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Over the past decade, the conversation around climate vulnerability has evolved—from focusing primarily on scientific understanding to addressing the practicalities of funding and implementation. As the topic gained prominence, it also became more complex and multifaceted. In this series, Avinash Persaud, Special Advisor on Climate Change for the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, demystifies climate finance, lays bare the issues, and contextualises financial instruments within international political economy, development economics, finance, and climate and nature. While financial discussions can often feel abstract or theoretical, the Inter-American Development Bank comes face-to-face with some of the most vulnerable communities in the world—from indigenous peoples in the Amazon to those living in favelas. The Bank also works closely with governments as they tackle pragmatically the multifaceted challenges of poverty, climate vulnerability, development, job creation, and sustainable growth. Drawing on the Bank’s extensive experience, research, knowledge, insights, and stories of the lived experience of the people of Latin America and the Caribbean, he explains why we are here, where we are, and what we need to do to move to a better place. #IDB #Improvinglives #IDBImpact+ At the Inter-American Development Bank we work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. http://www.iadb.org

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Check latest episodes from Power and Planet podcast

Climate finance 101

2025/09/16

Join Avinash Persaud, Special Advisor on Climate Change to the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, in the first episode of a series leading up to COP30 in Belém. In clear, jargon-free language, Persaud breaks down the urgent challenges of climate finance—revealing how the world has the resources, technology, and knowledge to act, but not yet the systems to mobilize them. From the staggering returns on resilient infrastructure to the moral imperative of funding climate loss and damage, this episode offers practical solutions for a more equitable and sustainable future. #IDB #Improvinglives #IDBImpact+ At the Inter-American Development Bank we work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. http://www.iadb.org

The Road to $1.3 Trillion

2025/09/23

In this episode, Avinash Persaud, Special Advisor on Climate Change to the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, unpacks the urgent and ambitious journey toward mobilizing $1.3 trillion in climate finance for developing countries. From the origins of the roadmap at COP29 in Baku to the innovative "Reinvest+" initiative, Persaud challenges conventional thinking around private sector mobilization and offers a scalable solution to bridge the climate finance gap. Discover how existing performing loans in developing countries can be transformed into investment-grade securities that attract global institutional investors—creating a virtuous cycle of reinvestment, trust, and climate-aligned development. #IDB #Improvinglives #IDBImpact+ At the Inter-American Development Bank we work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. http://www.iadb.org

Why You Can’t Insure Yourself Against Climate Change

2025/10/03

While disasters have traditionally been managed through insurance, climate shocks are now too frequent, too costly, and too unpredictable to insure effectively. From the staggering $30 billion flood losses in Brazil to the global funding gap for climate-vulnerable countries, Avinash Persaud, Special Advisor on Climate Change for the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, explores in this episode why resilience—not insurance—is the smarter investment. Tune in to learn why a dollar spent on resilient infrastructure can save ten in future losses, and how innovative financial tools like debt-for-resilience swaps and pause clauses could offer lifelines to countries already drowning in debt. #IDB #Improvinglives #IDBImpact+ At the Inter-American Development Bank we work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. http://www.iadb.org

The Mirage and the Magic of Debt Swaps

2025/10/10

In Episode 4 of Power and Planet, Avinash Persaud, Special Advisor on Climate Change to the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, dives deep into the captivating world of debt swaps—often hailed as poetic solutions to complex global challenges. From the alluring promise of debt-for-nature deals to the hard truths of market realities, this episode unpacks the myths, mechanics, and potential of debt swaps in climate and development finance. Persaud explores why the grand bargain remains elusive, and how modern, market-based swaps—backed by AAA-rated guarantors—can redirect debt savings into resilience investments like reef protection and electric buses. With a bold vision for a multi-guarantor facility to scale impact, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about innovative climate finance. #IDB #Improvinglives #IDBImpact+ At the Inter-American Development Bank we work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. http://www.iadb.org

The Currency Trap: Why the Renewable Energy Revolution Stalls at the Border

2025/10/20

In episode five of Power and Planet, economist Avinash Persaud dives deep into the hidden forces shaping our climate future—not technology, but finance. The Currency Trap unpacks how the cost of capital, driven by foreign exchange risk and systemic financial structures, determines who gets to build a sustainable future and who gets left behind. From collapsing solar prices to soaring borrowing costs in developing countries, this episode reveals why some countries are thriving in promoting a sustainable transition while others are struggling—and introduces a bold new solution from the Inter-American Development Bank that could change everything. #IDB #Improvinglives #IDBImpact+ At the Inter-American Development Bank we work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. http://www.iadb.org

Why Belém Matters

2025/11/06

In this episode, Avinash Persaud explores how multilateral development banks and global partners are reshaping climate finance — not from scratch, but by building on proven action. From resilient infrastructure to renewable energy, developing countries are already investing billions, despite limited fiscal space and mounting climate challenges. At the heart of the conversation is Belém — a turning point for climate and nature alignment, where innovation meets urgency. Discover how initiatives like ReInvest+ and debt-for-resilience swaps are unlocking trillions in private and public capital, and why Belém is more than a summit — it’s a launchpad for scalable solutions, sustainable finance, and real-world impact. #IDB #Improvinglives #IDBImpact+ At the Inter-American Development Bank we work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. http://www.iadb.org