Illustration==		==Illustration==
	==References==		==References==

Karlijn Schipper: /* Narrative of change */

2019-10-18T09:04:39Z

Narrative of change

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	==Narrative of change==		==Narrative of change==
			What is the type of problem that these approaches address? The alternative financial practices put the working of capitalism and our financial systems at the roots of our current concerns with inequality and the ecological destruction (in short minimizing costs and maximizing profits). Some of these try to counter further financialisation <ref> http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Fessud_Policy-brief_9_Voluntary-Degrowth-by-Redesigning-Money-for-Sustainability-JusticeResilience.pdf </ref>. This is done by among others 1) deliberately working on principles that are diametrically opposite of the values of the dominant financial system. E.g. inclusivity, collectivity, equal exchange (see the Timebanking example below), 2) limiting dependency of civil society on welfare and mainstream systems, 3) creating equal relations between actors and more inclusive and democratice institutions and 4) strengthening public finance and the ‘real productive economy’. For example local complementary currencies try to achieve change by uncoupling human well-being and livelihood from economic cycles and financial speculation <ref> http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Fessud_Policy-brief_9_Voluntary-Degrowth-by-Redesigning-Money-for-Sustainability-JusticeResilience.pdf </ref>

			The narrative of change of the alternatives for financing sustainability solutions or greening infrastructures (like [[nature-based solutions]]) address the inability of current financial markets to prioritize sustainable investments due to its short-term focus and high risk aversion of financial markets <ref>http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Fessud_Policy-brief-10_A-European-Union-Sustainable-Banking-Network.pdf </ref>.

	==Transformative potential==		==Transformative potential==
	==Illustration==		==Illustration==
	==References==		==References==

Karlijn Schipper: /* Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice */

2019-10-18T08:51:41Z

Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice

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	The examples presented above that strengthen public finance and those that are community-based do explicitly address distributive and procedural justice because they respond to the unequal distribution of wealth and resources.The approaches might address sustainability issues by challenging current consumption and production patterns and promoting local economy, or by unlocking investment for sustainable infrastructure and solutions. The narrative of the social divestment movements with its focus on climate justice shows the connection between environmental and justice issues.		The examples presented above that strengthen public finance and those that are community-based do explicitly address distributive and procedural justice because they respond to the unequal distribution of wealth and resources.The approaches might address sustainability issues by challenging current consumption and production patterns and promoting local economy, or by unlocking investment for sustainable infrastructure and solutions. The narrative of the social divestment movements with its focus on climate justice shows the connection between environmental and justice issues.

	In the context of the financial system one might refer to ‘financial exclusion’. Financial exclusion relates to the idea that lower-income and marginalized groups have less access to financial products, services, technologies and institutions. Additionally the retreat of the welfare state, and labour market insecurity, makes it increasingly difficult for these groups to provide in their basic needs.Often this means that they depend on expensive types of credit which might push them further into the debt spiral.<ref> http://fessud.eu/ </ref> [http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/FESSUD_Infographic_WP5.pdf This info graphic] shows the relation between ~~fictionalization~~ and well-being.		In the context of the financial system one might refer to ‘financial exclusion’. Financial exclusion relates to the idea that lower-income and marginalized groups have less access to financial products, services, technologies and institutions. Additionally the retreat of the welfare state, and labour market insecurity, makes it increasingly difficult for these groups to provide in their basic needs.Often this means that they depend on expensive types of credit which might push them further into the debt spiral.<ref> http://fessud.eu/ </ref> [http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/FESSUD_Infographic_WP5.pdf This info graphic] shows the relation between financialization and well-being.

	==Narrative of change==		==Narrative of change==

Karlijn Schipper: /* Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice */

2019-10-18T08:51:10Z

Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice

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			The alternative financial practices and instruments do not necessarily have an urban focus. They might operate on a regional, national or global level. However, especially the community based alternatives, like local currencies and social public procurement, are organized on the level of municipalities, neighbourhoods or communities.

			The examples presented above that strengthen public finance and those that are community-based do explicitly address distributive and procedural justice because they respond to the unequal distribution of wealth and resources.The approaches might address sustainability issues by challenging current consumption and production patterns and promoting local economy, or by unlocking investment for sustainable infrastructure and solutions. The narrative of the social divestment movements with its focus on climate justice shows the connection between environmental and justice issues.

