Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment

A rigorous and honest conversation on critical minerals governance begins April 9! 🌍⛏️ Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, in association with Steptoe LLP, is hosting a four-part Speaker Series on Critical Minerals Governance to identify the persistent complex challenges that have hindered sustainable resource-based development, discuss these challenges candidly, and advance collaborative approaches that can effectively address them. This discussion follows the publication of the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals’ Guiding Principles on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, which reflects global stakeholders’ continued commitment to, and the urgency of, realizing resource-based development. The speaker series grapples with how the UN Panel and the broader resource governance community can work differently to promote and achieve productive outcomes. Four sessions cover diverse topics: ⚖️April 9 | Session 1: Striking the right balance between regulatory stability and regulatory flexibility 🤝April 30 | Session 2: Reaching a fair deal that balances risks and rewards in mining investments 🌍May 21 | Session 3: Managing community relationships and environmental impacts 🧩June 24 | Session 4: Navigating complex governance environments All sessions last from 9:00-10:30 am Eastern Time. Register for the first two sessions here: https://lnkd.in/e3_FV25s Please share your thoughts on these pressing and important issues. ⚡ #CCSIonJustEnergyTransition 🚧 #CCSIonMiningGovernance ⛏️ #CCSIonCriticalMinerals Martin Dietrich Brauch | Laura Garcia Cancino | Lisa Sachs | Perrine Toledano | Ben Baraga | Christophe Bondy | Scot Anderson | Lawrence M. Dechambenoit | Nneoma Veronica Nwogu | Vanessa Rivas Plata Saldarriaga | Ignacio Bustamante | Antonio Pedro | Salli Swartz | Joseph Tato | Amir Shaikh | Columbia Law School | Columbia Climate School

Join us for an enlightening conversation on critical minerals governance! We’re pleased to announce a four-part speaker series on Critical Minerals Governance with the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI). The first session, "Striking the Right Balance Between Regulatory Stability and Regulatory Flexibility," will take place on Wednesday, April 9, at 9:00 a.m. EDT / 2:00 p.m. BST. As the world accelerates towards a sustainable energy future, the balance between regulatory stability and flexibility in the mining sector has never been more crucial. Mining investors seek consistency to justify substantial, long-term investments, while host states must adapt regulations to maximize benefits, protect the environment, and meet climate goals. Join this panel of distinguished speakers: • Scot Anderson, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson • Lawrence Dechambenoit, Global Head of External Affairs at Rio Tinto • Nneoma Nwogu, Senior Counsel at the World Bank Group • Vanessa Rivas Plata, Former President, Special Commission that Represents Peru in International Investment Disputes Click the following link for more information and to register: https://lnkd.in/eMPfdtHJ

📣 Limited Spots Remaining for our Executive Training on Extractive Industries and Sustainable Development (EISD) 📣 Industry professionals, policymakers, and civil society advocates: Join us for the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment's 13th annual EISD training from June 2-13, 2025! 🌍 ⛏️ This comprehensive two-week virtual program equips participants with practical knowledge to enhance the contribution of extractive industries to sustainable development goals. What you'll explore: - Fiscal frameworks and revenue management - Environmental protection strategies - Climate change considerations in mining - Sustainable development principles for resource governance Program highlights: - Live interactive sessions with industry experts - Practical case studies and collaborative learning - Applied analytical frameworks - Statement of Attendance from Columbia University 🚨 Applications are due April 30, 2025. 🚨 For more information: https://lnkd.in/e_grBZBE #EISD2025 #Sustainability #Mining #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateAction Lisa Sachs | Perrine Toledano | Martin Dietrich Brauch | Ben Baraga | Laura Garcia Cancino | Lara Wallis | Esther Akwii | Saleem H. Ali | Leila Kazemi | Tom Mitro | Antonio Pedro | Andrew Bauer | Perrine Toledano | Cristina Maria Villegas | Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment | Columbia Law School | Columbia Climate School | Sabin Center for Climate Change Law | Columbia Engineering | Columbia Global Center Santiago | Columbia Global Center Amman (CGC Amman) | Columbia Global Centers Nairobi | Columbia Global Center Rio

