![](https://assets.weforum.org/article/image/NGXjrzE72d6sxNDJ-Hop-pG-nXhsg7bipfCwLLnAzEc.jpg)
3 actions to accelerate emerging market climate transition
Emerging market and developing economies account for over 95% of the increase in GHG emissions. Huge investment is needed to cut emissions and tackle climate change.
Senior Fellow, Program on International Financial Systems
Most recently (through Oct 2022) Don was the Chairman of Prudential Insurance Growth Markets, and the Chairman of Prudence Foundation, the community engagement arm of Prudential in Asia and Africa. From 2008 through 2015, Don served as Chairman of Prudential Corporation Asia. From 2012 to November 2020, Don was Chairman of Eastspring Investments, the asset management organisation of Prudential plc. From 1992 to January 2006, Don held a number of senior positions at American International Group (AIG), ultimately AIG’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to his career in insurance and investment, Don was a partner of an international strategy consulting firm.
2017-2022 Don was member of the Steering Group of the Sustainable Development Investment Partnership (SDIP), a joint venture between the World Economic Forum and the OECD, and co-chair of the SDIP’s ASEAN Hub. In 2011-12, Don chaired the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Insurance and Asset Management. He has been a member of other Forum councils, including councils on social security systems, South East Asia/ASEAN, and SDG Investments.
Don is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; a Director and Senior Fellow of the Program on International Financial Systems, which is affiliated with the Harvard Law School; a board member of the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council; and a member of the National Council of WWF-U.S. He was also a member of the United Nations Global Environment Facility’s Technical Advisory Group on its 2014-2018 climate change mitigation strategy. From 2016 through June 2022, Don served as Chairman of the EU-ASEAN Business Council, the primary voice for European businesses within the ASEAN region.
Don holds a J.D. with honours from Harvard Law School, an M.Litt in Management Studies from University of Oxford (U.K.), a B.A. with highest honors in economics from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designations from the American College.
Emerging market and developing economies account for over 95% of the increase in GHG emissions. Huge investment is needed to cut emissions and tackle climate change.
Energy transition mechanisms could be a way to facilitate the necessary shift from coal to renewables in the developing world. Here's how they work.
Around 70% of existing coal capacity is in China, India and 20 other developing countries. Here's how they can phase out coal power and go green instead.