Point One, a new global platform mobilising private sector finance for clean energy, launches today with a first wave of more than 30 participating businesses already committing a simple annual contribution of 0.1% of revenue – channeled to clean energy projects across emerging and developing economies. New research among SME decision makers across US and UK indicates 79% support contributing to a collective clean energy and climate effort that’s simple and delivers clear impact.
The platform’s creation is led by Ryan Kohn, entrepreneur and co-founder of Propersnacks, the purpose-led challenger brand that built Propercorn into a market-leading, globally recognised B Corp. Point One is championed by prominent voices from business and climate leadership, including Paul Polman, Sir Andrew Steer, and Christiana Figueres, with the support of Riz Ahmed and other cultural influencers.
Through an inaugural partnership with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, contributions to Point One will support clean energy, grid modernisation, and community resilience work across emerging and developing countries, creating jobs, improving health and education, and driving rapid emissions reductions alongside economic growth.
Point One focuses strongly on mobilising SMEs, which make up over 90% of all businesses and on average are responsible for at least 50% of GDP globally. The model is designed to scale, bringing businesses of every size, from start ups to global companies, to deliver a response that matches the scale of the challenge.
Analysis by the think tank Global Nation shows that allocating just 0.1% of global business revenue could generate enough financing to allow the full transition of the world’s power supply to clean energy by 2040, in line with the International Energy Agency’s ‘Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario’. This assumes that every dollar contributed by businesses leverages at least $1.5 in additional funding from governments and private investment – a ratio consistent with the track record of Point One’s inaugural delivery partner, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, which has demonstrated the ability to unlock up to 15x additional investment through its public, private and philanthropic alliance model.
Paul Polman, Former CEO of Unilever, Business Leader, Climate and Equalities campaigner, said: “The transition to clean energy is the greatest economic opportunity of our time. Companies that lead will build resilience, trust, and long-term value. Point One provides a practical, scalable mechanism for businesses — particularly SMEs — to contribute meaningfully while strengthening their own future competitiveness. That is smart climate leadership.”
Riz Ahmed – Point One Ambassador, Actor and Activist “I’m not a climate scientist. I’m just someone who wants my grandkids to inherit a planet that works. Point One is simple. Businesses put in 0.1% of their revenue, and that funds clean energy where it’s needed most. I can understand that and I can explain it to anyone. That’s what we need, practical solutions people can actually grasp and get behind.”
Today’s launch is accompanied by a campaign celebrating and calling on businesses to take the first bold steps toward clean energy, bringing to life the power of ‘Almost Nothing to change everything’, and showing just how simple it is for any company to get involved.
About the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet
The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet builds transformative public, private, philanthropic partnerships to end energy poverty and accelerate green economic opportunity. Founded in 2021 by The Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation and Bezos Earth Fund, we work to unlock finance, strengthen institutions and transform markets, delivering progress that goes beyond individual projects to drive lasting systems change. Through our two interconnected global pillars, Grids of the Future – focused on innovation and infrastructure – and Energy and Opportunity – with a focus on jobs and livelihoods – we work toward our vision: a world where everyone has access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity and the means to use it to improve their lives. With work in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, our Alliance aims to reach 1 billion people with clean electricity, prevent 4 billion tons of carbon emissions and create or improve 150 million jobs. For more information, please visit www.energyalliance.org and follow us on X at @EnergyAlliance.
