Who We Are
SCCF is a not-for-profit foundation, established to fill the gap between charitable assistance and corporate projects within the Climate Change space. Businesses reject low margin investment; charities are not equipped to act commercially.
SCCF is in a unique position as a Climate Change foundation because it was initiated and is endowed by Sindicatum Carbon Capital Ltd. (“SCC”), a leading project finance company active in the emissions abatement and clean energy markets. This background has helped us to develop a pragmatic and commercially-savvy approach to our charitable activities around the world.
We will implement this approach to fulfill our purpose: Addressing the challenge of Climate Change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and by supporting adaptation to its impacts, while also considering related opportunities for sustainable development.
What We Know
Vast areas of potential GHG emissions reductions in the developing world are not touched by commercial developers working under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) because the small scale of many projects and/or the difficulty of operating in certain regions diminishes economic incentives. Aid and development agencies, meanwhile, often are not focused on promoting change that reduces emissions.
lack of motive
SCC's experience in Asia and the Middle East has highlighted an obstacle to Climate Change mitigation - an inadequate depth of local engineering expertise to undertake emission reduction projects.
lack of experience
Action to mitigate Climate Change in the developed world is often delayed as different actors (e.g. governments, businesses, NGOs, citizens) shift responsibility from one to the other.
lack of agreement and action
Efforts to address Climate Change in the developed world are also slowed by a lack of relevant information and capacity among key stakeholders.
lack of information
Our Plan
To reduce GHG emissions in developing countries as well as alleviate suffering via adaptation and/or sustainable development initiatives:
- We will undertake projects that combine GHG emission reduction with Climate Change adaptation and/or development aid.
- We will demonstrate that these kinds of combined project can be successfully implemented in developing countries, often at a profit.
- Additionally, we will work to stimulate the widespread uptake of similar types of project and encourage the flows of appropriate funding.
To fund education at post-graduate level; taking skilled engineers in developing countries and providing them with the expertise to become directly involved in sustainability, clean energy and related industries:
- We will provide - with the help of partner universities - post graduate scholarships and a living allowance to engineering graduates in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Middle East.
- We will support them in conducting applied MSc level research in disciplines germane to their home-country Climate Change challenges.
- An example would be funding a Chinese engineering graduate to attend a world-class programme on coal mine methane management systems.
- Using our global network, we will also support scholars in finding an appropriate job or internship on completion of their studies.
To create partnerships through which pro bono Climate Change expertise can be delivered to organisations in need:
- We will form partnerships between those organisations willing to give pro bono Climate Change advice and those organisations in need of it.
- Advice-giving partners will undertake a detailed diagnostic of the receiving organisation's activities and identify opportunities for the introduction of new, or the improvement of existing, energy conservation and sustainability.
Targeted Outcomes
- Stimulation of the flow of capital into emission reduction projects (with adaptation and/or development co-benefits) increases sustainability in communities and contributes to the reduction in the rate and magnitude of Climate Change while fostering energy independence and security.
- Increase in pool of local engineering expertise enables Asian and Middle Eastern countries to introduce more sustainable energy programmes and reduce GHG emissions more quickly.
- Government bodies, businesses, NGOs and citizens become more effective in their contribution to reduce GHG emissions and/or build resilience to Climate Change.
Board of Trustees
We currently have three trustees, but are considering adding more. Our board comprises a group of committed individuals that attend all meetings and are actively involved with the foundation, which is something we would wish to maintain as the number of trustees increases.
Lord Stone of Blackheath (Chairman)
Andrew Stone joined Marks and Spencer plc as a trainee in 1966 and retired his position as joint managing director of the company in 1999. He is currently a director of several non-government organisations, a retail company and is involved in several charities. He also chairs the charity DIPEx, a unique web-based health project aimed at people living with life threatening illnesses.
Andrew was appointed to the House of Lords in 1997.
Lord Puttnam of Queensgate, C.B.E.
David Puttnam retired from film production in 1998 and now focuses on his work in education and the environment. He is Chancellor of the Open University, a former President of Unicef Chairman, and in 2007 was appointed chair of the Joint Parliamentary Climate Change Bill Scrutiny Committee.
David was awarded a CBE in 1982, received a Knighthood in 1995 and was appointed to the House of Lords in 1997.
Mr Alok Verma
Alok Verma is a Senior Partner of Sedley Richards Laurence Voulters and is a Chartered Accountant by profession.
Alok is a specialist in finance and corporate advisory work, including pre- and post-acquisition investigations, management buyouts, business start-ups, share valuation, transaction support and national and international group re-structuring. He advises on corporate governance with particular emphasis on accountability, integrity, and risk management, not only to listed companies but to many other organisations outside the corporate sector.
Key Personnel
We have a small team of motivated people. We do not believe in spending a lot of money on admin and salaries. Our network however is extensive, and we deploy a large amount of goodwill and a small amount of cash to get things done.
Mike Wheelhouse - General Manager
A founding director of the Sindicatum Group, Mike has worked in the financial services industry since 1986, heading investment research teams at companies such as Hoare Govett and Nomura International. His work has mostly been directed towards raising capital for the emerging markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa, regions whereof he has considerable knowledge and excellent contacts. He left Sindicatum Group to manage the foundation at the beginning of 2009.
Mike is a graduate of Emmanuel College Cambridge and a post graduate of University College London.
Renita du Toit - Operations Manager and Company Secretary
Renita joined the Sindicatum group in 2002, having previously been employed by SABIC Global, Internet Unlimited and Goshawk Enterprises. As Chief Administration Officer for Sindicatum Ltd, Renita had overall management of all operations and internal policies. She joined the foundation at establishment in January 2009. Aside from handling operations she is also directly involved in most of the project work being undertaken.
Renita was educated in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Cape Town, South Africa.