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Past Event
Seminar

Unlocking Private Investment for Nature-Based Climate Solutions in Emerging Markets: Case Studies from Kenya and Costa Rica

Open to the Public

Nature-based solutions (NBS) for climate action have the potential to deliver significant emissions reductions while simultaneously offering socio-economic, biodiversity, and climate adaptation benefits. However, unlocking private finance for NBS, particularly in emerging markets, remains challenging. 

Please join the Environment and Natural Resources Program for a seminar featuring Predoctoral Research Fellow Lydia Zemke, who will explore successful case studies from Kenya and Costa Rica and discuss the challenges and opportunities of scaling up private investments in NBS.

Registration: No RSVP is required. Room capacity is limited and seating will be on a first come, first served basis. The seminar will also be streamed via Zoom. Virtual attendees should register using the button below; upon registering, attendees will receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link. 

Recording: The seminar will be recorded and available to watch on this page (typically one week later). Those who register for this event will automatically receive a link to the recording as soon as it becomes available.

Accessibility: Persons with disabilities who wish to request accommodations or who have questions about access, please contact Liz Hanlon (ehanlon@hks.harvard.edu) in advance of the session.

Date: Time: - Location: Taubman Building - Allison Dining Room, 5th Floor
People plant mangroves during a community exercise to restore their habitat in Mtwapa, on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya, Wednesday, April 13, 2022. In a bid to protect coastal communities from climate change and encourage investment, African nations are increasingly turning to mangrove restoration projects.

Summary

Summary

Finance is a critical driver in the global transition towards a net-zero, nature-positive world. However, unlocking private finance for climate action, particularly in emerging markets, remains a significant challenge. Despite the pledge to mobilize US$ 100 billion per year in international climate finance by 2020, the gap is large and even widening for climate adaptation. Based on some estimates, climate finance must increase by at least 590% to USD 4.35 trillion annually by 2030 to meet climate objectives (Climate Policy Initiative, 2021).

Nature-based solutions (NBS) for climate action can provide a cost-effective approach to address some of the environmental, societal, and economic challenges. The IPPC estimates that they have the potential to deliver a third of the emissions reductions required by 2030, while simultaneously offering socio-economic, biodiversity, and climate adaptation benefits. However, NBS only receive about 2% of global climate finance annually.

In this presentation, Lydia Zemke will explore case studies from Kenya and Costa Rica, which received private investments for nature-based climate solutions. Zemke will examine the challenges of unlocking private investments for climate action in emerging markets, highlight lessons learned from these initiatives, and discuss strategies for scaling up private investments in NBS to build a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future.

Speaker

Recording

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