Accelerating Investment at Scale: Building Better Bridges to Finance Sustainable Futures
The intertwined challenges of climate change and sustainable development demand nothing short of a radical transformation in global finance. While private investment in these areas is growing, the scale remains far below what is needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and deliver a liveable future.
On 2 December 2024, the Centre for Finance and Development at the Graduate Institute, in collaboration with the Geneva Rethinking Finance Collaborative (GRFC) and the Club of Rome, hosted a landmark event: “Building Better Bridges to Finance Sustainable Futures.” Held as a precursor to Building Bridges Week 2024, the event brought together global leaders to explore how to mobilise investment at scale and ensure resources reach the world’s most marginalised populations.
The Challenge: Closing the Global Financing Gap
The world faces a multi-trillion-dollar financing gap in meeting both the SDGs and climate commitments. Traditional financial models are proving insufficient, leaving billions without the investment needed to secure resilient livelihoods, sustainable food systems, and climate stability.
Without bold, coordinated action to mobilise capital for over half the global population, critical economic and ecological systems face collapse, threatening the well being of all.
The GRFC Response: From Dialogue to Action
Through technical workshops and collaborative platforms, the GRFC works to dismantle barriers to impact investing and showcase scalable, evidence-based solutions. This event was designed not for theory, but for practical action, sharing proven strategies, critical success factors, and pathways to accelerate transformative change across finance, agriculture, and climate action.
Event Highlights: Towards a Sustainable Financial Ecosystem
Moderated by Beris Gwynne, Founder and Director of Incitāre, the event featured leading voices in sustainable finance, regenerative development, and impact investment.
- Nathan Sussman, Professor of International Economics and Director of the Centre for Finance and Development, opened the session with a powerful call for collaborative global action to bridge the financing gap.
- Beris Gwynne framed the event’s objectives: to advance solutions that direct investment towards sustainable futures and support those most at risk of being left behind.
Rethinking Debt & Climate Finance
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Christopher Mbanefo, Member of the Executive Committee of the Club of Rome and Founder of The OXÏ-ZEN Program, delivered a keynote on international debt and climate finance. His insights into carbon balance frameworks offered a fresh perspective on debt restructuring as a tool for climate resilience.
Innovative Financing Solutions
- Agro-Ecology Multiplier – Matt Purkis (South African Organic Sector Organisation / Project Biome) and Zach Bush (Founder of Farmer’s Footprint, CEO of Resource Dynamics) highlighted agro-ecology’s potential to drive sustainable development, strengthen food systems, and deliver multiple co-benefits for people and planet.
- Managing the Transition with Principled Pragmatism – Karen Fawcett (Singapore Institute of Directors, LGT Private Banking & Asset Management) stressed the need for a balanced and pragmatic approach to shifting towards a sustainable economy while maintaining equity and resilience.
- Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for Regeneration – Wietse Hermanns (Climate Valley Consulting B.V) and Paul Chatterton (Landscape Finance Lab) presented the use of SPVs for sector-specific investment in catchments, landscapes, and bioregions, enabling targeted, scalable financing.
Key Takeaways: Financing Sustainable Futures
The Geneva event reinforced several urgent priorities for the global community:
- Mobilise Investment at Scale – Unlock new streams of capital for sustainable development and climate resilience, especially for marginalised populations.
- Advance Innovative Financing – Move beyond traditional models with tools such as SPVs, blended finance, and agro-ecology multipliers.
- Foster Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing – Build cross-sector partnerships to accelerate learning, innovation, and scalability.
- Adopt Principled Pragmatism – Manage the transition with approaches that are both pragmatic and ethically grounded.
- Recognise Agro-Ecology as Critical – Position agro-ecology at the heart of regenerative, climate-smart solutions.
Building Momentum Towards a Sustainable Economy
The “Building Better Bridges to Finance Sustainable Futures” event served as a vital platform for dialogue and action. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, it underscored that the solutions exist, but decisive investment and collaboration are needed to scale them.
As Building Bridges Week 2024 approached, this event made clear that the path forward lies in catalysing innovative finance, prioritising inclusivity, and embedding regeneration into economic systems. Only then can we accelerate the transition to a sustainable, just, and climate-resilient future.