Governments are beginning to promote and incentivize natural climate solutions as one of the important ways to address the climate crisis. The latest session of the Nature-Based Solutions: Current Issues webinar series will spotlight two such government programs in the United States—the Massachusetts Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative and the Regional Climate Protection Authority in Sonoma County, California.

Are there climate investment opportunities with high risk-adjusted returns arising from transition to clean energy? 
Session moderators: Ronnie Chatterji and Meera Ayyagari

The Network for Engineering with Nature and the National Academy of Sciences' Gulf Research Program are hosting a Policy Forum on Nature-Based Solutions. The event is free and open to the public, bringing together policymakers, regulators, practitioners, academics, and others involved in the funding, policymaking, design, and/or construction of nature-based solutions. Duke University is a partner in the Network for Engineering with Nature (N-EWN).

What is a Just Transition, and is it possible to achieve a Just Transition without disproportionately negative impact on low income and disadvantaged communities? How do mission driven institutions approach equity concerns in their investment portfolio?
Session moderators: Ronnie Chatterji and Emily Nagamoto

Regulatory considerations and stakeholder influences (the “Investment Ecosystem”) for mission-driven institution and their long-term investment programs. SEC vs. EU vs. States vs. Congress vs. Shareholder Considerations. Session moderators: Sarah Bloom Raskin and Emily Nagamoto 

Indirect investment structures (e.g. fund of funds investing). The actual investments in an indirect investment structure are not publicly disclosed in a timely way. Should we work with other mission-driven institution to demand greater transparency in these portfolios to inform discussions of balancing fiduciary duties with values alignment in our investing? What are our options? What are the pros and cons? Session moderators: Tim Profeta and Brennan McDonald

How are Duke’s peer institutions managing the climate footprint of their investments? Session moderators: Ronnie Chatterji and Emily Nagamoto