Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe

Climate Finance Associate

Bio

Niranjali ("Nira") is a Climate Finance Associate in the Sustainable Finance Center. She is an international environmental lawyer with expertise in climate change, human rights, forest governance, and coal finance. Niranjali leads WRI’s international policy work related to the Green Climate Fund and supports work to strengthen the capacity of national institutions to meet international standards and access finance. Her work focuses on ensuring that climate finance is used effectively and does not cause harm to people and the environment.

Prior to joining WRI, Niranjali directed the Climate & Energy Program at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). She has extensive experience with international climate negotiations, including forest and land-use (such as REDD+), legal form and compliance, and the intersection of climate change and human rights. In the context of climate finance, Niranjali has worked to improve accountability, and environmental and social protections, in the Green Climate Fund. Her work at CIEL also involved leading the development of legal strategies to shift financial flows away from fossil fuel investments.

Niranjali has an LL.M in International and Comparative Law from the George Washington University Law School, and an LL.B from the University of Bristol. She was born and raised in Sri Lanka, and has a great love of music.

Blog Posts

Fact-Checking Trump on Climate Finance
by Joe Thwaites and Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe - June 05, 2017
When President Donald Trump announced his intention to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement, he had plenty to say about international climate funding. Much of it was simply inaccurate.
The Climate Finance Architecture the World Needs
by Joe Thwaites and Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe - March 10, 2017
Over the past 25 years, dozens of national, regional and international climate funds have emerged, creating a confusing system. New WRI research offers recommendations to more effectively attract and disburse climate finance.
Steely Determination Brings Progress at Climate Talks in Marrakech
by Paula Caballero, David Waskow, Yamide Dagnet, Cynthia Elliott, Eliza Northrop, Joe Thwaites and Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe - November 19, 2016
Nearly a year ago in Paris, the world came together around a historic climate agreement that affirmed the global community's commitment to shift to a zero-carbon economy. By the end of this month's climate summit in Marrakech, more than 100 countries representing over 75 percent of global emissions had formally joined that Agreement.
INSIDER: 3 Takeaways from the Green Climate Fund Meeting
by Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe and Gaia Larsen - October 24, 2016
Last week, the Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) convened in Songdo for its penultimate meeting in 2016. As the biggest multilateral climate fund to date, the GCF has a vital role to play in delivering on the goals...
5 Climate Finance Issues to Watch at Marrakech
by Joe Thwaites and Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe - October 14, 2016
Finance is always a hot topic at climate negotiations, and this year's COP22 is no exception. Here are five key climate issues to watch at the Marrakech meeting in November.
INSIDER: How the GCF Could Support Implementation of the Paris Agreement
by Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe and Gaia Larsen - June 27, 2016
Insider blogs offer timely, specialized analysis for experts on key topics.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF), the largest dedicated international climate fund, is expected to channel billions of dollars to help developing countries combat climate change. It is one of...
INSIDER: What’s on the Line at the Latest GCF Board Discussion?
by Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe and Athena Ballesteros - February 01, 2016
Last December in Paris, 195 countries came together and adopted a landmark agreement on climate change. The Paris Agreement is significant for a number of reasons, not least of which is the direction it provides on climate finance. It...
What Does the Paris Agreement Mean for Climate Resilience and Adaptation?
by Kathleen Mogelgaard, Heather McGray and Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe - December 23, 2015
The new Paris Agreement places unprecedented importance on actions needed to help people adapt to a warmer world, and solidifies expectations that all countries will do their part to promote greater climate resilience.
What Does the Paris Agreement Do for Finance?
by Joe Thwaites, Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe and Athena Ballesteros - December 18, 2015
Delivering on the Paris Agreement will require significant investment and finance. The Agreement made four big strides forward to scale up climate finance, but questions remain.
COP21 Q&A: What Role Does Finance Play in the Paris Outcome?
by Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe, Joe Thwaites and Athena Ballesteros - December 09, 2015
Experts explain how the Paris Agreement can send a strong signal that the most vulnerable countries will be supported, and that investors need to align portfolios for the inevitable zero-carbon future.

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Niranjali Manel Amerasinghe

Fact-Checking Trump on Climate Finance

The Climate Finance Architecture the World Needs

Steely Determination Brings Progress at Climate Talks in Marrakech

INSIDER: 3 Takeaways from the Green Climate Fund Meeting

5 Climate Finance Issues to Watch at Marrakech

INSIDER: How the GCF Could Support Implementation of the Paris Agreement

INSIDER: What’s on the Line at the Latest GCF Board Discussion?

What Does the Paris Agreement Mean for Climate Resilience and Adaptation?

What Does the Paris Agreement Do for Finance?

COP21 Q&A: What Role Does Finance Play in the Paris Outcome?

Future of the Funds: Exploring the Architecture of Multilateral Climate Finance

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