Climate Action
How financing coal retirement mechanisms can unlock the clean energy transition
Coal retirement mechanisms, if designed well and backed by policies and worker protections, can help accelerate the clean energy transition. Here's why.
Joanna Messing
Joanna Messing has led the Growald Climate Fund since its inception in 2007, positioning it into a key player in driving the global energy transition. With over 25 years of experience in venture philanthropy, social entrepreneurship and energy finance, Joanna is guided by a mission to catalyze climate innovation and impact, mentor bold leaders, invest in promising solutions, and support radical collaboration to address the climate crisis.
Under Joanna’s leadership, Growald Climate Fund has become a critical force in fostering partnerships and scaling innovative climate solutions, with a particular focus on clean energy. Growald has seeded organizations that play key roles in the energy ecosystem, such as Carbon Tracker and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), and newer efforts such as the Coal Asset Transition Accelerator, and Offshore Energy Pathways. Growald is actively engaged with GAEA to enable public, private and philanthropic partnerships on key energy transition areas and climate talent.
Prior to joining Growald, Joanna led Positive Ventures, a philanthropic and social enterprise strategy consulting firm. She also held leadership positions at REDF, a venture philanthropy fund, and NESsT Consulting and Enterprise Development.
Joanna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Oberlin College and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts.
She is currently a member of the Global Future Council (GFC) of Innovative Financing for Nature and Climate (2025-2026), and was previously a member of the GFC on the Future of Philanthropy for Climate and Nature (2023-2024).
Most Popular