			In the context of the financial system one might refer to ‘financial exclusion’. Financial exclusion relates to the idea that lower-income and marginalized groups have less access to financial products, services, technologies and institutions. Additionally the retreat of the welfare state, and labour market insecurity, makes it increasingly difficult for these groups to provide in their basic needs.Often this means that they depend on expensive types of credit which might push them further into the debt spiral.<ref> http://fessud.eu/ </ref> [http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/FESSUD_Infographic_WP5.pdf This info graphic] shows the relation between fictionalization and well-being.

	==Narrative of change==		==Narrative of change==

Karlijn Schipper: /* Shapes, sizes and applications */

2019-10-15T13:21:58Z

Shapes, sizes and applications

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 15 October 2019
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	A community-based approach that is not based on money, market or state welfare arrangements is [https://hourworld.org/ Timebanking] (as described by [http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/resource-hub/time-banks TRANSIT]). This is “a values-based mechanism for reciprocal service-exchange that focuses on the contributions everyone can make to meeting needs within a local community. The value of all services in time banking is equal. The unit of exchange and account is simply the hours spent giving or receiving service”. Read more about this approach below.		A community-based approach that is not based on money, market or state welfare arrangements is [https://hourworld.org/ Timebanking] (as described by [http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/resource-hub/time-banks TRANSIT]). This is “a values-based mechanism for reciprocal service-exchange that focuses on the contributions everyone can make to meeting needs within a local community. The value of all services in time banking is equal. The unit of exchange and account is simply the hours spent giving or receiving service”. Read more about this approach below.

	Another approach is the social divestment movement. This is a global grassroots campaign encouraging institutional and public investors to pull out of investments in fossil-based energy companies. The movement is mainly represented by [https://350.org/ ~~350.org~~ 350.org] and, more specifically, [https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/ Fossil Free]. “Divestment is the opposite of an investment – it simply means getting rid of stocks, bonds, or investment funds that are unethical or morally ambiguous <ref> https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/what-is-fossil-fuel-divestment/ </ref>”. The movement also encourages these investors to reinvest the money. The movement upholds [https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/reinvestment/ a set of principles] that are based on the idea of ‘regenerative financing’ to guide these reinvestments. These principles are: Increase community empowerment and prosperity, shift economic control, democratize the workplace, drive social equity, promote ecological well-being and resilience, shift trends in production and consumption and strengthen the public.		Another approach is the social divestment movement. This is a global grassroots campaign encouraging institutional and public investors to pull out of investments in fossil-based energy companies. The movement is mainly represented by [https://350.org/ 350.org] and, more specifically, [https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/ Fossil Free]. “Divestment is the opposite of an investment – it simply means getting rid of stocks, bonds, or investment funds that are unethical or morally ambiguous <ref> https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/what-is-fossil-fuel-divestment/ </ref>”. The movement also encourages these investors to reinvest the money. The movement upholds [https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/reinvestment/ a set of principles] that are based on the idea of ‘regenerative financing’ to guide these reinvestments. These principles are: Increase community empowerment and prosperity, shift economic control, democratize the workplace, drive social equity, promote ecological well-being and resilience, shift trends in production and consumption and strengthen the public.

	Another set of approaches are the (private) financial instruments that are specifically designed to accelerate urban transformation to resilient or decarbonized cities. In general, “Private finance for sustainable innovation (...) faces two fundamental challenges: (1) payoffs are for some part public and therefore cannot easily be reaped by investors, and (2) payoffs are often long term and high risk due to their innovative character, making it less attractive for investors” <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf </ref> Many of these examples are not new or different but are about leveraging conventional sources and unlock novel mechanisms for a sustainability goal. Examples are socially responsible investment funds and banking, climate/green bonds, solar-leasing and environmental upgrade agreements <ref> http://www.visionsandpathways.com/ </ref> and [https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/92175/reporting/fr carbon taxation].		Another set of approaches are the (private) financial instruments that are specifically designed to accelerate urban transformation to resilient or decarbonized cities. In general, “Private finance for sustainable innovation (...) faces two fundamental challenges: (1) payoffs are for some part public and therefore cannot easily be reaped by investors, and (2) payoffs are often long term and high risk due to their innovative character, making it less attractive for investors” <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf </ref> Many of these examples are not new or different but are about leveraging conventional sources and unlock novel mechanisms for a sustainability goal. Examples are socially responsible investment funds and banking, climate/green bonds, solar-leasing and environmental upgrade agreements <ref> http://www.visionsandpathways.com/ </ref> and [https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/92175/reporting/fr carbon taxation].

