Economic Policy & Development, Environmental Economics, Finance, Financial Services, Education & Reference, Business, Economic Policy 

The rise in financial globalization has led to dramatic changes in the development finance landscape. In contrast to the past, private capital flows now vastly exceed public financial flows to developing and transition countries. Increasingly, anyone seeking to influence development finance decisions in ways that are positive for the environment must look beyond traditional bilateral aid and multilateral lending to engage a new set of private sector actors. Leverage for the Environment profiles 8 segments of the private financial services industry: commercial banks, investment banks, mutual funds, pension funds, property and casualty insurance, life insurance, venture capital, and foundations. For each, it identifies a list of potential leverage points for influencing various actors to integrate environmental considerations into decision making. This report illustrates: * the operations of key segments of the private financial services industry * the influencers and decision makers within each segment * the environmental issues related to the industry's credit extension, underwriting, and investment functions, with attention to private investment flows to developing countries. In addition this report includes a brief description of key financial concepts; a glossary of financial terms, a snapshot of 8 segments to convey their relative degree of regulation, availability of information, risk aversion, and time horizon; and guidance on where to go for additional information. - from Amzon