Climate Change, Credit Ratings, and Investment

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How fixed-income investors and ratings agencies consider climate-change risk management and measurement in cities
• How to create a policy environment that supports investment in climate projects and better engagement with investors
• Why cities need to communicate their climate and sustainability projects to investors using CDP annual reporting

MORE SESSION DETAILS

In a changing climate, cities have increasing climate mitigation, adaptation, resiliency, and infrastructure needs. It is estimated that low-carbon infrastructure will require $93 trillion of investment in the next 15 years to limit warming to two degrees. The public sector is not able to close the investment gap alone; significant investment from the private sector is needed. How are cities preparing for and financing their climate plans? And what is the investment community looking for? Climate change could become a credit issue for city governments with cities exposed to the effects of climate change will have to show how they are protecting themselves. Historically, investors in the $3.8 trillion U.S. municipal-bond market have not incorporated climate data into city risk profiles. But this could be about to change. What does this announcement mean for cities? Join this discussion to learn how cities can access sufficient capital to undertake needed infrastructure and climate mitigation and adaptation projects and how they can prepare themselves for emerging realities from the U.S. credit and investment markets.