The private sector is increasingly engaged in the climate change issue as it has become clear that climate risks potentially affect financial markets and solutions to climate change will require a response from those quarters. The purpose of this book is to contribute to new areas of research by examining the role of the private sector in addressing the challenges of climate change. Amongst the issues explored are: - the risks posed by climate change to private investment in critical infrastructure, - the potential effectiveness of financial instruments for mitigating climate risks - the cost of developing a long-term solution through clean energy infrastructure, - the capacity of capital markets to finance clean energy infrastructure on necessary scale - the potential for climate change to cause bankruptcy of firms and market collapse Until recently, both academic and policy circles, nationally and internationally, have ignored the critical role the private sector and financial system must play in addressing climate change.

1. Energy and Climate Change: Challenges of the Twenty-first Century 2. Capital Markets' Capacity to Finance Carbon Neutral Infrastructure 3. Climate Change Risks 4. Climate Risks to Financing Infrastructure 5. Financial Instruments for Managing Climate Risk 6. Evaluating the Clean Development Mechanism for Financing Carbon Neutral Energy Infrastructure 7. Storm Effects on Utilities and the Energy Sector 8. The Effect of Natural Catastrophic Events on the Insurance Industry 9. Results and Policy