Finance

Working to shift the world’s financial flows to support sustainable development at the World Resources Institute

Why the CFTC’s New Report on Climate Change and Financial Stability Matters

A new report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on climate-related financial and market risks calls for a carbon price and climate stress testing, along with other recommendations.

The mission of WRI’s Finance Center is to promote the shift of finance away from environmentally unsustainable activities and toward sustainable ones. We do this through the production of data-driven, policy-actionable research and knowledge products and by convening coalitions of key stakeholders that can drive action on the ground.

Our team is multidisciplinary and brings together experience from academia and the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Helping to Meet Global Challenges

The Finance Center supports the rest of WRI as we seek to tackle WRI’s Global Challenges. We do so through deep, multi-year partnerships with a subset of WRI Programs, through cross-cutting activities designed to influence financial institutions and markets, and through the provision of tailored technical advice to WRI’s programs and international offices.

Our work is structured around five key themes: (1) financing NDC implementation, (2) “greening” private sector finance, (3) strengthening public financial institutions, (4) encouraging the U.S. and China to be sustainable finance champions, and (5) strengthening investment in adaptation and resilience.

Keep up with our work by subscribing for news and updates via email and following us on Twitter @wrifinance.

Top Finance Outcomes

What's a top outcome?

Top outcomes are WRI's biggest success stories. They occur when our analysis, solutions, or partnerships result in significant change in the world.

Featured Expert

Leonardo Martinez-Diaz

Global Director, Sustainable Finance Center

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December 21, 2020 Blog post

To Build Back from COVID-19, Don’t Overlook Informal Workers

The economic impacts of both the climate and coronavirus crises will likely be felt most acutely by one group in particular: the more than 2 billion people who rely on the informal sector for their livelihoods.
December 18, 2020 Blog post

Developing Cities Need Cash. Land Value Capture Can Help

Three case studies show how developing cities can implement land value capture to generate significant public revenue and support equitable urban development.
November 25, 2020 Event

Public Finance and a Green Recovery: A Conversation with EIB President Werner Hoyer

Public banks have a critical role in not just a green recovery but a global realignment towards a sustainable economy. Join us for a fascinating discussion with Dr. Andrew Steer, WRI President & CEO, Dr. Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank, and Dr. Dusonda Mumba, UN Environment.
November 24, 2020 News

STATEMENT: President-elect Biden Names Janet Yellen, a Champion for Climate Action, to Lead U.S. Treasury

President-elect Biden has nominated Janet Yellen to be the next U.S. Treasury secretary. Yellen has had a long career in government, previously serving as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve and as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors. In addition, she is a co-founder of the Climate Leadership Council, of which WRI is also a founding member. Yellen would become the first woman to serve as U.S. Treasury secretary. Following is a statement from Dr. Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute.
November 24, 2020 Publication

Lessons Learned on Green Stimulus: Case Studies from the Global Financial Crisis

This paper examines how the United States, South Korea, China, and the European Union used green investments after the global financial crisis to help their economies recover, create jobs, and build up new industries. The lessons from 2008–2009 can help inform today’s policymakers designing economic stimulus packages in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 17, 2020 Publication

Following the Money Isn’t Enough: How Civil Society Organizations Provide Accountability for Climate Adaptation Finance

This paper highlights how civil society organizations can play critical roles in establishing transparent and accountable climate finance systems that put communities at the center of decision-making. It draws from the Adaptation Finance Accountability Initiative’s experiences in Ethiopia and Uganda as well as lessons learned from similar efforts in Bangladesh, Kenya, and the Philippines. It offers valuable information to help civil society organizations build their engagement and capacity on climate adaptation finance.