Chronicle.lu recently had the opportunity to speak with Julie Godin, Head of the Global Green Growth Institute's (GGGI) new Luxembourg office, to learn more about this international intergovernmental organisation's mission and its decision to set up its European Liaison Office in the Grand Duchy.

This article forms part of a series of interviews with "newcomers" hosted at the Luxembourg House of Financial Technology (LHoFT), i.e. startups having joined the LHoFT since 1 January 2022. GGGI has been present at the LHoFT since earlier this month, having inaugurated its European Liaison Office in Luxembourg on Friday 9 June 2023.

Chronicle.lu: Please introduce your organisation and the products/services it offers.

Julie Godin: GGGI is present in close to 40 countries. We support countries to transition to low-carbon, climate resilient economies that result in improved livelihoods, enhanced environmental sustainability and achievement of nationally determined contributions to greenhouse gas emissions reduction. This encompasses different areas such as climate change adaptation planning and mobilisation of green investments, blue economy and climate smart agriculture, e-mobility, waste management and circular economy, protection of natural areas, facilitating adoption of renewable energy, and supporting green industries through green entrepreneurship and green technology development and strengthening gender and social inclusion integration across all sectors.

Chronicle.lu: What led to the creation of your organisation?

Julie Godin: GGGI was established as an international intergovernmental organisation in 2012 at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Its vision is a low-carbon, resilient world of strong, inclusive and sustainable growth. GGGI was created because there was and still is a clear need to develop green projects to bankability in emerging economies and developing countries, and support countries with sustainable finance. Green and sustainable finance is definitely growing but it only still represents a small portion of the financial market today.

Chronicle.lu: Please elaborate on what brought your organisation to Luxembourg.

Julie Godin: The mission of the European Liaison Office based in Luxembourg is to forge strong partnerships to deliver impact on the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] and for climate action in developing countries and emerging economies. A central theme that remains a challenge to support the green transition is access to finance. So, we are in Luxembourg because of the incredible financial ecosystem and the front-runner position of Luxembourg when it comes to sustainable finance. 
 
Chronicle.lu: What makes your organisation and its offer unique?
 
Julie Godin: We have an embedded presence in ministries, including in many countries, an embedded presence in ministries of finance. This is a great position to support our member states with sustainable finance that is then opened up to private sector actors. Our staff is composed of experts, including people from the finance and banking sectors. We are not a bank, we are independent, and help structure and design financial operations that benefit the countries and private sector development in support of the green and low-carbon transition.
 
Chronicle.lu: What's next for your organisation?
 
Julie Godin: We will reach out to many actors in Luxembourg to develop new partnerships for impact - and don't hesitate to reach out as well! And we launched a programme on 9 June funded by the Government of Luxembourg, in partnership with LuxSE [Luxembourg Stock Exchange] in which we will strengthen and advance the national green and social finance ecosystem of at least ten developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean regions, through policy frameworks and training, delivering pre-post insurance of thematic bonds (green, social, sustainable and sustainability-linked bonds) and disseminate knowledge.