Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions

From Billions to Trillions: Catalyzing Private Investment in Climate Solutions

Date and Time
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Contact
Jennifer Edwards
Email
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Save the date for the second annual “From Billions to Trillions” summit: April 9, 2025.  

Following an invitation-only phase, registration for the 2025 “From Billions to Trillions” summit will open to the public in early spring.
 
Subscribe to the Nicholas Institute’s email list to be alerted when public registration launches.

Decarbonizing the global economy and increasing climate resilience worldwide will require trillions of dollars, largely from private sector investors.  

In the wake of modest progress on financial commitments at COP29 and in the midst of a transition to a new U.S. presidential administration, how can such a level of investment be realized? What novel mechanisms, collaborative efforts, and policies can accelerate the mobilization of private capital, going from billions to trillions in available finance? Working together, how can financial institutions across the globe creatively leverage their strengths to protect humanity and the planet?  

The second annual “From Billions to Trillions” summit at Duke University will confront these critical questions, spurring provocative dialogue among thought leaders from across the global financial sector.

The event will build on the successful 2024 summit, which convened over 500 attendees and featured exchanges with top U.S. officials like John Podesta and Jigar Shah as well as leaders from the private sector and philanthropy. The first summit focused on how the Inflation Reduction Act could catalyze private climate investment in the United States. The 2025 summit will update this domestic dialogue while expanding it to include global climate finance challenges and opportunities.

Duke experts in climate finance and policy are curating a speaker lineup that spans the U.S. and global finance ecosystem, driving dialogue among government officials as well as experts from multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, philanthropy, and private capital providers. Ronnie Chatterji—inaugural chief economist at OpenAI and a faculty member at the Fuqua School of Business—will be among the speakers.

Like the 2024 summit, this year’s event will be free and will feature ample opportunities for audience participation and networking. Leaders and practitioners in the climate finance and development spaces are encouraged to attend. A limited number of tickets will be available to Duke University students. 

This event is designed to make the most of Duke University’s academic assets and convening power to accelerate climate solutions, in alignment with the Duke Climate Commitment

Looking back at the 2024 summit... 

Tim Profeta (Duke University), Jigar Shah (U.S. Department of Energy), Charlie Gailliot (KKR Climate) and Diana Propper de Callejon (Cranemere) at Billions to Trillions 2024
The first “From Billions to Trillions” summit in February 2024 engaged government officials and private sector leaders in productive conversations like this one on “Private Equity’s Response to Public Incentives.” From left: Moderator Tim Profeta (Duke University), Jigar Shah (U.S. Department of Energy), Charlie Gailliot (KKR Climate) and Diana Propper de Callejon (Cranemere).
Attendees at the 2024 From Billions to Trillions event
Attendees at the 2024 “From Billions to Trillions” event lauded the plentiful opportunities to forge professional connections during the daylong summit, which included a networking lunch.

Read Key Takeaways from the 2024 Summit  View 2024 Summit Recordings

Duke University is committed to creating inclusive and accessible events that encourage persons living with disabilities to fully engage in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact jen.edwards@duke.edu or 919-660-1793 in advance of your participation or visit. We will do our best to accommodate any requests.