NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Green entrepreneurs are at the forefront of providing climate solutions for mitigation and adaptation, but they need to be better supported if they are to meet the challenge of climate change. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent 90% of the enterprise population and more than 50% of employment around the world. A transition to a low carbon economy, and a just one, is simply impossible if small businesses are not at and around the table at COP26. As world leaders gather in Glasgow to discuss how to deliver on the Paris Agreement, the needs and challenges green entrepreneurs face must be elevated. For example, only 2% of climate technology incubators and accelerators around the world are focused on climate technology. From this tiny slice, only approximately 25 climate accelerators are located outside of OECD countries. We need to see climate financing specifically dedicated to green entrepreneurship, particularly women green entrepreneurs, and more partnerships that aim to unlock system level transformations.This session, hosted with the IKEA Foundation, will try to unpack the role green entrepreneurs play in contributing to the goals of COP26 and bring attention to their specific needs and challenges as they play a vital role towards achieving a net zero world.

Moderator:
Richenda Van Leeuwen, Executive Director, ANDE
Panelists:
Vivek Singh, Head of Portfolio and Entrepreneurship, IKEA Foundation
Santosh Singh, Director Climate Change and Agriculture Practices, Intellecap
Dr. Arunabha Ghosh, CEO Council Energy, Environment, Water, CEEW
Carol Kariuki, CEO, GreenPot Enterprises

Time: 12:00PM-1:15PM EST