Person:
Kerr, Thomas Michael

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Climate Change, Energy, Climate Finance, Private Sector Development
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Last updated: September 13, 2023
Biography
Tom Kerr is the Lead Climate Specialist, South Asia at the World Bank Group (WBG). In this role, he supports a dynamic region by developing policies and investments that increase resilience to climate change and accelerate decarbonization. Tom was the lead author of the WBG’s Climate Investment Opportunities report series, which help clients to identify promising green investment opportunities tied to governments’ pledges made as part of the Paris Agreement. He created and managed the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, a public-private leadership platform launched by the World Bank Group at COP21 in Paris to work with government, business and civil society groups to accelerate the uptake of effective carbon pricing policy around the world. He also provides client-facing policy and market intelligence across key climate-smart sectors, including renewable energy, low-carbon transport, green buildings, climate-smart agriculture and efficient industrial production. Prior to working at the WBG, Tom was Director of Climate Change at the World Economic Forum, where he facilitated high-level dialogues between leaders in government, business and civil society at the Annual Meeting in Davos, the G20 and other intergovernmental platforms. Before that, Tom worked for the International Energy Agency, where he led the development of a suite of clean energy technology roadmaps and provided clean energy progress reports into the Clean Energy Ministerial, the G8/G20 and the UNFCCC. He started his career in Washington at the US Environmental Protection Agency, designing and implementing a suite of voluntary programs for the US government—including Energy STAR—to engage early business action on climate change. Tom has an LL.M. in International Environmental Law from Georgetown University Law Center, a Juris Doctorate from DePaul College of Law, and a Bachelors’ Degree in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Publication
    Improving Allocative Efficiency in Zimbabwe’s Health Sector: Results from the Health Interventions Prioritization Tool
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021) Jaoude, Gerard Abou; Hou, Xiaohui; Gosce, Lara; Shamu, Shepherd; Sisimayi, Chenjerai N.; Lannes, Laurence; Wilkinson, Thomas David; Kerr, Cliff; Haghparast-Bidgoli, Hassan; Skordis, Jolene; Kerr, Thomas Michael
    The country of Zimbabwe has seen some important improvements in key health outcomes since 2009. However, despite progress in some areas of the health sector, the country did not meet its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and current progress falls short of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) milestones. As is often the case, the poor and rural populations in Zimbabwe bear a disproportionate burden of disease and health risks. The situation is compounded by national economic challenges and health sector spending inefficiencies that have resulted in households bearing an increasing share of health sector financing, mainly through out-of-pocket expenditures. Households provide approximately 25 percent of health sector financing in Zimbabwe. Again, the poor and rural populations are hardest hit by this economic reality. Zimbabwe was one of the few countries in which HIPtool was piloted at the proof of concept stage. HIPtool enables the mathematical prioritization of interventions based on existing data and a set of criteria. It provides a technical foundation to further develop an essential health benefits package. However, HIPtool, at this stage in development, still has strong limitations, which are outlined along with results in this report.
  • Publication
    State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2016
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2016-10) World Bank; Ecofys; Vivid Economics; Kerr, Thomas Michael; Zechter, Richard; Kerr, Thomas; Kossoy, Alexandre; Peszko, Grzegorz; Oppermann, Klaus; Ramstein, Celine; Prytz, Nicolai; Klein, Noémie; Lam, Long; Wong, Lindee; Blok, Kornelis; Neelis, Maarten; Monschauer, Yannick; Nierop, Sam; Berg, Tom; Ward, John; Kansy, Thomas; Kemp, Luke; Vadheim, Bryan; Kingsmill, Nick
    This report provides an up-to-date overview of existing and emerging carbon pricing instruments around the world, including national and subnational initiatives. Furthermore, it gives an overview of current corporate carbon pricing initiatives. Another key focus of the report is on the importance of aligning carbon pricing with the broader policy landscape. The analysis provides lessons for policymakers on how maximize synergies between climate mitigation and other related policies, while managing potential tensions and tradeoffs. It also provides new modelling analysis to demonstrate the crucial benefits that an international carbon market established under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement could provide in reducing the costs to countries of achieving their emission reduction targets. An international carbon market could thus enable greater ambition in taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a level consistent with the 2°C climate stabilization goal.
  • Publication
    Decarbonizing Development: Three Steps to a Zero-Carbon Future
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2015-06) Fay, Marianne; Hallegatte, Stephane; Vogt-Schilb, Adrien; Rozenberg, Julie; Narloch, Ulf; Kerr, Tom
    The science is unequivocal: stabilizing climate change implies bringing net carbon emissions to zero. And this must be done by 2100 if we are to keep climate change anywhere near the 2 C. degree warming that world leaders have set as the maximum acceptable limit. Decarbonizing Development looks at what it would take to decarbonize the world economy by 2100 in a way that is compatible with countries’ broader development goals. It argues that the following are needed: Act early with an eye on the end-goal; Go beyond prices with a policy package that triggers changes in investment patterns, technologies and behaviors; Mind the political economy and smooth the transition for those who stand to be most affected.