About

James Rydge was a Senior Policy Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics (LSE) up until October 2021. Through policy research and engagement with countries and international institutions, his work focuses on accelerating the transition to sustainable and inclusive growth and development. This involves working with the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and their Institutional Partners, including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the OECD, to accelerate the mainstreaming of climate into finance ministry operations. Previously he was Lead Economist for the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, New Climate Economy, and a Dahrendorf Research Fellow at LSE.

Background

Before working on climate change, James worked in financial markets at the Bank of New York Mellon in London and in valuations at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Sydney. He has a PhD in financial markets from the University of Sydney.

Policy

Policy - 2021

This report sets out core elements of an overarching and integrated strategy for recovery from the COVID-10 pandemic and growth, as a contribution to the preparation for the G7 Summit taking place in Carbis Bay, Cornwall (11 to 13 June 2021). Read more

Policy - 2020

This paper provides a high-level and accessible overview of the most prominent methods and metrics emerging in the public and private sector to assess Paris alignment of finance flows and guide investment decisions. It aims to provide clarity for any finance actor who needs to understand and progress the Paris alignment of finance flows. Read more

Paris

Policy - 2019

This report sets out the role that investors can play in delivering a just transition in the UK as the country works towards net-zero emissions, illustrating the implications through a set of place-based examples from Yorkshire and the Humber and setting out recommendations for investor action. Read more

Policy - 2018

This special report for the LSE Growth Commission shows why it is sensible for environmental sustainability to be at the heart of the UK’s growth strategy and how this can be achieved, setting out recommendations for government across the areas of innovation, infrastructure, skills and cities. Read more

Policy - 2011

News

News - 2020

Public and private finance are getting serious about aligning finance flows to meet the Paris Agreement objectives but progress needs to accelerate and assessment methods to be improved. Paris alignment is about system transformation – or ‘better development’ that serves both people and the planet – rather than a narrow concept of project-based finance flow alignment, argues James Rydge, as he explains the concepts, approaches, progress to date and further actions needed. Read more

Finance ministers have a unique opportunity to design and implement comprehensive stimulus packages that can drive a strong recovery and build a better future: so argues a new paper prepared at the request of the co-chairs of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and summarised in this commentary. Read more

News - 2018

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