blog post
by and - Yesterday's green quantitative easing is today's responsible QE. To respond to the economic recession caused by COVID-19, central banks should factor in climate change risk.
finance
blog post
by Ariel Pinchot - April 27, 2020It's not just about the big number. Green targets need to be paired with new fossil fuel restrictions, and they need to establish clear criteria and accounting.
blog post
by Leonardo Martinez-Diaz and Lauren Sidner - April 15, 2020To manage the twin threats of the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, building resilience against both is imperative and urgent. We are going to have to multitask on this one, as delay will cost lives and livelihoods.
event
April 16, 2020
As the COVID-19 crisis reverberates around the world, millions of people are at risk and protective measures have sent economies into a tailspin. Ahead of the first virtual World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings, join leading experts for a discussion on how multilateral banks can ensure their responses not only address the current crisis, but lay the groundwork for a more stable, inclusive, and sustainable future.
event
February 21, 2020
2020 is a critical year for climate action. A growing number of voices are calling on banks to align their activities with climate goals. WRI is proud to host a conversation with leaders from two very different types of banks.
blog post
by Sarah Parsons - January 15, 20202020 will inevitably be a turning point for the environment. Key decisions on climate change, the ocean and biodiversity will determine if it is a turning point for the better or for the worse.
blog post
by Giulia Christianson, Lihuan Zhou, Jack McClamrock and Ariel Pinchot - January 08, 2020Here are four things all asset managers can do to act on climate in 2020.
news item
Today in Madrid, 51 finance ministries re-committed to fighting climate change together through the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action. Read on for a statement from Leo Martinez-Diaz, Global Director, Finance Center, World Resources Institute.
publication
by Amy E. Duchelle, Frances Seymour, Maria Brockhaus, Arild Angelsen, Anne M. Larson, Moira Moeliono, Grace Y. Wong, Thu Thuy Pham and Christopher Martius - November 2019This issue brief is based on a 2018 working paper and summarizes the REDD+ experience over the past decade, taking stock of lessons learned from REDD+ implementation to inform future forest-based climate mitigation activities.
blog post
by Jack McClamrock, Lihuan Zhou and Giulia Christianson - October 10, 2019We analyzed the effects of water shortages on five publicly traded Indian thermal power companies. In some cases, drought caused significant financial impacts, and investors should start stress-testing their portfolios now for climate impacts.
publication
Financial Implications of Parched Power: Insights from an Analysis of Indian Thermal Power Companies
This paper provides quantitative evidence to help investors better understand and measure the financial impacts from water shortages in the thermal power sector, drawing on data and analysis of Indian companies. It introduces a new methodology to estimate the water shortage-induced impacts to earnings on five Indian thermal power companies from FY 2014-2017. It also uses outputs from climate models to analyze potential future changes to water availability in India, which could increase the risk of water shortages.
publication
by Ariel Pinchot, Ichiro Sato, Giulia Christianson and Lihuan Zhou - October 2019As of July 2019, 23 major banks have made sustainable finance commitments. This technical note presents a framework for interpreting and comparing the commitments using information published by committing banks. The framework focuses on aspects of the commitment design, accountability, and transparency, as well as the portfolio context of the banks.
publication
by Christopher Moon, Anne Maassen, Xiangyi Li and Sebastian Castellanos - October 2019The overarching goal of this publication is to provide a practical, easy-to-navigate reference document to help practitioners decide if or how to adopt electric and hybrid-electric bus fleets for public transport in their cities. Designed for an action-oriented policy audience looking to learn from experiences of other cities, this publication provides evidence-based answers to questions about recent developments in the electric and hybrid-electric bus space.
event
September 18, 2019
This webinar will explain the Green Climate Fund Contributions Calculator, which was developed by WRI's Finance center to help governments, civil society and other interested observers understand what a country ought to pledge to the GCF's upcoming replenishment.
blog post
by Joe Thwaites - June 21, 2019Development banks committed record funds to climate finance in 2018, but key vulnerabilities in adaptation finance, cofinancing and portfolio alignment persist, and some institutions even backslid. To meet 2020 goals, MDBs need to kick it into overdrive.
blog post
by Lihuan Zhou and Giulia Christianson - May 17, 2019Over 150,000 chartered financial analysts, including portfolio managers and research analysts at investment management firms, have received new guidance on how to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies into their work, marking a significant step towards the mainstream for sustainable investing.
blog post
by Helen Mountford - May 06, 2019With new papers on fossil fuel subsidies and the Paris Agreement on climate change, the IMF is exploring ways it can help address the climate crisis.
blog post
by Ariel Pinchot, Jack McClamrock and Giulia Christianson - April 22, 2019The world's largest asset management firm is one of the most powerful investors in the world. Despite last year's declaration of a shift towards sustainability, BlackRock still has a ways to go before sustainability can be called one of its core principles.
commentary
February 12, 2019
Investors increasingly view global sustainability challenges as material to long-term financial performance, as the visible impacts of climate change—extreme heat, droughts, floods and sea level rise—become ever clearer. But do they have enough information to manage the risks and capitalize on the opportunities of a world in transition?
publication
by Christopher Moon, Anna Bray Sharpin, Iván De La Lanza, Azra Khan, Luca Lo Re and Anne Maassen - January 2019This paper provides questions and answers to some of the important concerns city officials have as it relates to bike sharing, especially as a new generation emerges including dockless and electric bikes, scooters, and increased private sector involvement. It seeks to unpack some of the challenges cities are currently facing, including concerns over regulation, public space management, safety and proper infrastructure, and service reliability, among others.