Meeting the global climate finance challenge: A conversation with UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell

As the impacts of climate change devastate economies worldwide, it is in every country’s interest to significantly increase international climate finance. Expanding access to affordable, predictable finance at scale will be critical to drive action, reduce climate risks, and unlock sustainable economic growth. In the next month, the annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF, along with COP29, present critical opportunities to boost climate finance, set a new global goal for its delivery, and build momentum for the necessary commitments.

On Thursday, October 17, the Brookings Institution’s Global Economy and Development program hosted Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to discuss the opportunity we have to make real progress fighting climate change and accelerating global development. Vice President for Global Economy and Development Brahima Coulibaly provided introductory remarks, followed by Stiell’s address. Senior Fellow Amar Bhattacharya, Nonresident Senior Fellow Vera Songwe, and Stiell then discussed the challenges of addressing global climate risks and the current opportunities to substantially increase climate finance across the developing world.