The business of climate technology adoption: evidence from research and reality

Mitigating and adapting to climate change demands the widespread adoption of innovative technologies. Development finance has a critical role to play in supporting the private sector to demonstrate the viability of such technologies and delivering adaptation at scale.

This conference brought together researchers and practitioners together, to share insights about the challenges and opportunities in climate technology adoption across Africa and Asia.

Opening session: Agriculture – technologies for adaptation and resilience

Speakers include

• Paddy Carter, Head of Development Economics, British International Investment
• Dennis Novy, Chief Economist, FCDO and CEPR
• Josh Deutschman, University of Chicago – water storage
• Tomoko Harigaya, Chief Economist, Precision Development – precision agriculture
• Jessica Rudder, Oregon State University – new seed varieties
• Usha Zehr, Executive Director, Grow Indigo
• Alec Martin, Director of Impact, AgDevCo
• Shailendra Tiwari, Founder and co-CEO, Fasal

Commercial and industry – decarbonisation of hard to abate sectors

Speakers include

• Stephanie Hirmer, University of Oxford – green hydrogen
• Kinar Kent, Chief Executive Officer, Westgass – green fertilizer
• Mohammed Zahidullah, Chief Sustainability Officer, DBL
• Ralf Martin, Principal Economist for Environment and Sustainability, IFC, Imperial College London and CEPR
• Munish Modi, Group CFO, African Industries Group
• Moderator  – Paddy Carter, British International Investment

Grid technologies – the transition to renewable power systems

Part A: grid reliability and demand management

Speakers include

• Susanna Berkouwer, University of Pennsylvania – grid reliability
• Robyn Meeks, Duke University – demand management
• Samir Ashta, Chief Financial Officer, Apraava Energy
• Moderator  – Chris Woodruff, Professor of Development Economics, University of Oxford

Part B: grid infrastructure and energy trading

Speakers include

• Nicolas Ryan, Yale University and CEPR – energy markets
• Chris Flavin, Chief Executive Officer, Gridworks Partners
• Satish Talmale, Chief Executive Officer, Energrid
• Evan Rice, Chief Executive Officer, Etana Energy
• Moderator  – Chris Woodruff, Professor of Development Economics, University of Oxford

Green financing – the enabler of technology adoption

Speakers include

• Marlene Mueller, Head of Green Bonds, Symbiotics
• Lex Rutten, Executive Director, Specialized Lending, Rabobank 
• Dominic Michel, Investment Director, Novastar Ventures
• Ganesh Parajuli, Chief-Retail and Small Business Loans, NMB Bank Limited
• Moderator – Maria Smith, Chief Impact Officer, British International Investment

Organisers: British International Investment (BII) and Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries Initiative (PEDL), the Private Sector Development Research Network (PSDRN) and the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)