	With regards to implementing and mainstreaming [[nature-based solutions]] in urban policies and planning, the question of unlocking funds and financing is a key issue. Especially, how to secure long-term investment since most financial resources are used for traditional short-term approaches or are committed to specific tasks <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/Clever_Cities_Factsheet_1_WEB.pdf </ref> <ref> http://www.progireg.eu/ </ref>. Some of the EU funded projects that look into NBS are therefore looking into different ways to finance those solutions.. E.g. trough greening fiscal policies, public-private partnerships, innovative use of public budgets, grant funding and donations (including EU funding and crowdfunding), instruments generating revenue, ‘green finance’ and loans (like the Natural Capital Financing Facility), market-based instruments etc. <ref> https://oppla.eu/sites/default/files/uploads/working-documentfinancing-nbs-cities.pdf </ref> <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf</ref>		With regards to implementing and mainstreaming [[nature-based solutions]] in urban policies and planning, the question of unlocking funds and financing is a key issue. Especially, how to secure long-term investment since most financial resources are used for traditional short-term approaches or are committed to specific tasks <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/Clever_Cities_Factsheet_1_WEB.pdf </ref> <ref> http://www.progireg.eu/ </ref>. Some of the EU funded projects that look into NBS are therefore looking into different ways to finance those solutions.. E.g. trough greening fiscal policies, public-private partnerships, innovative use of public budgets, grant funding and donations (including EU funding and crowdfunding), instruments generating revenue, ‘green finance’ and loans (like the Natural Capital Financing Facility), market-based instruments etc. <ref> https://oppla.eu/sites/default/files/uploads/working-documentfinancing-nbs-cities.pdf </ref> <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf</ref>

	==Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice==		==Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice==

Karlijn Schipper at 13:20, 15 October 2019

2019-10-15T13:20:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:20, 15 October 2019
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	Another approach is the social divestment movement. This is a global grassroots campaign encouraging institutional and public investors to pull out of investments in fossil-based energy companies. The movement is mainly represented by [https://350.org/ 350.org 350.org] and, more specifically, [https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/ Fossil Free]. “Divestment is the opposite of an investment – it simply means getting rid of stocks, bonds, or investment funds that are unethical or morally ambiguous <ref> https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/what-is-fossil-fuel-divestment/ </ref>”. The movement also encourages these investors to reinvest the money. The movement upholds [https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/reinvestment/ a set of principles] that are based on the idea of ‘regenerative financing’ to guide these reinvestments. These principles are: Increase community empowerment and prosperity, shift economic control, democratize the workplace, drive social equity, promote ecological well-being and resilience, shift trends in production and consumption and strengthen the public.		Another approach is the social divestment movement. This is a global grassroots campaign encouraging institutional and public investors to pull out of investments in fossil-based energy companies. The movement is mainly represented by [https://350.org/ 350.org 350.org] and, more specifically, [https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/ Fossil Free]. “Divestment is the opposite of an investment – it simply means getting rid of stocks, bonds, or investment funds that are unethical or morally ambiguous <ref> https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/what-is-fossil-fuel-divestment/ </ref>”. The movement also encourages these investors to reinvest the money. The movement upholds [https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/reinvestment/ a set of principles] that are based on the idea of ‘regenerative financing’ to guide these reinvestments. These principles are: Increase community empowerment and prosperity, shift economic control, democratize the workplace, drive social equity, promote ecological well-being and resilience, shift trends in production and consumption and strengthen the public.

