Private investors – often supported by public policy and finance – are already channeling significant amounts of money into the low-carbon economy in countries around the world. CPI research found that climate finance flows reached a record high of USD 472 billion in 2015, driven primarily by rising private investment in renewables. However, much more is needed, as these figures represent a small share of the overall economic transition required to address climate change.

Well-designed financial instruments that reduce private investors’ risks and improve their financial returns need to be scaled up to transition towards a low-carbon, climate resilient economy. These instruments can build new markets, attract new investors, and help to unlock billions of dollars in new climate-friendly investment in developing countries.

CPI is known as a leader in tracking sustainable investment trends, identifying innovative business models, and supporting the solutions that can drive a transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. Our flagship program, the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (the Lab) identifies innovative ideas with high potential to drive private finance, and helps get these ideas to market. In five years, the Lab has helped launch 35 sustainable investment solutions that together have mobilized $1.6 billion for climate projects in the most critical regions and sectors.

This London Climate Action Week event, hosted by CPI and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, will showcase innovative climate finance instruments accelerated under the Lab while also highlighting key needs and challenges to mobilize sufficient private finance to achieve 1.5-degree objectives. Innovators driving forward these solutions will be featured, from both the implementor and investor perspectives.

Speakers will include: Michael Liebreich, Chairman and CEO of Liebreich Associates and Founder and Senior Contributor to Bloomberg New Energy Finance; Barbara Buchner, Executive Director, CPI; Abyd Karmali, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; and Ashufta Alam, UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, among others.

Run of show

16:00 – 16:05 | Welcome from Dr. Barbara Buchner, Executive Director, CPI

16:05 – 16:15 | Climate finance trends – insights from CPI’s regions and sectors of focus

Dr. Angela Falconer, Associate Director at CPI, will share insights from CPI’s most recent global and regional climate finance work in a brief presentation to set the stage for the panel’s discussion on promising ways forward to scale and accelerate global investments in mitigation and adaptation.

16:15 – 17:15 | Panel: Unlocking investment for climate action in infrastructure and mobility

In this panel, moderated by Barbara Buchner, experts from both the developer and investor perspective will discuss opportunities on the horizon to scale and accelerate progress to finance low carbon, climate resilient urban water and transport infrastructure. They will consider the challenges that need to be faced and the partnerships, technologies, and financing solutions that will help overcome those challenges.

Panelists to include:

• Ashufta Alam,UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• Abyd Karmali, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
• Meryam Omi, Legal & General Investment Management
• Nancy Saich, European Investment Bank

17:15 – 17:35 | Lab instrument showcase

Michael Liebreich will moderate this session in which Lab proponents will give a four-minute overview of innovative financial instruments they are rolling out to drive critical investment to action on climate change.

• Jay Koh, The Lightsmith Group, Climate Resilience and Adaptation Finance and Technology Transfer Facility
• Hein Gietema, CSC Strategy & Finance, Water Financing Facility
• Thomas Motmans, Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy, Cooling as a Service
• Pedro Moura Costa,  Sustainable Investment Management (SIM), Responsible Commodities Facility
• Agustin Silvani, Conservation International, Restoration Insurance Service Company for Coastal Risk Reduction

 17:35 – 19:00 | Networking drinks on the rooftop terrace*

*if weather is inclement, the networking reception will be held indoors