Elena Almeida
Elena Almeida is a Senior Policy Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute, specialising in nature-related financial risks and central banking. She led the NGFS-INSPIRE Study Group to explore linkages between biodiversity loss and financial stability, from the perspective of central banks and supervisors, and co-authored the group’s “Central Banking and Supervision in the Biosphere: An agenda for action on biodiversity loss, financial risk and system stability” report.
Elena has also been involved in developing the NGFS Nature Task Force’s Conceptual Framework. She currently leads the Centre of Economic Transition Expertise (CETEx) work in nature-related financial risks, in the context of monetary, prudential and economic policy. She also contributed to building CETEx’s work on the blue economy and exploring the links between terrestrial and ocean ecosystems.
Background
Prior to joining LSE, Elena spent almost 10 years in various policy-related roles, including working on monetary policy at the Central Bank of Malaysia and sustainable finance at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Prior to joining LSE, she worked as a Climate Advisor at the Bank of England, leading the central bank’s work on nature. Elena holds degrees in Economics from the University of Sussex and International Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Research interests
- Biodiversity loss and links to the financial system
- Environmental considerations for central banking
- Net zero/low carbon transition pathways for emerging and developing markets
- Sustainable development
Research
Research - 2022
This book chapter discusses the role that central banks and financial supervisors (CBFSs) can play in scaling up sustainable finance and investment. Read more
Policy
Policy - 2025
This CETEx paper analyses 14 case studies to understand recurring patterns from historical nature loss events and create insights for developing proactive and integrated strategies to address these multifaceted challenges. Read more
Policy - 2024
This report furthers exploration of the role of deforestation as a driver of nature loss and source of potential economic and financial destabilisation. Read more
The services provided by the ocean and marine ecosystems are pivotal to sustaining life on Earth and underpin vital interactions between the climate, economy and human wellbeing. But the ocean and marine ecosystems are under threat from climate change and the impacts of harmful economic activities. Read more
Policy - 2023
This paper explores current models and scenarios for analysing nature-related financial risks. It identifies the key methodological considerations and requirements if nature assessments are to provide useful guidance to the financial sector. Read more
Policy - 2022
The impacts of biodiversity loss call for urgent and transformative changes to economic and financial systems. This paper discusses the need to extend the scope of central banks’ approach to the environmental crisis. Read more
This Final Report provides the conclusions of the NGFS-INSPIRE Study Group on Biodiversity and Financial Stability on the scale of the threats from 'biodiversity-related risk' to the global financial system, reviews the actions that central banks, supervisors and other financial actors are already taking in response, identifies policy options for evaluating and mitigating financial risks arising from biodiversity loss and makes recommendations for near-term action. Read more
Policy - 2021
This report is intended as a stocktake of the current context for central bank and financial supervisory action on biodiversity loss. It sets out the state of understanding on the linkages between biodiversity-related risks and financial stability, provides examples of emerging central bank and private finance activity, and identifies key themes, challenges and open questions. Read more
Books
Books - 2022
This book chapter discusses the role that central banks and financial supervisors (CBFSs) can play in scaling up sustainable finance and investment. Read more
Events
News
News - 2024
This commentary from the Centre for Economic Transformation Expertise examines the possibilities for the Bank to achieve a greater balancing of economic stability with climate resilience and environmental stewardship. Read more
The Biodiversity COP16 conference will be critical to advancing comprehensive ocean biodiversity conservation efforts. Ambitious commitments are needed – especially... Read more
This commentary captures the discussion on blue finance at the UN Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona in April 2024. Read more
News - 2023
A new global framework for the protection of nature was adopted at COP15, with material targets for 2030. This commentary outlines their particular relevance for the financial sector and its efforts to halt nature loss. Read more