	Another set of approaches are the (private) financial instruments that are specifically designed to accelerate urban transformation to resilient or decarbonized cities. In general, “Private finance for sustainable innovation (...) faces two fundamental challenges: (1) payoffs are for some part public and therefore cannot easily be reaped by investors, and (2) payoffs are often long term and high risk due to their innovative character, making it less attractive for investors” <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf </ref> Many of these examples are not new or different but are about leveraging conventional sources and unlock novel mechanisms for a sustainability goal. Examples are socially responsible investment funds and banking, climate/green, solar-leasing and environmental upgrade agreements <ref> http://www.visionsandpathways.com/ </ref> and [https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/92175/reporting/fr carbon taxation].		Another set of approaches are the (private) financial instruments that are specifically designed to accelerate urban transformation to resilient or decarbonized cities. In general, “Private finance for sustainable innovation (...) faces two fundamental challenges: (1) payoffs are for some part public and therefore cannot easily be reaped by investors, and (2) payoffs are often long term and high risk due to their innovative character, making it less attractive for investors” <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf </ref> Many of these examples are not new or different but are about leveraging conventional sources and unlock novel mechanisms for a sustainability goal. Examples are socially responsible investment funds and banking, climate/green bonds, solar-leasing and environmental upgrade agreements <ref> http://www.visionsandpathways.com/ </ref> and [https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/92175/reporting/fr carbon taxation].

	With regards to implementing and mainstreaming [[nature-based solutions]] in urban policies and planning, the question of unlocking funds and financing is a key issue. Especially, how to secure long-term investment since most financial resources are used for traditional short-term approaches or are committed to specific tasks <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/Clever_Cities_Factsheet_1_WEB.pdf </ref> <ref> http://www.progireg.eu/ </ref>. Some of the EU funded projects that look into NBS are therefore looking into different ways to finance those solutions.. E.g. trough greening fiscal policies, public-private partnerships, innovative use of public budgets, grant funding and donations (including EU funding and crowdfunding), instruments generating revenue, ‘green finance’ and loans (like the Natural Capital Financing Facility), market-based instruments etc. <ref> https://oppla.eu/sites/default/files/uploads/working-documentfinancing-nbs-cities.pdf </ref> <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf</ref>		With regards to implementing and mainstreaming [[nature-based solutions]] in urban policies and planning, the question of unlocking funds and financing is a key issue. Especially, how to secure long-term investment since most financial resources are used for traditional short-term approaches or are committed to specific tasks <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/Clever_Cities_Factsheet_1_WEB.pdf </ref> <ref> http://www.progireg.eu/ </ref>. Some of the EU funded projects that look into NBS are therefore looking into different ways to finance those solutions.. E.g. trough greening fiscal policies, public-private partnerships, innovative use of public budgets, grant funding and donations (including EU funding and crowdfunding), instruments generating revenue, ‘green finance’ and loans (like the Natural Capital Financing Facility), market-based instruments etc. <ref> https://oppla.eu/sites/default/files/uploads/working-documentfinancing-nbs-cities.pdf </ref> <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf</ref>

Karlijn Schipper at 13:04, 15 October 2019

2019-10-15T13:04:28Z

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	Another set of approaches are the (private) financial instruments that are specifically designed to accelerate urban transformation to resilient or decarbonized cities. In general, “Private finance for sustainable innovation (...) faces two fundamental challenges: (1) payoffs are for some part public and therefore cannot easily be reaped by investors, and (2) payoffs are often long term and high risk due to their innovative character, making it less attractive for investors” <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf </ref> Many of these examples are not new or different but are about leveraging conventional sources and unlock novel mechanisms for a sustainability goal. Examples are socially responsible investment funds and banking, climate/green, solar-leasing and environmental upgrade agreements <ref> http://www.visionsandpathways.com/ </ref> and [https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/92175/reporting/fr carbon taxation].		Another set of approaches are the (private) financial instruments that are specifically designed to accelerate urban transformation to resilient or decarbonized cities. In general, “Private finance for sustainable innovation (...) faces two fundamental challenges: (1) payoffs are for some part public and therefore cannot easily be reaped by investors, and (2) payoffs are often long term and high risk due to their innovative character, making it less attractive for investors” <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf </ref> Many of these examples are not new or different but are about leveraging conventional sources and unlock novel mechanisms for a sustainability goal. Examples are socially responsible investment funds and banking, climate/green, solar-leasing and environmental upgrade agreements <ref> http://www.visionsandpathways.com/ </ref> and [https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/92175/reporting/fr carbon taxation].

