Thank you to those of you who were able to join us for the panel discussion on

Climate Finance: Innovative Financing Sources for Sustainable Development
 
December 15, 2011 (12-2pm)
 
held at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington

Sponsored by New Rules for Global Finance, Heinrich Böll Stiftung - North America, Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars

The climate summit in Durban/South Africa ended this weekend with a comprehensive yet unfinished climate agreement. Yet some advances were made in the discourse about providing urgently needed financial resources to deal with climate effects in developing countries.  Financing would come from the industrialized countries and be in addition to existing commitments.  In addition, the added resources will be used to address major development, social and environmental benefits that go well beyond a narrow mitigation and adaptation focus.  With traditional donor countries' budgets severely constrained, innovative and alternative financing sources for sustainable development are gaining some momentum, inside and outside the climate negotiations context.  This panel will bring together speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including international financial institutions, governments, think tanks and civil society groups.  The panel will focus on some of the concrete financing options on the table for sustainable development that go beyond direct public contributions by developed countries.  These varied proposals include taxes and levies on air and maritime transport, special drawing rights and financial transaction taxes. 

Introduction

• John Sewell, Senior Scholar, Environmental Change and Security Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars 

Moderator:

• Jo Marie Griesgraber, Executive Director, New Rules for Global Finance

• Liane Schalatek, Associate Director, Heinrich Böll Stiftung - North America (powerpoint)
• David Waskow, Climate Change Program Manager, Oxfam America (powerpoint)
• Ari Huhtala, Senior Environmental Specialist, Climate Change Team,  Environment Department, World Bank (powerpoint)
• Ian Parry, Technical Assistance Advisor (Climate Change and Environment), Tax Policy, Fiscal Affairs Department, International Monetary Fund (powerpoint)

Event materials

• Panelist biographies