By Anthony Emeka Nwosu
New York, USA — Tariye Gbadegesin, Chief Executive Officer of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), has underscored the urgency of delivering a just and equitable energy transition, stressing that energy remains the driving force for development and inclusive growth.
Speaking during a series of high-level events held in New York as part of Climate Week, Gbadegesin emphasized that unlocking clean, affordable, and reliable energy access for emerging and developing economies requires bold leadership, deep collaboration, and a surge of private investment.
“Energy is the engine of development and growth,” Gbadegesin told the Global Leadership Council of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). “The transition is not just a technical challenge—it’s a leadership opportunity.”
The CIF CEO joined an array of global leaders including H.E. President Daniel Francisco Chapo, Woochong Um, Rajiv J. Shah, Anna Bjerde, Jon Creyts, Vera Songwe, and Francesco La Camera, to deliberate on strategies for scaling energy access and decarbonizing industries to meet net-zero targets.
Focus on Industrial Decarbonization
A key highlight of Gbadegesin’s engagements was her address at the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) event, where she spoke about transforming heavy industries in emerging and developing economies—an area she described as “central to achieving global climate goals.”
The session brought together government representatives and private sector leaders, including Dan Ioschpe, Sibi George, Cédric de Meeûs, Tobias Axerup, and Mattias Frumerie, with moderation by Esther Pan Sloane of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York (SACCNY).
Gbadegesin also provided insights into the progress of CIF’s $1 billion Industry Decarbonization Program, during a dialogue hosted by the Mission Possible Partnership (MPP) and the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA). Notable speakers at this session included Faustine Delasalle, Bruce Douglas, María Mendiluce, and Nili Gilbert, CFA, CAIA.
Mobilizing Private Finance for Emerging Markets
Recognizing the pivotal role of private capital in accelerating clean energy adoption, Gbadegesin participated in a Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) forum that explored innovative strategies to unlock investments in emerging energy markets.
She further contributed to a high-energy discussion on expanding private finance for renewables alongside UK Secretary Ed Miliband, Special Climate Envoy Rachel Kyte, Brazil’s Vice Minister Tatiana Rosito, Luiza Demôro, Guangzhe Chen, and Justin Wu. The session was co-hosted by the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA), BloombergNEF, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Leadership for a Sustainable Future
Gbadegesin’s participation in these engagements highlighted her conviction that the energy transition is not merely about deploying technology but also about fostering global leadership and equitable partnerships.
“This week, we saw just how ready the world is to rise to the challenge,” she said, reflecting on the discussions and commitments shared during Climate Week.
Observers say her interventions at these events underscore the CIF’s growing role in advancing clean technology investments and driving systemic change in high-emission industries while prioritizing the needs of developing economies.
