First Climate is an integrated carbon asset management company offering products and services related to the trading of emission reduction credits and investing in greenhouse gas abatement projects.
With more than ten years’ experience, First Climate is one of the leading carbon asset management companies in the market. It is unique in covering the entire carbon credit value chain, providing integrated solutions to project owners and developers, fund managers, investors, industrials in the compliance sector, and companies seeking to offset their emissions as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility strategy.

Through a global network of offices, subsidiaries and partners, the Carbon Asset Development department procures high-quality carbon credits from CDM and JI projects as well as from projects geared to the voluntary market. We have a particularly strong presence in India, Pakistan, China and Latin America. First Climate is active both in project development and as a buyer or broker of emission reduction credits (CERs, ERUs and VERs) on behalf of investors, corporate clients and for our own portfolio. We have also developed several pioneering methodologies to allow new project types to qualify for the carbon market.
First Climate’s Sales & Trading department executes our trades and offers customized trading products to companies subject to the EU ETS and other mandatory emission trading schemes. It also provides advisory services on carbon trading strategies, taking into account upcoming policy and legislative changes.
In the voluntary market, First Climate supports companies in developing a carbon management strategy. The Climate Neutral department calculates carbon footprints and helps to reduce avoidable emissions. To offset unavoidable emissions, we provide VERs verified according to the highest internationally recognized standards such as Gold Standard or VCS, and retire them irrevocably on behalf of our clients.
As investment advisor to several institutional investors, First Climate’s Carbon Investment Management department structures and develops carbon funds and related products. First Climate is investment advisor to the Post 2012 Carbon Credit Fund established by the European Investment Bank and four other leading European public financing institutions with Aaa credit ratings. We also advise and administer a number of other carbon investment funds.
The Project Finance department provides cost-effective solutions assisting project developers in meeting their financing requirements. First Climate matches financing needs with financiers' risk/reward profiles and seeks to unlock additional capital through the monetization of carbon assets. The Project Finance department designs innovative financial vehicles to scale up investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on a global scale.
Date History
01/2010 First Climate voted Best Advisory in Environmental Finance Voluntary
Market Survey 2009
12/2009 First Climate voted Best Primary Originator Kyoto Projects in Environmental
Finance Market Survey 2009
11/2008 First Climate forms strategic alliance with Macquarie Group to further
develop CDM opportunities in China
10/2008 First Climate establishes a joint venture with Verde Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
First Climate (India)Pvt. Ltd. is headquartered in Kolkata
09/2008 First Climate Asset Management S.A. is set up in Luxembourg and
obtains a comprehensive asset management license
04/2008 First Climate Latin America Asesorías Limitada is established in
Santiago de Chile
04/2008 3C and Factor join forces under the name First Climate
03/2008 Factor is selected as fund advisor to the Post 2012 Carbon Credit Fund
established by five leading European public financing institutions
12/2007 Factor sets up a subsidiary in Beijing
05/2007 3C is selected as fund advisor to Climate Change Investment
03/2007 3C establishes a US subsidiary in Washington, D.C.
01/2005 Dr. Sascha Lafeld, one of the founders of 3C, is appointed official
advisor to UNEP Finance Initiative’s Climate Change Working Group
(CCWG)
2005 A project developed by Factor is registered as one of the first CDM projects
2004 3C becomes consultant to the first European carbon procurement fund
“KfW-Klimaschutzfonds”
2004 3C structures the first CO2 certificate with effective delivery in cooperation
with Dresdner Kleinwort
2003 3C is founded in Frankfurt, Germany, as an independent spin-off of the
Dresdner Bank / Allianz Group
1999-2004 On behalf of the World Bank Factor collaborates with carbon experts on
National Strategy Studies for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions in 10
developing countries
1999 Factor develops the first carbon abatement project validated under the UN
Climate Change Convention
1999 As one of the early movers in the carbon market, Factor Consulting and
Management AG is founded in Zurich, Switzerland