EIB boss: Cities and regions have crucial role in ensuring climate investment

(EurActiv, 27 Nov 2015) Finance for developing nations will be central to successful negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference, said Jonathan Taylor of the European Investment Bank.

Jonathan Taylor is European Investment Bank (EIB) vice-president responsible for environment and climate action. The EIB is Europe’s long-term lending institution and the world’s largest international public bank with a balance sheet of EUR €542 billion. It is directly owned by the EU’s 28 member states with Germany, UK, France and Italy each holding a 16% share.

Taylor spoke to EurActiv's Deputy News Editor, James Crisp.

What is the European Investment Bank (EIB) doing on climate finance?

The EIB is world’s largest lender for climate-related investment. We have for many years recognised the importance of supporting new investment across a whole range of sectors. That can help reduce emissions, and improve the resilience of infrastructure.

We have a new focus where we ensure that we don't miss opportunities to make investments better from a climate perspective. Some of these are not at first glance climate-relevant. Y ou wouldn’t think that supporting the construction of more than 30 new schools in Croydon in London could be climate relevant.

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EurActiv, 27 Nov 2015: EIB boss: Cities and regions have crucial role in ensuring climate investment