Climate Tech Finance is a first-of-its-kind partnership designed to accelerate the development and adoption of technologies that reduce greenhouse gases in the Bay Area and California. Established in 2018, Climate Tech Finance is a program of the Bay Area Air District operating in partnership with the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank).
Climate Tech Finance bridges the gap between climate-driven businesses seeking working capital and banks interested in the growing clean tech sector. By facilitating the IBank state loan guarantee program, Climate Tech Finance reduces lending risks, validates technology, and empowers climate entrepreneurs to secure essential capital for growth and impact.
We help bridge the Valley of Death by offering loan guarantees that de-risk the lending process for banks, thereby opening up new sources of funding for climate tech entrepreneurs. The Bay Area Air District identifies climate entrepreneurs and small businesses, assesses the merits of the technologies, and estimates greenhouse gas emission reductions and social impacts to ensure that proposed projects improve the climate and community in an equitable and sustainable way.
The program established a roster of over a dozen climate-oriented banks and a growing pipeline of climate projects in need of near-term financing. Climate Tech Finance has also seen increasing inbound interest from borrowers and lenders, fueled by imminent regulatory changes and banks’ goalsetting around climate investments.
We believe this unique model will accelerate the development and adoption of climate technologies and have a measurable effect on Bay Area air quality and the global climate. Learn more in our annual reports.
We are steadfastly committed to advancing social equity within the climate tech sector. Central to this mission is our Social Equity Review, a critical component of our assessment process.
Through this review, we evaluate the potential social impact and inclusiveness of the proposed climate tech solutions. We analyze the ways in which these ventures strive to address historical inequities, foster diversity, and promote inclusivity within their operations and broader community impact.
By holding our applicants to these high standards of social responsibility, we aim to foster a climate tech landscape that is not only innovative and sustainable, but also just and inclusive.
Tamara Kohne joined the Bay Area Air District in 2019, focusing on the Climate Tech Finance program. As a Supervisor, she is responsible for the strategic oversight of the program, dedicated to accelerating innovative climate solutions through targeted financial support. Tamara expertly manages the entire lifecycle of client engagement—from initial contact, through the application process, to project approval and funding. Her efforts ensure that the program effectively supports startups in navigating the complexities of climate technology financing. Prior to this role, Tamara worked with the statewide toxics and criteria emissions inventory at the California Air Resources Board. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Economics and Policy from UC Berkeley.
Forest Abbott-Lum joined the Climate Tech Finance program in 2026, after joining the Bay Area Air District in 2024 to lead stakeholder engagement and development of natural and working lands climate strategies for the Bay Area Regional Climate Action Plan. Over the past decade, her work has spanned climate tech startups, climate consulting, composting initiatives and food systems work for local governments, and research for environmental nonprofits and think tanks. As a Senior Staff Specialist on the Climate Tech Finance program, Forest manages the project pipeline, cultivates stakeholder partnerships, and evaluates climate technologies for their greenhouse gas reduction potential and social equity impacts. Forest holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and Mandarin from Bennington College and a Master of Environmental Management from Yale School of the Environment.
Lauren Louie joined the Bay Area Air District in 2024 to support the Climate Tech Finance program. She is motivated by working with startups and entrepreneurs who are developing technology to improve air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As Staff Specialist, Lauren supports the operations of the Climate Tech Finance team, including managing the project pipeline, reviewing initial evaluations of specific climate technologies and their greenhouse gas reduction potential and social equity impacts, and fostering relationships with various stakeholders. Previously, Lauren worked in environmental consulting, where she led the field implementation of soil and groundwater investigation and cleanup projects in California. She has also a background in finance and underwriting loans. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences with a concentration in Climate-Change Studies and a minor in Anthropology and Geography from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
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