In Decarbonization: Policies and Practices for Countries and Companies, our spring 2025 Professional Learning workshop (Tuesdays Apr 15-May 27), Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment experts Martin Dietrich Brauch and Laura Garcia Cancino will explore the policy, financial, and technological dimensions of decarbonization; real-world case studies on critical minerals, heavy industry, and oil & gas; and the role of governments, markets, and international law in shaping decarbonization pathways. 🎥 Watch info session: https://lnkd.in/eXkZSVnk ➡️ Register: https://lnkd.in/ehr5wa_p Columbia Climate School's Professional Learning workshops are for working professionals and adult learners who want to further job-related interests without the commitment of a degree program. Our programs will expand your knowledge and prepare you to understand, analyze, and apply cutting-edge research to the complex problem of our changing climate.

Third-party funding in #ISDS remains a largely opaque practice, despite its growing influence on critical areas of public interest like climate action and environmental protection. In this recent article on The Guardian, Lisa Sachs sheds light on the implications of ISDS for global governance. At its core, the problem isn’t just third-party funding—it’s the ISDS system itself. This mechanism allows investors to challenge critical regulations on climate action, public health, and essential services, not in open courts, but before private arbitration panels riddled with conflicts of interest. Third-party financing only makes a bad system worse by deepening resource asymmetries. It tilts the playing field even further, widening resource gaps, shaping legal strategies, and driving up billion-dollar claims that put public policy at risk. CCSI has explored these policy concerns in a previous analysis: examined these issues in depth, and as recent cases show, the stakes have never been higher.    Third-party financing further distorts this system by deepening resource asymmetries, influencing case strategies, and incentivizing larger claims and speculative settlements. CCSI explored these policy concerns in a previous analysis: https://lnkd.in/e5unWNk6, and recent billion-dollar ISDS claims reinforce the urgency of addressing these challenges. Read the full article on The Guardian: https://lnkd.in/eBwf2JFj

Looking to navigate the complex world of international investment treaties and arbitration? Applications are open for our annual Executive Training on Investment Treaties and Arbitration for Government Officials, which will be held virtually, 9:00 am-11:30 am EDT, from September 8-12, 2025. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/efhsiVJz This course is designed for government officials facing complex and pressing issues relating to international investment treaties, including the consideration of unilateral and multilateral reform options. The course will address: 🔷 States’ objectives in their investment policy 🔷 Links between treaties, investment flows, and development objectives 🔷 Investor-state dispute settlement, and the concerns of states  🔷 Trends and developments in treaty practice 🔷 Opportunities and challenges facing governments in treaty reform,  🔷 And other approaches to investment governance, including dispute prevention and alternatives to ISDS. Through five 2.5 hour online sessions, government officials will gain a broad knowledge of investment treaty practice and governance and how new developments in the field apply to their own national governance structures and existing agreements, better equipping them to navigate this complex and continuously evolving field. Please visit our website to apply by July 14, 2025!  Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. https://lnkd.in/efhsiVJz

Attention mining sector policymakers, industry practitioners, and civil society stakeholders! 🌍⛏️ Looking to take your knowledge of mining governance and sustainable development to the next level? Join us for the 13th annual Executive Training on Extractive Industries and Sustainable Development (EISD) from June 2–13, 2025! 🎓📈https://lnkd.in/e_grBZBE This immersive two-week virtual course, offered by the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, is designed to equip professionals with the skills and tools needed to maximize the contributions of extractive industries to sustainable development. 🛠️💡 Key benefits of EISD: 🔍 In-depth exploration of critical topics like fiscal frameworks, revenue management, environmental protection, and the intersection of extractive industries and climate change. 💬 Interactive live sessions, case studies, and engagement with global experts and peers. 🌐 Practical application of analytical tools and frameworks to real-world contexts. 🎖️ Statement of Attendance from Columbia University upon completion. Apply now and join a global community of changemakers driving sustainable development in the extractive industries. 🌿🤝 Learn more and apply by April 30, 2025: https://lnkd.in/e_grBZBE #EISD2025 #Sustainability #Mining #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateAction Lisa Sachs | Perrine Toledano | Martin Dietrich Brauch | Ben Baraga | Laura Garcia Cancino | Lara Wallis | Esther Akwii | Saleem H. Ali | Leila Kazemi | Tom Mitro | Antonio Pedro | Andrew Bauer | Perrine Toledano | Cristina Maria Villegas | Columbia Law School | Columbia Climate School | Sabin Center for Climate Change Law | Columbia Engineering | Columbia Global Centers

