Assessing the Investment Climate for Climate Investments

Abstract

Mitigating climate change while addressing development needs will involve a massive scale-up of investments in Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE). Most of these climate investments will come from the private sector, which will be the main driver of low-carbon growth in both developing and developed countries, provided that countries have the right investment climate for climate investment. The enabling environment for climate investment in each country depends on a variety of factors. These include macroeconomic determinants such as a functioning bureaucracy and banking system; as well as a narrower set of policy determinants such as renewable energy targets, mandatory standards, preferential power tariffs, waiver of import duties, and other fiscal incentives. While the exact mix of policies, regulations and incentives will depend on country-specific circumstances, the fact that they exist sends the right signal to climate investors, by providing them with legal certainty and lowering their costs and risks. Policies, regulations and incentives also help to level the playing field for climate investors in the face of market realities that tend to favor the continued use of carbon intense energy sources, such as support for fossil fuels and the high costs of renewable energy technologies.