Collaboration and ESG language to unlock funding for sustainable infrastructure projects

September 5, 2023

Developing countries face many challenges in mobilising private sector investment for sustainable infrastructure projects. Solutions include international cooperation and common environmental, social and governance (ESG) taxonomies. To close the climate finance gap, we need additional private investment especially in low- and middle-income countries.

To serve this purpose, Multilateral development banks (MDBs) are encouraged to expand their support for sustainable infrastructure projects and increase their risk appetite. Furthermore, collaboration among G20 public development banks (PDBs) is encouraged to leverage their strengths and promote transformative impact.

A common ESG language will also help standardise assessments of sustainable investments, reduce greenwashing and attract specialised capital. The G20 is called upon to strengthen institutional networks among developing countries, to strengthen the PDBs, and to create a universal ESG taxonomy for sustainable finance.

Ultimately, the recommendations in this paper aim to contribute to a more sustainable global economy by fostering cooperation, reducing investment risks, and accelerating the flow of funds to sustainable infrastructure projects.

Speakers
Sabrine Emran
Economist
Sabrine Emran is a Finance graduate specializing in financial markets and commodities. She holds a Grande Ecole master’s degree in Management from IESEG School of Management and ISCAE Group, as well as a Specialized master’s degree in Financial Markets from Paris Dauphine University and ENSAE ParisTech. Sabrine Emran started her career in investment writing and product development in the asset management branches of insurance companies and investment banks in Paris, working mainly on alternative investment asset classes. She was also recently a commodities analyst, focusing on risk management strategies for energy and agricultural commodities as well as foreign exchange risks. Sabrine Emran joined the Policy Center for the New south in September 2022 as an economist where she ...

RELATED CONTENT

  • Authors
    May 10, 2022
    Les crises internationales de type de la guerre en Ukraine constituent des ruptures historiques qui induisent des changements profonds de paradigmes, mais aussi de systèmes d’alliances et de marges d’influence. Elles produisent, à terme, une nouvelle configuration des rapports de force, ce qui exige des acteurs des capacités d’anticipation et d’adaptation. Le continent Africain se trouve géopolitiquement, et en quelque sorte géographiquement, à la première loge de la guerre d ...
  • Authors
    May 6, 2022
    In addition to the deaths and destruction in Ukraine, the Russian invasion has caused several significant shocks to the global economy. In addition to the geopolitical consequences of the war, reinforcing the downward trend in trade globalization and financial integration, new rounds of disruptions to supply chains and higher commodity prices have already led to downward revisions in economic growth projections, accompanied by higher inflation. The commodity price shock, intensify ...
  • May 06, 2022
    In a large majority of countries political leaders have tried to place regional integration in the center of their economic growth and development strategies, yet, despite all attempts, A ...
  • April 29, 2022
    Following on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic and severe drought in North Africa, the Russian invasion of Ukraine – large exporters of food and, in the case of Russia, energy— may inflict increased hunger on the food insecure in Morocco – despite mitigating measures by the government. Morocco is so far successfully shielding its large poor and vulnerable population by subsidizing essential commodities. With memories of the violent protests during the 2007/08 food and fuel crisis s ...
  • Authors
    Sebastian Carranza
    April 28, 2022
    Last March, a proposal of dollarizing Argentina’s economy arrived at its Congress. We summarize here the potential consequences of such a route in case the bill succeeds in getting approval. First, we point out the broad implications of dollarizing an economy. Then, we set out some cases of Latin American experiences with dollarization. Finally, we address the case of Argentina. The main potential benefit of dollarization would be elimination of domestic inflation, but at a very hig ...
  • April 25, 2022
    Retrouvez en exclusivité l’interview de Abdelhak Bassou, Senior Fellow au Policy Center for the New South, qui se livre à Helmut Sorge, Columnist au Policy Center for the New South, au sujet des multi-disparités présentes en Afrique. Abdelhak Bassou est l’auteur du Chapitre 5 du rapport...
  • Authors
    April 22, 2022
    Emerging market and developing economies (EMDE) face a common set of external shocks: rising energy and food prices; tightening in global financial conditions caused by the prospect of sharper interest rate hikes and anticipation of "quantitative tightening"; and return of restrictions on mobility in China, on account of the Covid zero policy, leading to slumping in growth and weakening one of the primary growth drivers for the other EMDE. However, the impacts of those common shocks ...
  • April 21, 2022
    On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a military action in Ukraine. This operation and subsequent events is having a global impact, with far-reaching political and economic implications. In the short term, the conflict will affect the global economy through three main channels: financia...
  • April 19, 2022
    يخصص مركز السياسات من أجل الجنوب الجديد حلقة برنامجه الأسبوعي "حديث الثلاثاء" لمناقشة التأثيرات الأجنبية في منطقة المغرب الكبير مع عبد الله ساعف، باحث بارز بمركز السياسات من أجل الجنوب الجديد منطقة المغرب الكبير لا تزال بطبيعتها منطقة حافلة بالرهانات العابرة للحدود، والتي تعد أكثر تعق...
  • Authors
    Abdelmounaim Fanidi
    April 19, 2022
    Suivant une analyse réaliste des relations internationales, des ‘facteurs objectifs’ ont été longtemps mis en avant pour expliquer le blocage de l’intégration régionale au Maghreb (e.g. le conflit du Sahara). Par une approche constructiviste, cet article a pour vocation d’analyser un facteur subjectif susceptible de freiner ou favoriser l’intégration maghrébine, en l’occurrence les identités nationales. Il se focalisera sur « les discours primordialistes ». Autrement dit, les discou ...