This report details the development and operational principles of the Leuven Impact Framework, designed to evaluate societal co-benefits generated by projects within the Leuven Climate Portfolio. A Q&A section highlights key questions and adresses practical concerns.
Through five practical cases, it encompasses calculation methods for co-benefits within 8 different interventions, spanning all five emission domains.
This approach ensures that the calculation methods are grounded in realistic cases and are usable via very simple and easily attainable project KPI’s and inputs.
The spreadsheet template allows for quick benchmarking, while the comprehensive indicator list transparently reports on calculation methods and can be used as a starting point for more in-depth analyses.
Quantification of impacts for a Climate Action Portfolio - A model for the City of Leuven video TUTORIAL
Efforts to secure financing for the Leuven Climate Portfolio revealed that, while these projects are deemed highly valuable for the climate transition, their direct financial returns are low, even by impact investment standards. Consequently, feedback from the financial sector suggested that providing more quantified insights into the co-benefits would be beneficial for attracting impact capital. Although these projects might not directly benefit investors financially, they offer substantial indirect societal benefits. To attract impact investors interested in such projects, these societal co-benefits must be clarified and quantified wherever possible, including assigning monetary values to the co-benefits, even if they do not result in direct investor gains.
In case any partners would like to take further steps with the material provided, we’d really appreciate staying involved where relevant. Please reach out to sarah.hennin@leuven2030.be and mira.conci@climate-kic.org.