Q&A: Climate leaders with answers

Frannie Leautier is the CEO of SouthBridge Investments and a former Vice-President at the World Bank. She is the co-author of the newly launched book “Financing Nature.” SouthBridge announced investment in DRC and Ghana at COP28.

Q: What’s the climate-change book you would most recommend? A: Not a book on climate change, as such, but still an excellent book for thinking about the world we live in is “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari.

Q: If you were to pick one African country to visit because of its impressive green agenda, which would it be? A: I would have to say Rwanda, particularly their forestry. They've done tremendously well on greening investing and preparing the country for a climate future.

Q: What’s your earliest personal memory of the climate crisis? A: When I was in secondary school in Korogwe Tanzania, some very heavy rains washed away an entire series of villages and many people died. I was about 13 years old and we were asked to go and help dig people and animals out. A very personal, very powerful memory.

Q: What’s the most recent change you’ve achieved in your own life to address the climate crisis? A: I gave up having cars six years ago, so I don't own one. I walk or take public transportation. Or if I have to, then I take electric Ubers, unless they're not available. Secondly, my home works on clean renewable energy. And then I don't eat meat, which saves a lot of carbon.