Climate Financing in Emerging Markets

Location: Liz Lange Lecture Hall, 1 Euclid Ave

Emerging markets (EM) across Africa, Asia, and Latin America are among the fastest-growing economies in the world. The BlackRock Institute estimates EM economies will account for over half of energy demand and carbon emissions by 2050. At the same time, EM countries remain underfunded in climate investment while also facing disproportionate climate risks compared to developed nations. Join experts at the frontline of international finance and sustainable investing for a critical conversation on development, sustainability, private-public partnership, and de-risking EM climate finance. This panel will focus on the work being done to mobilize the private sector to encourage just capital allocation and spur a net-zero transition in emerging markets across the world.

Climate Tech: Funding the Future of Sustainability

Location: 4th Floor Nelson Center, 1 Euclid Ave

The Climate Tech panel will explore the financial world of new climate innovations by bringing together investors and entrepreneurs that have grown with the industry. We’ll highlight the role that finance plays in amplifying new technologies from climate startups and identify the challenges in scaling climate solutions, securing funding, and navigating shifting regulatory frameworks. We will hear about the current and future investment landscape, including trends, challenges, and opportunities through the perspectives of founders and venture capitalists. Join us to hear about what makes climate tech promising and how we can leverage these new technologies to fight against the growing climate crisis.

Environmental Markets: Nature-Based Solutions

Location: Liz Lange Lecture Hall, 1 Euclid Ave

Nature restoration is essential to meeting the world’s climate mitigation targets, such as forestry restoration and its ecosystem benefits. Between 1990 to 2020, approximately 420 million hectares of forest were lost without accounting for species endangerment. We are now approaching a new wave of nature-based solutions financed mainly through what are coined as “carbon credits,” and governed through carbon markets. These projects must account for integrating new technologies and research, equitably engaging Indigenous and local communities, and balance carbon sequestration with other environmental co-benefits that are much harder to quantify. This panel will explore the landscape of nature-based solutions and different market mechanisms to finance nature restoration projects, using carbon as a metric for these projects.

Energy Transition and Grid Modernization

Location: 4th Floor Nelson Center, 1 Euclid Ave

As we set our sights on a net zero future, energy is projected to be the number one industry for carbon output elimination through the transition to renewable energy. Over the past decade, we have seen the economies of scale for renewable power generation shift favorably to be more affordable and more reliable. Now, as the range of green energy expands to meet the massive increase in energy demand, we face the challenge of creating infrastructure to reliably support 4,000 terawatt-hours and counting of power consumption. This energy transition and modernization panel will discuss the big questions facing our power supply with the people frontlining the energy transition: What are the challenges to interconnection? Where is the renewable energy industry going? And, how do we fund and build a secure, green grid? 

Green Banks: Public Lending for Clean Energy

Location: Liz Lange Lecture Hall, 1 Euclid Ave

The U.S. energy transition requires addressing gaps in clean energy markets overlooked by private capital. Green banks are innovative state lending programs designed to bridge these gaps. This panel will explore various lending approaches states are using to encourage private investment in clean energy. Topics covered will include:

• Green Banks: How they use public capital to foster private sector participation

• C-PACE Financing: A key mechanism for decarbonizing commercial properties

• State & Federal Impact: Insights from Connecticut Green Bank, Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank regarding the potential challenges faced by the sector.

Sustainable Urban Planning

Location: 4th Floor Nelson Center, 1 Euclid Ave

As cities confront the growing impacts of climate change, including extreme heat and water management challenges, urban design must adapt to build resilience. This panel will explore strategies for mitigating these climate-related risks, with a focus on equitable solutions that prioritize vulnerable communities. Experts will discuss avenues for securing funding for public works projects–highlighting grants, public-private partnerships, and innovative financing mechanisms essential for developing sustainable infrastructure.