By Mathew Carr

Oct. 5, 2021 — LONDON: Benedikt von Butler, former trader at Citi and Mercuria, is joining Andrew Ertel as Ertel sets up a big new fund for carbon credits.

“Over 20 years ago I embraced the power of markets to help drive solutions to environmental issues. From SO2 to CDM to water rights, I am so proud of the role Evolution has played in making this world a better place. As we are now facing an existential crisis on climate change I view the launch of Evolution Environmental Asset Management as the culmination of my life’s work to leave this planet in a better place for generations to come. We will have more news in the coming months on the launch of our first carbon offset focused fund. We believe, the fund will make a real, verifiable and permanent difference in carbon reductions while offering investors substantial risk-adjusted returns. I like to say that this is not impact investing of the past, it is “Investing with Impact!” Ertel said on LinkedIn.

Details are a little scant this week, but I’m hearing there is fund raising going on in London right now.

Carbon offsets are a tool in the fight against climate change. This year, corporate net zero commitments have dramatically increased: with a big portion of the Fortune 500 now with a net zero target.

As companies exhaust their internal capacity to reduce energy usage and replace fossil fuel energy sources, they will need to turn to the carbon offset markets, at least temporarily if not permanently.

UN climate talks starting later this month may set more ground rules.

Evolution Environmental Asset Management says there’s an emerging carbon financing gap and its inaugural fund is set up to bridge this gap by financing large-scale emissions reductions with maximum social and environmental impact.

Evolution Environmental Asset Management, LP (“EEAM”) is an asset manager linking traditional investment funds and environmental markets. Investment decisions are guided by a strict ESG framework.