	With regards to implementing and mainstreaming ~~Nature~~-based solutions in urban policies and planning ~~(add link to wiki NBS)~~, the question of unlocking funds and financing is a key issue. Especially, how to secure long-term investment since most financial resources are used for traditional short-term approaches or are committed to specific tasks <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/Clever_Cities_Factsheet_1_WEB.pdf </ref> <ref> http://www.progireg.eu/ </ref>. Some of the EU funded projects that look into NBS are therefore looking into different ways to finance those solutions.. E.g. trough greening fiscal policies, public-private partnerships, innovative use of public budgets, grant funding and donations (including EU funding and crowdfunding), instruments generating revenue, ‘green finance’ and loans (like the Natural Capital Financing Facility), market-based instruments etc. <ref> https://oppla.eu/sites/default/files/uploads/working-documentfinancing-nbs-cities.pdf </ref> <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf</ref>		With regards to implementing and mainstreaming [[nature-based solutions]] in urban policies and planning, the question of unlocking funds and financing is a key issue. Especially, how to secure long-term investment since most financial resources are used for traditional short-term approaches or are committed to specific tasks <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/Clever_Cities_Factsheet_1_WEB.pdf </ref> <ref> http://www.progireg.eu/ </ref>. Some of the EU funded projects that look into NBS are therefore looking into different ways to finance those solutions.. E.g. trough greening fiscal policies, public-private partnerships, innovative use of public budgets, grant funding and donations (including EU funding and crowdfunding), instruments generating revenue, ‘green finance’ and loans (like the Natural Capital Financing Facility), market-based instruments etc. <ref> https://oppla.eu/sites/default/files/uploads/working-documentfinancing-nbs-cities.pdf </ref> <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf</ref>

	==Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice==		==Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice==

Karlijn Schipper at 13:02, 15 October 2019

2019-10-15T13:02:33Z

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	This page is part of an ongoing, open-ended online collaborative database, which collects relevant approaches that can be used by city-makers to tackle unsustainability and injustice in cities. It is based mainly on knowledge generated in EU-funded projects and touches on fast changing fields. As such, this page makes no claims of authoritative completeness and welcomes your suggestions.		This page is part of an ongoing, open-ended online collaborative database, which collects relevant approaches that can be used by city-makers to tackle unsustainability and injustice in cities. It is based mainly on knowledge generated in EU-funded projects and touches on fast changing fields. As such, this page makes no claims of authoritative completeness and welcomes your suggestions.


	==General introduction to approach==		==General introduction to approach==
	Alternative financial practices and instruments respond to the need for and the wish to build regenerative, equitable and democratic economies. These types of initiatives took root after the financial crisis of 2007 and were in most cases a response to the disruptive consequences of the financial system such as ecological destruction and growing socioeconomic inequalities. This [http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/FESSUD_Infographic_WP3_2.pdf infographic] shows the causes and consequences of the financial crisis.		Alternative financial practices and instruments respond to the need for and the wish to build regenerative, equitable and democratic economies. These types of initiatives took root after the financial crisis of 2007 and were in most cases a response to the disruptive consequences of the financial system such as ecological destruction and growing socioeconomic inequalities. This [http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/FESSUD_Infographic_WP3_2.pdf infographic] shows the causes and consequences of the financial crisis.

	Additionally, in the context of reaching the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the need to transform our cities, policy makers, corporate actors and researchers are interested in alternative financial instruments that help to bridge the ‘infrastructure investment gap’ or fund green projects that are cross-sectoral and have multiple benefits. Achieving the goal of urban transformation in terms of climate mitigation and adaptation requires not only huge financial investments, but ~~requieres~~ also a different type of financing <ref> https://cff-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/storage/files/eFdIR9tEi3ALnudfzN58GJxqCc8jEJTYnqyQ0TGs.pdf </ref> <ref> https://futureearth.org/networks/knowledge-action-networks/finance-and-economics/ </ref>.		Additionally, in the context of reaching the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the need to transform our cities, policy makers, corporate actors and researchers are interested in alternative financial instruments that help to bridge the ‘infrastructure investment gap’ or fund green projects that are cross-sectoral and have multiple benefits. Achieving the goal of urban transformation in terms of climate mitigation and adaptation requires not only huge financial investments, but requires also a different type of financing <ref> https://cff-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/storage/files/eFdIR9tEi3ALnudfzN58GJxqCc8jEJTYnqyQ0TGs.pdf </ref> <ref> https://futureearth.org/networks/knowledge-action-networks/finance-and-economics/ </ref>.

