8. Debt swaps for climate and nature: innovation for resilience

Make Change Happen

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns over debt owed by developing nations are increasing substantially. The burden of developing country debt stands at eight trillion US dollars, so action on debt relief is now more pressing than ever. Debt swaps for climate and nature could help relieve debt and offer great gains for the wellbeing of the planet. But they are a controversial idea. In this episode of ‘Make Change Happen’, guests discuss the challenges and potential of debt swaps for climate and nature, highlight a lived example of a marine debt swap from the Seychelles, and analyse what is needed for these programmes to work. Hosted by Liz Carlile, IIED’s director of communications, the discussion features Yacouba Dem, from Mali, country director at the Near East Foundation; Jean-Paul Adam, director for technology, climate change and natural resource management in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa; and Laura Kelly, director of IIED’s Shaping Sustainable Markets research group. You can follow some of the people you have heard in this episode on Twitter via @lizcarlile, @LauraKellyIIED, @AdamJeanPaul and the @NearEastFdn organisation. Follow the podcast on @IIED_Voices for all the latest updates. More details: https://www.iied.org/debt-swaps-for-climate-nature-innovation-for-resilience-make-change-happen-podcast-episode-8