Local Governments on the Front Lines of Climate Change

Municipalities are on the front lines of climate change, both from a risk standpoint and an opportunity standpoint. Heat stress, drought vulnerability and a just-transition are among the material climate risks that are becoming more important to the long-term financial well-being of communities. At the same time, the infrastructure needed to adapt to climate change and transition to a low carbon economy will be financed at the local level. This workshop will be a brief primer on climate-risks that municipal bond investors consider material to their credit research, paired with an introduction on how municipalities access the capital markets to finance essential public projects, including those needed for climate resilience.