			==Shapes, sizes and applications==
			Some examples of alternative financial practices and instruments aim at strengthening public finance and the real productive economy. See for example the book “The public finance we want” (2019) <ref> https://www.tni.org/en/publicfinance </ref>. Examples are: 1) Socially responsible [https://www.thegpsc.org/sites/gpsc/files/landmark_success_stories_2014_-_eng_0.pdf public procurement]. 2) The public support of local cooperatives and democratic enterprises by donating land or loans for a fair price, 3) Reclaim public ownership of services such as water and energy-services, based on participatory governance models. As is the case in for example [https://www.tni.org/en/article/from-terrassa-to-barcelona-cities-and-citizens-reclaim-public-water-and-other-essential Barcelona]. 4) A citizens basic income paid with a complementary social currency that can be spent in local businesses <ref> http://fessud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Fessud_Policy-brief_9_Voluntary-Degrowth-by-Redesigning-Money-for-Sustainability-JusticeResilience.pdf </ref>. 5) Citizens’ wealth funds and 6) New public and democratic banks which organized itself according to alternative governance arrangements (Examples are Costa Rica’s Banco Popular, Germany’s Sparkassen, ‘Belfius is ours’)

			A community-based approach that is not based on money, market or state welfare arrangements is [https://hourworld.org/ Timebanking] (as described by [http://www.transitsocialinnovation.eu/resource-hub/time-banks TRANSIT]). This is “a values-based mechanism for reciprocal service-exchange that focuses on the contributions everyone can make to meeting needs within a local community. The value of all services in time banking is equal. The unit of exchange and account is simply the hours spent giving or receiving service”. Read more about this approach below.

			Another approach is the social divestment movement. This is a global grassroots campaign encouraging institutional and public investors to pull out of investments in fossil-based energy companies. The movement is mainly represented by [https://350.org/ 350.org 350.org] and, more specifically, [https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/ Fossil Free]. “Divestment is the opposite of an investment – it simply means getting rid of stocks, bonds, or investment funds that are unethical or morally ambiguous <ref> https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/what-is-fossil-fuel-divestment/ </ref>”. The movement also encourages these investors to reinvest the money. The movement upholds [https://gofossilfree.org/divestment/reinvestment/ a set of principles] that are based on the idea of ‘regenerative financing’ to guide these reinvestments. These principles are: Increase community empowerment and prosperity, shift economic control, democratize the workplace, drive social equity, promote ecological well-being and resilience, shift trends in production and consumption and strengthen the public.

			Another set of approaches are the (private) financial instruments that are specifically designed to accelerate urban transformation to resilient or decarbonized cities. In general, “Private finance for sustainable innovation (...) faces two fundamental challenges: (1) payoffs are for some part public and therefore cannot easily be reaped by investors, and (2) payoffs are often long term and high risk due to their innovative character, making it less attractive for investors” <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf </ref> Many of these examples are not new or different but are about leveraging conventional sources and unlock novel mechanisms for a sustainability goal. Examples are socially responsible investment funds and banking, climate/green, solar-leasing and environmental upgrade agreements <ref> http://www.visionsandpathways.com/ </ref> and [https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/92175/reporting/fr carbon taxation].

			With regards to implementing and mainstreaming Nature-based solutions in urban policies and planning (add link to wiki NBS), the question of unlocking funds and financing is a key issue. Especially, how to secure long-term investment since most financial resources are used for traditional short-term approaches or are committed to specific tasks <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/Clever_Cities_Factsheet_1_WEB.pdf </ref> <ref> http://www.progireg.eu/ </ref>. Some of the EU funded projects that look into NBS are therefore looking into different ways to finance those solutions.. E.g. trough greening fiscal policies, public-private partnerships, innovative use of public budgets, grant funding and donations (including EU funding and crowdfunding), instruments generating revenue, ‘green finance’ and loans (like the Natural Capital Financing Facility), market-based instruments etc. <ref> https://oppla.eu/sites/default/files/uploads/working-documentfinancing-nbs-cities.pdf </ref> <ref> http://clevercities.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/Resources/D1.1_Theme_3_financing_urban_regeneration_EBN_12.2018.pdf</ref>

	~~==Shapes, sizes and applications==~~
	==Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice==		==Relation to UrbanA themes: Cities, sustainability, and justice==



	==Narrative of change==		==Narrative of change==
	==Transformative potential==		==Transformative potential==
	==Illustration==		==Illustration==
	==References==		==References==