With COP30 on the horizon, the 12th OECD Forum on Green Finance and Investment will bring together policymakers, financial institutions, companies and civil society under the theme Investing in Sustainability, Investing in Economic Resilience. The focus: sharing evidence and exploring practical ways to scale up investment for a more sustainable, resilient and future-ready economy.
Here are five key messages expected to arise in this year’s discussions – and what they mean for policymakers and investors.
1. Climate ambition pays off for growth and development
As governments set agendas for growth, competitiveness and development, recent evidence shows that accelerated climate action provides economic gains, including in the near term.
OECD–UNDP modelling finds that with the right enabling conditions, enhanced national climate action plans (NDCs) would raise global GDP by 0.2% by 2040 relative to current policies. By 2100, GDP could be up to 13% higher than current levels after factoring in avoided climate damages. Furthermore, aligning investments in the clean energy transition with national development priorities could lift an additional 175 million people out of extreme poverty by 2050.
This potential, however, risks being underused as climate policy momentum slows.
2. Investing in adaptation and biodiversity strengthens resilience
In many contexts, investments in climate adaptation offer substantial economic value – with benefit–cost ratios ranging from 2:1 to 10:1. They can also help protect assets, reduce systemic risk exposure and strengthen energy security and supply chains. Despite this compelling economic case, adaptation financing is currently falling short of identified needs, underscoring the importance of bankable models and enabling policies.
In parallel, resilience also depends on healthy ecosystems. Expanding biodiversity-positive incentives and building pipelines for nature projects can help direct capital to protecting natural systems that underpin human well-being and economic prosperity.
3. Climate finance flows mark progress, but overall alignment remains low
Investment in clean energy continues to grow. In 2025, around USD 2.2 trillion is set to flow into renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency and electrification. This is about twice as much as the USD 1.1 trillion going to oil, gas and coal. Further, developed countries met the long-standing USD 100 billion goal for climate finance in 2022, mobilising USD 116 billion in total.
At the same time, current flows remain below what is needed for a net-zero trajectory and represent a small share of total financial flows and stocks. Scaling up finance for climate and biodiversity action in both developing and developed countries will be key to reignite progress on sustainable development, both globally and locally.
4. Credible transition finance will require strong enabling policies
As governments and investors look to reduce emissions across the whole economy, attention is turning to high-emitting and hard-to-abate sectors. Transition finance – capital directed to firms that are on a pathway to becoming sustainable – continues to develop as a tool to support climate goals while avoiding carbon lock-in.
While more companies are developing climate transition plans, turning plans into action strongly depends on their economic feasibility, integration into investment decisions, and success in mobilising finance. Barriers to economic feasibility include high upfront costs, infrastructure gaps and policy uncertainty, all of which can delay investment and limit ambition.
5. Real-economy policies can help unlock investment at scale
Accelerating investment for environmental goals, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies, depends not only on financial commitments but on real-economy policies that shift the economics, improve the risk–return profile and provide long-term certainty for investors.
Understanding how climate action contributes to economic growth and competitiveness can help shape more effective policies. Whether for scaling up infrastructure to integrate renewables and electrify industry or for aligning the twin green and digital transitions, coherent, predictable regulatory frameworks, clear sector roadmaps and the strategic use of financing instruments to attract private capital are essential.
The OECD Forum on Green Finance and Investment will provide an opportunity to examine these and other priorities in depth, fostering collaboration and highlighting practical pathways for directing finance towards sustainable and resilient outcomes.
