SPI Journal: Autumn 2023
Amplifying voices ahead of COP28
Bridging Africa’s climate finance gap
With numerous strains on public finance, the role of private financing to reduce the climate finance gap cannot be overemphasised, writes Davinah Milenge Uwella, principal programme coordinator, and David Ashiagbor, chief financial sector strategy officer, climate change and green growth, African Development Bank.
A comprehensive and coordinated approach is needed to meet collective climate goals
Bo Li, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, spoke with OMFIF’s US chairman Mark Sobel, on COP28 and climate transition.
How Mauritius is mobilising climate finance
As a small island developing state vulnerable to climate change, Mauritius is setting ambitious transition objectives, write Sadhna Gopal, second deputy governor, Urvashi Soobarah, assistant director, supervision, and Arjun Munbodh, bank officer, enforcement and sanctions, Bank of Mauritius.
Scaling up sustainability-linked bonds issuance in emerging markets
Inventive financing instruments are not only distinct, they are necessary to ensure sustainable development, writes Marcus Pratsch, head of sustainable bonds and finance at DZ BANK AG.
Implementing South Africa's just energy transition is not without its challenges
Transitioning from coal – a bedrock of South Africa's economy – to a green future presents an unsteady but important shift for the country, writes Neil Cole, financing manager, Just Energy Transition Investment Plan project management unit.
Kickstarting coal retirements in developing economies
Innovative financing mechanisms for managed coal phase-outs are steadily emerging, writes Aurelia Britsch, head of climate research, Sustainable Fitch.
Five steps for addressing the climate finance gap
Nature-related investment opportunities are waiting, but it’s time to deliver the finance, writes Mahmoud Mohieldin, United Nations climate change high-level champion for COP27, Egypt.
Accelerating capital flows for a clearer transition
Varying ideas of ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ finance create a lack of market clarity, write Thu Ha Chow, head of fixed income, Asia, Ghislaine Nadaud, senior sustainable investing specialist, Frank Reynaerts, senior credit analyst, and Joseph Negrine, associate, Robeco.
Blended finance can help unlock trillions needed for the clean energy transition
How developing countries meet their rising energy needs will be pivotal to the world’s energy and climate future, write Susan Lund, vice president, economics and private sector development, International Finance Corporation, and Tim Gould, chief economist at International Energy Agency.
Developing markets must be able to lean on private sector for climate mitigation
Galvanising private climate finance calls for a broad mix of policies to create an attractive investment environment and engage investors, write Charlotte Gardes-Landolfini, monetary and capital markets, and Torsten Ehlers, senior financial sector expert, climate finance policy unit, International Monetary Fund.
How multilateral development banks can catalyse climate transformation
While MDBs are specially placed to prompt public policy dialogue, it cannot be done alone, writes Gregory Watson, principal specialist, and Joan Prats, principal financial specialist, Inter-American Development Bank.
Adaptation finance needs to adapt too
Financial institutions need to focus on the results of adaptation finance and not solely on the volume writes Sarah Duff, climate adaptation finance expert, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Institutional investors can catalyse transformative change in EMDEs
Mobilising institutional investment for sustainable development of EMDEs is not a mere ambition; it is an imperative for a better future, writes Nana Maidugu, head, sustainability and environmental, social and governance, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.
Mapping the just transition: scaling capital to meet net zero
This high-level roundtable, centred around COP28’s finance day, brings together attendees from asset owners, policy-makers, investors and regulators.
2023 has been a defining year for the just transition. The growing focus on sustainable financial products, developments in standards and frameworks and international partnerships to further global needs have been rising at landmark levels.
The Sustainable Policy Institute’s annual summit returns, this year, centred around the key themes in transition finance and scaling the capital need to drive decarbonisation.
Investment needs for the energy transition
Diala Hawila, Knowledge Policy and Finance Centre programme officer at International Renewable Energy Agency, speaks with Katerina Atkins, programme coordinator at OMFIF.