On 27 May, the Coalition joined the panel “Financing the Future We Want” at the Sixth Global Conference on Strengthening Synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Our input to these discussions focused on the pivotal role that Ministries of Finance play in turning green and resilient transitions into reality. Their influence over budgets, investment strategies, and economic policy makes them essential to making whole-of-government action work and move from ambition to implementation and investment. But to do this effectively, Ministries of Finance need strong analytical tools and capabilities.

Mads Dalum Libergren, Senior Advisor and Deputy of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, Ministry of Finance, Denmark

That's where the Coalition of Finance Ministries for Climate Action Economic Analysis for Green and Resilient Transitions initiative comes in. Part of the Coalition’s Helsinki Principle 4 Work Stream, the initiative is led by the Ministry of Finance of Denmark , with the support of Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment

It brings together Ministries of Finance, international financial and development institutions, and leading academics into a global community of practice. Our goal: to develop practical guidance, improve tools, and build capacity for smarter, faster, and more effective economic decision-making for green and resilient transitions.

Nick Godfrey, Distinguished Policy Fellow of Public Finance and Economics, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics

At the conference, Coalition Co-Chair Sam Koojo of Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mads Dalum Libergren of the Ministry of Finance of Denmark and Nick Godfrey of Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment set out how Ministries of Finance across the world do understand the urgency. Delivering on their core mandates of macroeconomic stability, sustainable growth, and sound public finances now increasingly depends on their ability to account for the risks and opportunities of climate change and the green transition.

❓ However, Ministries of Finance often face complex policy questions about the direct and indirect impacts of climate change - and the economic implications of transitioning to a green and resilient economy. They need to provide answers grounded in sound economic analysis that set out the economic risks and opportunities of different policy pathways. Developing the tools and strengthening the analytical capacity to address these types of questions within Ministries of Finance can be key levers for countries to respond more effectively to the challenges of climate change at the pace and scale required.

While awareness is high, most are still early in developing the tools, data, and capacities needed to guide effective green and resilient transitions. However, there is momentum. A growing number of Ministries are already applying economic analysis to tackle climate risks and shape greener, more resilient, and more prosperous futures.

Sam Mugume Koojo, Assistant Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda

💡 One key takeaway: Ministries don’t need the perfect economic modeling tool to get started. They can begin with the tools and knowledge they already have, building capabilities and enhancing analysis over time. Effective work requires more than just technical tools—it needs skilled teams, coordination, and governance that ensure analysis informs actual policy.

🌱 We’re encouraged by the growing interest in this work. The Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action will soon share new insights and concrete examples to help Ministries of Finance around the world strengthen their capacity for robust economic analysis and modelling - empowering them to drive the transition to green, resilient, and prosperous economies.

Want to learn more: Read the summary report of the 6th Global Climate and SDG Synergies Conference: https://enb.iisd.org/global-climate-sdg-synergies-conference-6-summary

*Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis