The Economics of Climate Change
As the realities of climate change become more visible and the transition to a low-carbon economy accelerates unevenly across the world, governments and businesses are shifting from ambition to execution. The focus is no longer just on pledges, but on practical pathways that balance environmental goals with energy security, economic resilience, and social impact.
The drive toward sustainability is reshaping markets, capital flows, and consumer expectations. Policy, finance, and regulation are being tested as they adapt to new technologies, emerging risks, and shifting political priorities.
In this environment, climate economics and finance play a critical role—helping to quantify trade-offs, align incentives, and guide investment where it can make the most difference. By bringing clarity to complex choices and connecting sustainability with value creation, they provide the evidence and insight needed to make the transition both achievable and fair.

What can the private sector do to promote and scale up climate adaptation?
Listen to Tim Jenkinson and guest speakers, Sophie Talarico, Climate Policy Manager, and Sandra Hanni, Head of Climate Policy, both from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), alongside Georgia Davies, Senior Consultant at Oxera explore how the private sector can play a pivotal role in advancing and scaling up climate adaptation solutions.
Listen to Top of the Agenda podcasts
Financing the green transition: can private capital bridge the gap?
Dr Helen Jenkins is joined by Jonathan Maxwell, founder and CEO of Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL). Together, they explore how private finance can play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable infrastructure, the opportunities and barriers in deploying energy-efficient technologies, and using private finance to support these new technologies.
What are the challenges of decarbonising industry in the transition to a green economy?
Dr Helen Jenkins speaks with Christophe Schramm, Head of Strategy and Sustainability at Siemens Energy Transformation of Industries, and Sahar Shamsi, Partner at Oxera. Together, they discuss how decarbonising industry throughout Europe is essential for achieving net zero goals and examine the key challenges—including policy gaps, regulatory uncertainty, and the need to align financial investment with climate ambitions.



“Economics is the study of how to allocate scarce resources to meet unlimited human wants. It provides us with a toolkit to support the agents and innovations that are delivering decarbonisation.”
Sahar Shamsi



