When the United States has re -released from the Paris agreements, the appearance turns to Europe, now in the first line to maintain the course of the ecological transition. For Marilyn Waite, the entrepreneur and president of the climate fund, it is urgent to re -evaluate the global financial system to speed up climate measures. Analysis and perspectives.
Forbes France: What do you think about Donald Trump’s latest customs measures and their consequences about finances around the world?
Marilyn Waite : The United States, or, as I nicknamed the United States, are only 4% of the world’s population, and most greenhouse gas emissions and economic growth come from anywhere. The measures taken by Donald Trump will first harm the United States. As for the effects on an international scale, it is still too early to fully measure the impact on the financial system. In such a tense context, however, international cooperation is more than ever. Regarding climate financing, if we want to speed up the transition and is more than ever a goal, it is essential for the country to obtain the equipment necessary to deploy climatic solutions. With increasing customs taxes, however, this equipment, such as solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicles, record their price increases. They will be less accessible, risk slowing down the installation and threatening the achievement of the objectives set by the Paris agreements.
What about the American disconnection of Paris agreements? Is it worrying from your point of view?
MW : Disconnecting the United States in Paris agreements is not desirable. However, we already knew this situation during the first term of Trump. I do not think it will fundamentally change the dynamics of green investment, whether in the United States or international level. We are currently observing that financing in favor of climate continues on the market, despite this opposite to the Paris agreement.
What are the possible solutions to give sustainability to the core of our fears? Can Europe play a role?
MW : Europe must remain faithful to its ambitions in terms of climate financing and regulatory measures. The financial sector is due to its importance with an excellent lever to be activated. Through the adoption of standards, Europe can encourage society, European, but also international to adopt more sustainable procedures and redirect their investments in fairer climatic and social solutions. Europe can also monitor its own goals for the development of sustainable products and mobilizing retail investments. Therefore, the climate fund fund supports many initiatives in Europe and France for ambitious obligations. We can quote: Bank for Good EU, which helps consumers to realize the weight of financial institutions in their carbon track; Better finance and its educational program for sustainable investments in several European countries or in the SpPhere study, which demonstrates the scope of European pensions invested in fossil industries. Europe is essential that Europe integrates the principles of justice, justice, diversity and integration (Jedi) into its initiatives not only to achieve its environmental goals, but also to develop a fairer, more inclusive and thus more sustainable society.
Is it more complicated to commit to sustainable finances in China?
MW : Unlike some of the ideas, it is not more difficult to engage in sustainable finances in China than in Europe or the United States. China is a key player in the global energy transition, with ambitious commitments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. In addition, it has overcome several aspects of sustainable financing. We can quote an example of a central bank in China, which is the only one in the world that has specifically conducted an initiative for environmental investments. For green projects, it requires preferential rate of less than 2 %, while the average market rate is between 4 %and 5 %. The advantage is specific and real. China has recognized climatic problems and understood that sustainable financing can be a strategic lever for long -term development.
What is the role of the financial fund for the climate in monitoring these climatic solutions?
MW : Climate funding is a dedicated platform for mobilizing investment in climate solution. Our activity focuses on the headquarters located in China, but also in the United States and the European Union. Building, agriculture, energy or even food regardless of the sector or country. The only criterion to get into the perimeter of our program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We have two pillars: innovative financial and systemic changes in the financial system. We support or support products, banks or new initiatives that may be directly related to the market. We also subsidize requests that can change regulations and regulations so that the rules of the game can change in favor of the planet.
The aim of the climate fund is therefore to fulfill the lack of funding that is missing in solving the problem of climate change?
MW : The questions we are working on are: Is our bank good for climate? Are our pension economies also in line with ecological transition and social justice? On this system column, on our scale, we work deeply on this system column. It is a government to manage these main problems, but we try to help. This is what we do with new ideas to ensure that there are enough investment, because by 2050 we will need $ 3 to 4 trillion every year to fully solve the problem of climate change. My role is to create a strategy, set up and deploy funds to fill this financial gap.
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