The mitigation of climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, and other grand societal challenges has historically been primarily financed through public funding and private philanthropic giving. Yet, a large financing gap remains, especially in the Global South. The question: how can we crowd in more private capital to finance innovative solutions in climate tech, renewable energy, nature-based solutions, social inclusion, and others, especially in the Global South? To better understand the challenges and opportunities in mobilizing more private capital investments, the Sustainable Investing Research Initiative (SIRI) will bring together a carefully curated set of key leaders in the public and private sectors, policymakers, and academia, including ministers of finance/economy, ambassadors, United Nations (UN), World Bank Group, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), philanthropies, corporate leaders, leading investment managers and asset owners, VC investors, rating agencies, and others.
The 2nd SIRI Decisionmakers Blended Finance Roundtable Discussion held on September 24, 2024 will focus on India. Specifically, we will discuss whether and how Blended Finance can help foster sustainable (economic, environmental, and social) development in India? This includes questions around:
- Urbanization: how can Blended Finance help India finance the development of inclusive and sustainable cities?
- Transition of hard-to-abate sectors: how can India finance the decarbonization of its steel, cement, and transport industries
- Renewable and affordable energy: how can India mobilize more capital to increase India’s renewable energy capacity and improve access to affordable energy?
- Sustainable agriculture: how can India crowd in more private capital to finance innovative climate tech and nature-based solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and ensure food security?
- Clean water and sanitation: how can India finance improved access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all?
The SIRI Blended Finance Decisionmakers Roundtable Discussions are by invitation only and an integral part of a broader SIRI Blended Finance effort launched at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (see the press release). The aim is to foster networking and dialogue among key leaders across sectors. Moreover, the insights of these discussions will inform each participating organization as well as SIRI's plan for future actions and research to help scale up the global marketplace for blended finance and catalytic capital.
