In Episode 3, we explore the inextricable link between climate change, energy poverty, and sustainable development with Gillian Cerbu, Senior Climate Change Specialist at the World Bank, and Romain Pison, a leader in ESG and climate finance. Our guest shed light on the urgent issue of the 'triple penalty' – the insidious cycle where low- and middle-income countries grapple with high electricity costs, unaffordable clean energy, and persistent fossil fuel dependency.

Our discussion centers around the groundbreaking World Bank framework, "Scaling Up to Phase Down," which aims to drive a significant transition in developing countries towards affordable, reliable clean energy and away from coal-fired power generation. This ambitious strategy envisions a six-step approach to creating a positive cycle that accelerates clean energy transitions, ultimately aiding these countries to break free from the energy-poverty-climate trap.

Gillian brings to the table her extensive knowledge on climate change mitigation, land use transformation, and climate MRV systems. We delve into the function of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Support Facility and Climate Support Facility (CSF) in coordinating green economic recovery efforts with each country's climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

Tune in to this thought-provoking episode to understand how a concerted global effort integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles can spark a revolutionary change in the power sector, lift nations out of energy poverty, and move us closer to a climate-resilient future.