In 2023 the world saw an unprecedented surge in extreme climate events as warmer oceans, excessive heat, and unprecedented water events shattered records—the Hawaii fires, Hurricane Otis, floods in California and the US northeast, record-breaking heat waves across the world. By most estimates, 2023 was just a preview of worse to come. There is an urgent need to recognize the new climate reality and the impact it’s having on public and private resources, and move the conversation in climate finance to a more pragmatic and impactful approach. Is the current climate financing dialogue consistent with this new reality? If not, what is needed to bring sharper focus on building resilience and adaptive infrastructure? What regional or global mechanisms exist—or need to be created—to direct capital to high-impact initiatives? Panelists will discuss the new climate reality, its financing environment, and the need to give prominence to portfolios that build better adaptive and more resilient infrastructure. 

Moderator

Aimée Christensen

CEO, Christensen Global

Speakers

Gillian Caldwell

Chief Climate Officer and Deputy Assistant Administrator, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Jeff Goodell

New York Times Bestselling Author, "The Heat Will Kill You First" and “The Water Will Come"; Contributing Writer, Rolling Stone

Ekhosuehi Iyahen

Secretary General, Insurance Development Forum

Stacey Swann

Founder and CEO, Resilient Earth Capital