#ICYMI: Watch the recording from our info session on the upcoming @Columbia Climate School professional learning workshop #Decarbonization: Policies and Practices for Countries and Companies. The workshop runs from April 15 to May 27, every Tuesday evening, and is led by CCSI's Martin Dietrich Brauch and Laura Garcia Cancino. A big thank you to everyone who joined the session! 📌 Register here: https://lnkd.in/e5zPPbJk

Covered a lot of ground with Paul Ellis in our fun discussion! -      Why we should distinguish the defections from the climate alliances, the US withdrawal from NGFS, and the anti-ESG shenanigans … these developments often get grouped together as part of a climate retreat but each trend and its implications really should be understood separately. -      How the unfortunately incoherent approach to climate and energy finance in the US differs from the approach and investments in the rest of the world. -      The challenges and opportunities of investing in emerging markets. EMDEs present tremendous investment opportunities and are poised for more growth than any developed country. We discuss the structural constraints to mobilizing finance in EMDEs and how they can be addressed. -      And Columbia Climate School’s new MS in Climate Finance!  Despite the political moment in the US, the energy transition continues apace and businesses, financial institutions, and public organizations all increasingly require new approaches to navigate climate-related risks and opportunities. Our graduates will be uniquely placed to navigate organizations to success while supporting a more rigorous and coherent approach to climate finance more generally. Universities are uniquely placed to integrate rigorous evidence-based research, convening and engagement, and teaching the next generation of practitioners who are investing in our future. It's a privilege to learn and work with my colleagues at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, and our partners around the world in the public and private sectors. Thank you, Paul, for the great discussion!

🎓 Ready to take your knowledge of extractive industries and sustainable development to the next level? Join us for the 13th annual Executive Training on Extractive Industries and Sustainable Development (EISD) from June 2–13, 2025! 🎓📈https://lnkd.in/e_grBZBE This immersive two-week virtual course, offered by the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, is designed to equip professionals with the skills and tools needed to maximize the contributions of extractive industries to sustainable development. 🛠️💡 Key benefits of EISD: 🔍 In-depth exploration of critical topics like fiscal frameworks, revenue management, environmental protection, and the intersection of extractive industries and climate change. 💬 Interactive live sessions, case studies, and engagement with global experts and peers. 🌐 Practical application of analytical tools and frameworks to real-world contexts. 🎖️ Statement of Attendance from Columbia University upon completion. If you've begun our MOOC on Mining and Materials for Sustainable Development Transformations and want to dive deeper, the EISD Executive Training is the perfect next step! 🚀 Apply now and join a global community of changemakers driving sustainable development in the extractive industries. 🌿🤝 Learn more and apply by April 30, 2025: https://lnkd.in/e_grBZBE ⚡ #CCSIonJustEnergyTransition 🚧 #CCSIonMiningGovernance ⛏️ #CCSIonCriticalMinerals Lisa Sachs | Perrine Toledano | Martin Dietrich Brauch | Ben Baraga | Laura Garcia Cancino | Esther Akwii | Saleem H. Ali | Leila Kazemi | Tom Mitro | Antonio Pedro | Andrew Bauer | Perrine Toledano | Cristina Maria Villegas | Lara Wallis | Columbia Law School | Columbia Climate School | Sabin Center for Climate Change Law | Columbia Engineering | Columbia Global Centers