January 27, 2019 – Today, Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) announces that Dr. Barbara Buchner will take on a new role as Global Managing Director in addition to her existing role as Executive Director of CPI’s widely-renowned climate finance division.

“It has been 10 years since CPI was founded to support governments, financial institutions, and businesses drive economic growth while addressing climate change.” said Thomas Heller, Founder and Board Chair. “Barbara has demonstrated outstanding leadership to help us achieve this mission since the beginning. This is why I am incredibly optimistic for CPI’s impact over the next years with Barbara at the operational helm. I know she will continue her outstanding track record of leading our teams and organization.”

In her new role, Buchner will provide coordination and leadership for functions that can be shared across CPI’s teams such as the financial, operational, and communications functions. The CPI Energy Finance and CPI Brazil divisions, which have each demonstrated significant impact in their fields, will continue to have programmatic autonomy. These programs will be directed by Executive Directors’ David Nelson and Juliano Assuncao respectively.

Dr. Barbara Buchner joined CPI in 2010. A PhD Economist, Buchner has been recognized as one of the 20 most influential women in climate change and one of the 100 most influential people in climate policy. At CPI, she founded and directs the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance, which has developed and launched 41 finance instruments that have mobilized over USD 2 billion in sustainable investment. She is also creator and lead author of the Global Landscape of Climate Finance, a resource which played a key role in the lead-up to the Paris Agreement as well as continued policy decisions throughout the world.

“It has been incredible working alongside Tom and the rest of CPI to create real action and impact,” said Buchner. “It is also clear we have much more work to do to mobilize capital toward a low-carbon, climate resilient economy. CPI plays a unique and critical role in this effort and I plan to utilize our full analytical rigor, global convening power, and extensive financial expertise to help the world make progress on this important issue.”

CPI has also appointed Vikram Widge as Senior Advisor. As Senior Advisor, Widge will support strategy and programmatic development, as well as guide financial aspects of CPI’s analytical work. Widge brings nearly three decades of leadership experience in bridging public finance with capital markets and investors to solve sustainable development challenges. He most recently served as Global Head of Climate Finance and Policy at the International Finance Corporation. There, he led development of innovative financial solutions, supported the IFC’s market-leading green bonds program, oversaw corporate work on carbon pricing, as well as adaptation and resilience, and directed the World Bank Group’s carbon markets business including over three billion USD in assets under management and development.

“Vikram has been a true resource to the climate change policy and financial communities for decades, consistently at the leading edge of financial and policy innovation,” said Buchner. “He has also demonstrated the CPI spirit in his work, prioritizing analytical rigor and deep expertise as well as collaboration and action. While he’s long been someone that CPI has turned to for guidance, I am eager to have him join us in this more formal role that will directly aid our mission.”

About Climate Policy Initiative:

With deep expertise in finance and policy, Climate Policy Initiative is an analysis and advisory organization that works to improve the most important energy and land use practices around the world. Our mission is to help governments, businesses, and financial institutions drive economic growth while addressing climate change. CPI has six offices around the world in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Contact:

Elysha Dávila, Head of Communications, Climate Policy Initiative

elysha@cpisf.org, +1 415 728 3613