Climate action leader South Pole has appointed Mahua Acharya to its Board of Directors, chaired by co-founder Dr. Christoph Grobbel.
Ms. Acharya brings with her nearly two decades of international experience in climate finance and carbon markets. As an internationally recognised expert in the industry, she currently serves as Asia Director of the Climate Policy Initiative. Previously, she was the Assistant Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute, where she put green finance on the organisation's corporate agenda. In less than three years, this practice mobilized $500 million for sustainable investment projects in Asia and Africa.
Ms. Acharya has held roles in the private sector as well – as the Managing Director of C-Quest Capital LLC where she ran a national level program at scale financing energy efficiency projects in India. She has also held notable positions at the World Bank. She holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Yale University.
"South Pole is a unique organization – managed by dynamic leaders and entrepreneurs, having not just weathered the 'carbon markets storm' of the last few years, but also emerged as a strong and solid player now perfectly positioned to deepen its roots across the world. South Pole has the perfect mix of creativity, experience and reach to make this happen, and I am very excited at the opportunity of being able to add value to the Board. I look forward to working with Renat, Christoph and other Board members to help take South Pole to the next level – a globally recognized, interdisciplinary, climate change organization able to cater to different needs and speak different languages", said Mahua Acharya, Board Member, South Pole.
"Having Mahua on Board, both figuratively and literally, makes us a stronger company. At South Pole, we partner with companies, investors and governments to channel climate finance to projects for transformational change. For that to happen, we need strategic guidance from a Board of visionaries and exceptional personalities like Mahua. She will underscore the global presence of South Pole and enhance our understanding of issues in the developing world. This understanding is key, as our work is not only to mitigate emissions and adapt to global warming, but also to reduce the inequalities caused by a changing climate", said Renat Heuberger, CEO, South Pole.
South Pole has actively shaped the carbon finance conversation ever since its creation in 2006 by five aspiring 'enviropreneurs'. Initially focused on developing high-quality carbon credits, the company today is an internationally recognised authority on climate strategy and action, guiding companies and governments along their Climate Journey towards carbon neutrality, and the world's leading developer of projects that reduce emissions in areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable land-use.
Ms Acharya will join current board members Heinz Haller, Michael Pola, Dr. Matthias Bichsel and Piers Cumberlege.