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The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) supports low-carbon entrepreneurs to get their businesses and projects ready for investment. It then connects them with the investors who can help them grow.
Funded by the UK Government, the CFA provides hands-on technical support and creates structured opportunities for entrepreneurs, developers, financiers, and public partners to work together to unlock climate finance where it is most needed.
As a rapidly developing country, Malaysia faces high emissions from its energy, transport, agriculture and manufacturing sectors, leaving the country vulnerable to climate issues such as seasonal haze, loss of biodiversity and flooding. The government has set the ambitious goal of reaching peak emissions by 2030 in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), guided by policies such as the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and National Climate Change Policy 2.0. Despite this focus, a significant financing gap remains, with RM 1.2 trillion identified in energy transition alone. CFA Malaysia aims to help bridge this gap by enhancing the investment readiness of climate solutions and strengthening their relationships with capital providers.
The CFA works with businesses and projects that are actively seeking finance and can meet the following criteria:
- Measurable climate impact: Designed to achieve measurable climate outcomes in terms of direct or facilitated greenhouse gas emission reductions.
- Minimum ticket size: Have a minimum total funding need of at least USD5 million, with flexibility where sector dynamics, growth stage, or capital-structure needs justify a smaller raise. Funds or similar structures consisting of multiple smaller projects are also welcomed.
- Stage of development: Project finance deals must have completed a full feasibility study (a technical and financial assessment confirming engineering design, costs, risks, and viability).
- Commercial model: Have a business model capable of generating attractive, risk-adjusted returns over time, although some element of blended or concessional capital may be required in early stages.
- Sectoral focus: Provide a solution within priority sectors, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, bioenergy/waste, green mobility, green construction, circular economy, sustainable land use, forestry and ecosystem restoration, green manufacturing and industrial decarbonisation, carbon markets and measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems.
- Responsible business conduct: Not engage in activities included in the CFA exclusion list (available as PDF by clicking ‘Apply to Join CFA’)
- Positive environmental and social outcomes: Propositions should either demonstrate positive environmental and social impacts or show a genuine commitment to meaningfully integrating gender equality, disability, and broader social inclusion, recognising that some applicants may still be developing these elements.