Breaking the debt burden: how to unlock finance for climate and nature

Key information

🗓️ 9 April, 2025

⏰ 2-3:15 GMT

💻 Via Zoom

About

For too long, the international financial architecture has deepened inequality, trapped nations in poverty, and hindered progress on climate action and nature restoration.

Many of the countries most affected by the climate and biodiversity crises are burdened with debt that stalls progress on both short-term development needs and longer-term climate resilience. Urgent reforms must create a financial model that works for all.

As we look ahead to the International Monetary Fund/World Bank Spring Meetings and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), this IIED Debates event will explore opportunities and challenges to debt reform for climate and nature outcomes.

Our speakers will discuss innovative solutions and policy recommendations to build a fairer and more resilient global financial system.

We will ask how debt reform can be leveraged, what role debt relief mechanisms can play and what systemic changes are needed to overcome the biggest political and economic barriers.

The panel will consider debt relief alignment with the Principles of Effective Development Cooperation, highlighting the roles of governments, international institutions and private sector actors in ensuring that financial resources reach the communities at the frontline of the climate and nature crises.

Speakers

Mahmoud Mohieldin is the United Nations special envoy for financing the 2030 sustainable development agenda. He is an economist with more than 30 years of experience in international finance and development and former minister of investment of Egypt.

Laura Kelly (moderator) is a director at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) with expertise in trade, agricultural markets and inclusive and green economies.

Jwala Rambarran is a senior economic policy advisor, Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC)

Other speakers TBC