Climate change is intensifying rainfall, storms, heatwaves, and droughts—causing widespread damage and posing serious health risks. The need for both adaptation and mitigation has never been more urgent.

Today, we have a unique opportunity to scale up and deepen climate action, and to foster public-private collaboration in tackling climate challenges. Governments at national and international levels are actively developing climate resilience and mitigation strategies, creating openings for stronger partnerships between the private sector, public authorities, and the financial industry. Examples include National Adaptation Strategies and the EU Climate Resilience and Risk Management Initiative.

Financial institutions are also increasingly stepping up—driven by the growing economic impact of climate-related events and a recognition of their role in enabling climate action. The Dutch Sustainable Finance Platform and the Financial Sector Climate Commitment are clear examples of this momentum.

What Can Private Financial Institutions and Capital Contribute?

Private financial institutions and capital can be powerful catalysts for change. By integrating climate and nature-related risks into credit and investment decisions, financing sustainable and resilient projects, and informing clients about risks and solutions, they can play a transformative role.

Front-runner firms are already offering price incentives that reward sustainability, developing sustainability-linked loans, green mortgages stimulating energy efficiency, and deploying financial mechanisms such as guarantees and blended finance solutions for climate investments, tailored insurance and reinsurance, parametric insurance, and climate catastrophe bonds.

This field of climate finance and innovations in insurance and investments is evolving rapidly—and it must. As global warming increases, so do climate-related risks, along with growing insurance protection and financing gaps. If risks cannot be sufficiently managed and diversified, they become certain losses—uninsurable and therefore unattractive for loans and investments. Timely action can change this outlook.

Making Impact Together

Together, we can make a greater impact. This is what drives me to better connect the worlds of finance, government, science, NGOs, business, and people. It’s why I am motivated to work on research assignments about climate finance and public-private cooperation opportunities, to advise governments and organisations, and to provide training to teams and professionals.