Climate Finance – the Development Finance Institutions’ Perspective

Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres underscored the importance of Climate Finance during COP26, regarding it as a critical pillar in achieving a sustainable future. He commented that increased adaption and resilient investment was “the right thing to do – and the profitable thing to do”. 

The definitions of climate finance vary across the business space. In our members’ experience, the term ‘Climate Finance’ can mean different things to different groups of stakeholders, and there are no uniform definitions as funders often try to raise funding that then becomes climate finance through a broader range of indicators. As different organisations perceive climate finance according to their conceptualisation, businesses may struggle to navigate the nuances depending on the institution they are engaged with. 

This session will allow attendees to hear from three key Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), EBRD, BII and IFC, to better understand the capacity needs and requests around climate finance from the DFIs’ perspective, who will provide their perspective on climate finance in terms of their definitions, focus, plans and priorities. The event will provide a platform to discuss experiences – and associated challenges – when defining and applying international climate finance standards. 

Our speakers will elaborate on where and what they see as the role for service providers, such as ODA delivery partners, in their climate finance strategies and delve into the associated standards, regulations and taxonomies. We are delighted to welcome Ralitza Germanova, Corporate Governance Officer, International Finance Corporation; Chiara Trabacci, TCFD (UK-based Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) Lead at British International Investment; and Robert Adamczyk, Senior Environmental Adviser, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The session will culminate in discussion and Q&A with members of the BEI Climate Finance working group and the wider audience.