African nations are among the most affected by the consequences of climate change. Policymakers are attempting to address this inequity through climate credit, debt exchanges, and the Loss and Damage Fund, which was established at COP27.

We consider the ways in which climate change mitigation will be financed, seeking approaches from key African academics and professionals. We address the environmental and ecological challenges the continent faces and critically evaluate climate capitalism.   

Meet our speakers and chair

Bogolo J. Kenewendo is a Global Economist and Strategic Advisor. She has served as the Cabinet Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry and Specially Elected Member of Parliament in Botswana. She is currently championing climate action and finance as a catalyst for development in Africa and the global south in her role as Africa Director & Special Advisor of the UN High Level Climate Champions Team. Bogolo is a vocal advocate for gender equity and protection of children’s rights. She has received global recognition for her work, being appointed as a member of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council, a member of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, and advisory group on the gender architecture of the UN and group on Financing for Development. She is also a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Trade Advisory Group, Global Future Council on Global Public Goods in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and a WEF Young Global Leader. She is a Non-Executive Director in several corporate boards & Non-Profit organizations and is a Non-Resident Fellow with the Center for Global Development.

Annet Nakyeyune is a climate change specialist at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). She has over 10 years’ experience in partnerships building and strengthening to support climate action. Worked with community-based organisations, civil society, governments, and regional agencies in Eastern and Central Africa, and international organisations to ensure that voices of marginalised groups are included in climate action and decision making. Prior to joining the IIED, she was a lecturer in the Department of Development Studies at Makerere University, Kampala. Annet has also held positions as regional programmes coordinator at the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA) and as a GEO4 fellow at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Edinburgh.

Tim Allen is inaugural Director of the Firoz Lalji Centre for Africa. and is Professor in Development Anthropology in the Department of International Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science. His research has focused on international criminal justice, non-formal accountability mechanisms, forced migration, reintegration following displacements, war and conflict, aid programs, witchcraft and social healing, tropical diseases, HIV/AIDS and health programs. He has carried out long-term field research in several African countries, mostly in East Africa. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.  He is currently the Principal Investigator for the five-year ESRC-funded Centre for Public Authority and International Development, as well as several other grants funded by the UK research councils (ESRC, AHRC, GCRF).

Luca Taschini is an economist with expertise in environment, energy and resources. He is Professor of Climate Change Finance at the University of Edinburgh Business School and a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics and a Fellow at CESifo Energy and Climate Economics, Munich. Luca was previously a Visiting Scholar at MIT and the Ritsumeikan University, Japan.

More about this event

This event is part of the LSE Festival: People and Change running from Monday 12 to Saturday 17 June 2023, with a series of events exploring how change affects people and how people effect change. Booking for all Festival events will open on Monday 15 May. 

The Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa (FLIA) (@AfricaAtLSE) focuses on engagement with Africa through cutting-edge research, teaching and public events, strengthening LSE’s long-term commitment to place Africa at the heart of understandings and debates on global issues.

Twitter hashtags for this event: #LSEFestival  

Podcast and video

A podcast of this event is available to download from Financing Climate Change? Inspiration for Change from African Thinkers.

A video of this event is available to watch at Financing Climate Change? Inspiration for Change from African Thinkers.

Podcasts and videos of many LSE events can be found at the LSE Public Lectures and Events: podcasts and videos channel.