Listen to New Frontiers in Climate Finance, a new podcast by the Centre for Climate Finance & Investment, where you’ll learn how finance and investment can play a pivotal role in combating climate change. Hosted by Angel Miao, each episode will take you through cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research, engaging in informative conversations with our academic researchers, industry experts and partners. They’ll discuss the investment opportunities in clean tech and renewable energy, quantifying climate risk, funding resilient infrastructure, and more.
E17: Beyond COP - How FFD4 Shapes Climate and SDG Finance
This episode of New Frontiers in Climate Finance features Mike Wilkins and host Harry MacKenzie discussing the outcomes of the Fourth UN Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, and its critical role in shaping climate and sustainability finance. The conversation unpacks why FFD4, despite being far less publicised than the annual COP climate conferences, may be equally, if not more important for directing capital to climate action, particularly in the Global South.
Mike explains the governance and lending mechanics of multilateral development banks (MDBs) like the World Bank, and why reforming their risk tolerance, capital adequacy rules, and governance structures could triple annual climate-related lending. The discussion explores under-reported but powerful financial levers, such as debt-for-development swaps, special drawing rights, and innovative instruments like intellectual property–backed securities, that could unlock billions for climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation.
The episode also addresses the imbalance of power between developed and developing nations in global finance, the political and economic realities constraining reform, and the pivotal role that FFD4 outcomes could play in influencing negotiations at COP 30 in Brazil later this year. Mike makes the case that scaling concessional climate finance is both a moral imperative and an economic necessity for a stable global financial system.
To learn more about Mike’s work, please see the link below:
Guest: Mike Wilkins
Professor Raúl Rosales Contribution
00:00 Introduction to FFD4 and its Significance 01:02 Why FFD4 Matters as Much as COP 03:14 Governance and Power Imbalances in MDBs 06:48 How to Triple Climate Lending Capacity 10:12 Debt-for-Development Swaps and Special Drawing Rights 15:03 Role of Credit Rating Agencies 18:24 Innovative Finance: IP-Backed Securities and R&D Bonds 22:19 Linking FFD4 to COP 30 Outcomes 27:44 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
26 Jun 2025
E16: Financing Deep Decarbonisation: Scaling Market-Based Mechanisms for Industrial Transition in the UK & ASEAN
Host Harry MacKenzie interviews Dr. Gbemi Oluleye and Dr. Raúl Rosales about using market-based mechanisms like carbon markets and blended finance to scale technologies for decarbonizing heavy industries like cement and ethylene.
28 Feb 2025
E15: Decoding NCQGs: Why COP29 Missed the Mark on Climate Finance
Host Harry MacKenzie interviews climate finance expert Alissa Kleinnijenhuis on COP29's missed climate finance goals and the urgent need for developed nations to fund global decarbonization.
30 Jan 2025
E14: From Risk to Resilience: Leveraging Finance for Urban Adaptation
Angel Miao interviews Raffaele De La Croce and Emma Howard Boyd on leveraging finance for urban climate adaptation and resilience.
7 Jan 2025
Episode 13: A Tale of Three Cities: Urban Adaptation Financing in London, Singapore, and Copenhagen
Angel Miao interviews Raffaele della Croce and Stella Whittaker on urban adaptation financing in London, Singapore, and Copenhagen, offering inspiration for future policymakers.
12 Nov 2024
Episode 12: COP29, Climate Finance, and Trump 2.0
Angel Miao interviews Michael Wilkins and Leila Pourarkin about COP29 discussions, scaling climate finance, and the impact of a potential Trump presidency on global climate action.
4 Nov 2024
Episode 11: Adaptation & Resilience Financing - Case Studies in the UK
Angel Miao interviews Raffaele della Croce and Kit England about UK adaptation and resilience financing, exploring innovative mechanisms and private sector capital.
18 Sept 2024
Episode 10: Tropical Cyclone Risk and the Importance of Climate Modelling
Angel Miao interviews Ralf Toumi and Tom Philp on how climate modeling informs tropical cyclone risk and private sector adaptation strategies.
12 Aug 2024
Episode 9: Clean Tech Investment in Southeast Asia
Angel Miao interviews Milica Fomicov, Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment, exploring clean tech investment opportunities and challenges in Southeast Asia's decarbonization efforts.
20 Jun 2024
Episode 7: Just Transition with Ivana Popovic and Alexander Koberle
Host [Host Name] interviews Ivana Popovic and Alexander Koberle on navigating a just transition across sectors and financial institutions.
28 May 2024
Episode 7
Host Angel Miao interviews CCFI Executive Fellow Raúl Rosales, Richard Kelly, Gordon Bennett, and Rym M’Hallah about merging carbon markets and the Woodland Carbon Code's role in the UK ETS.
21 Feb 2024
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 (https://www.quinbrook.com/) and about CCFI research here (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/business-school/faculty-research/research-centres/centre-climate-finance-investment/).
14 Feb 2024
Episode 5: The Net-Zero Finance Scorecard Project
This episode features Iva Koci, Research Associate at the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment, and Amy Owens, Research Associate at the Carbon Tracker Initiative, to present their latest research on the financial institutions embracing and contributing to the vision of net-zero emissions, and to highlight examples of firms that exhibit leadership in setting ambitious net-zero investment strategies. Learn more about the research mentioned in the podcast here (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/business-school/faculty-research/research-centres/centre-climate-finance-investment/research/net-zero-finance-report-card-recognizing-ambition/) and the Carbon Tracker Initiative here (https://carbontracker.org/).
14 Feb 2024
Episode 4: COP28 Science, Finance and Policy Deep Dive
As COP28 starts, listen to this engaging conversation with Imperial's leading researchers and scientists who address this year's key themes. Michael Wilkins, Sir Brian Hoskins, and Dr Gbemi Oluleye share their expertise from climate science, finance and policy ahead of this year's biggest climate event, COP28 in Dubai.
16 Oct 2023
Episode 3: Financial Accounting for Carbon Markets with Raúl Rosales and guests
This episode dives into the research of CCFI Senior Executive Fellow Raúl Rosales on financial accounting for carbon markets. Industry participants from three financial institutions also share their insights on the issue. Please find more information here (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/business-school/faculty-research/research-centres/centre-climate-finance-investment/).
19 Sept 2023
Episode 2: Nature Investment with Pernille Holtedahl and guests
In this episode, Pernille Holtedahl, Research Fellow at the CCFI and three industry experts, Andrew Dreaneen, Franziska Zimmermann and Anirudh Krishnan, discuss nature investment in Southeast Asia as a response to the nature and climate crisis. Learn more here. (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/business-school/faculty-research/research-centres/centre-climate-finance-investment/research/nature-investment-response-the-climate-crisis-opportunities-southeast-asia/)
8 Aug 2023
Episode 1: Introduction and ESG Ratings with Michael Wilkins
This episode features Michael Wilkins, Executive Director at the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment. It covers the development and current state of ESG ratings, Mike's experience from S&P Global and in the Working Group on the UK Draft Code of Conduct for ESG Ratings and Data Providers and much more. Learn more about the CCFI here (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/business-school/faculty-research/research-centres/centre-climate-finance-investment/).
10 Jul 2023
New Frontiers in Climate Finance Podcast Trailer
Welcome to the new podcast of the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment, New Frontiers in Climate Finance. Join us for conversations with our brilliant researchers about their cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research.
Who has been a guest on New Frontiers in Climate Finance
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr Gbemi Oluleye
Dr Raúl Rosales
Alissa Kleinnijenhuis
Raffaele De La Croce
Emma Howard Boyd
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100
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Quality
23
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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