New Frontiers in Climate Finance

E15: Decoding NCQGs: Why COP29 Missed the Mark on Climate Finance

This podcast episode features Alissa Kleinnijenhuis and host Harry MacKenzie discussing the New Common Quantified Goals (NCQGs) from COP 29 and its implications for global climate finance. The conversation underscores the systemic omission of fossil fuels from climate action discourse and highlights the inadequacies of the current financial commitments to decarbonization. Alissa elaborates on the need for developed countries to provide substantial and properly defined climate finance in grant-equivalent terms to aid developing countries in transitioning to renewable energy. The episode also explores the geopolitical and economic dynamics that hinder sufficient climate action and the urgent necessity for a coordinated, large-scale financial response to meet global mitigation targets. Alissa concludes by pointing out the economic self-interest for developed nations to fund decarbonization in developing countries, emphasizing the critical nature of timely and targeted climate finance. To learn more about Alissa’s research, please follow the links below: 
Joint Statement: link 
Paper #1: link 
Paper #2: link 
00:00 Introduction to the Climate Crisis 
00:28 Understanding NCQGs and Their Importance 
00:58 Challenges in Climate Finance 
02:26 COP 29 and Climate Finance Goals 
04:01 Issues with Current Climate Finance 
05:09 Economic Case for Climate Finance 
06:25 Political and Economic Barriers 
08:32 Proposed Solutions and Recommendations 
28:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 

E14: From Risk to Resilience: Leveraging Finance for Urban Adaptation

This podcast episode features Angel Miao, Raffaele De La Croce (Advanced Research Fellow at the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment and Co-Director of the Singapore Green Finance Centre), and Emma Howard Boyd (Chair of the London Climate Resilience Review), in a conversation about the role of finance and investment in urban adaptation and resilience. The discussion highlights the vulnerabilities of cities like London to climate impacts, explores innovative investment models, and examines the importance of integrating social dimensions into climate adaptation strategies. The episode concludes with a focus on future research, policy engagements, and international collaboration to promote resilient urban planning. To learn more about Raffaele’s research, please click here. To learn more about Emma’s work with the London Climate Resilience Review, please click here. 
00:00 Introduction to New Frontiers in Climate Finance 
00:23 Urban Adaptation and Resilience: The Policy Challenge 
01:22 Expert Insights: Raffaele De La Croce and Emma Howard Boyd 
02:05 Key Findings and Policy Recommendations 
08:07 People-Centered Approach to Adaptation 
20:05 Nature-Based Solutions and Community Engagement 
25:43 Role of the Financial Sector in Climate Resilience 
29:22 Future Steps and Concluding Thoughts 

Episode 13: A Tale of Three Cities: Urban Adaptation Financing in London, Singapore, and Copenhagen

This podcast episode features Angel Miao, Raffaele della Croce (Advanced Research Fellow at the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment and Co-Director of Singapore Green Finance Centre), and Stella Whittaker (PhD Candidate at Copenhagen Business School and Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Lead at Royal HaskoningDHV) in a conversation about the current status of adaptation and resilience financing in London, Singapore, and Copenhagen, and the types of adaptation projects and innovative that can serve as inspiration for future policymakers. To learn more about Raffaele and Stella’s research, please click here. 

Episode 12: COP29, Climate Finance, and Trump 2.0

This episode features Angel Miao, Michael Wilkins (Executive Director & Professor of Practice at the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment), and Leila Pourarkin (Partner at Kaya Partners) in a conversation about the key topics of discussion at COP29 in Baku, the challenges of scaling climate finance, and what the comeback of Donald Trump means for global climate action. To learn more about Imperial College London’s insights on COP29, please click here.  

Episode 11: Adaptation & Resilience Financing - Case Studies in the UK

This podcast episode features Angel Miao, Raffaele della Croce (Advanced Research Fellow at the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment and Co-Director of Singapore Green Finance Centre), and Kit England (Senior Climate Adaptation Specialist at Paul Watkiss Associates) in a conversation about the current status of adaptation and resilience financing in London and the UK, the innovative financing mechanisms leveraged across the country, and the role of the private sector in providing capital for adaptation. To learn more about Raffaele’s research, please click here. 

Episode 10: Tropical Cyclone Risk and the Importance of Climate Modelling

This podcast episode features Angel Miao, Ralf Toumi (Co-Director of the Grantham Institute), and Tom Philp (CEO of Maximum Information) in a conversation about the evolution of tropical cyclones due to climate change, the importance of accurate climate modelling in mitigating the impact of these destructive storms, and how the private sector is leveraging these insights. To learn more about Ralf’s research, please click here. To learn more about Maximum Information’s products and mission, please click here.  

Episode 9: Clean Tech Investment in Southeast Asia

This podcast episode features Angel Miao and Milica Fomicov, Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment, in a conversation about the opportunities and challenges of investing in clean technologies in Southeast Asia, a region which needs to accelerate its decarbonisation efforts. To learn more about Milica’s research with the International Energy Agency, please follow the link here.  

Episode 8: Just Transition with Ivana Popovic and Alexandre Koberle

This podcast episode features Ivana Popovic, Research Associate at CCFI and Alexander Koberle, Honorary Research Fellow at CCFI, in a conversation about the just transition, its implications for various sectors and the financial institutions. Learn more about the research mentioned here.

Episode 7: The UK International Standard for Forestry - The Fast Track to Include Removals into the U.K. ETS

On this episode of New Frontiers in Climate Finance, host Angel Miao and Raúl Rosales, Professor of Practice in Net Zero Asset Management, within the Net Zero Centre at King’s College London and Executive Fellow at the CCFI, discuss the potential convergence of voluntary and compliance carbon markets, as well as the economic and environmental benefits of admitting the Woodland Carbon Code into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme. Featuring insights from Richard Kelly of Foresight Sustainable Forestry Company, Gordon Bennett of ICE, and Rym M’Hallah of King’s College London. Learn more about the research mentioned in the podcast here. 

Episode 6: Infrastructure and Clean Technology Investing

This episode features David Scaysbrook, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, in a conversation about developments in the renewable energy infrastructure sector, the future of clean technology investments, and Quinbrook’s approach to investing. Learn more about Quinbrook here and about CCFI research here.