The need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and move towards low-carbon alternatives was a key feature of the UN's recent climate change report.
A commonly cited statistic is that we need to invest $1tn by 2030 to finance the low-carbon technologies required to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.
But investment in renewable energy has been falling, not rising, for the past few years. Globally it dipped 12% to $254bn last year, a long way from a high of $318bn in 2011. Part of the decline has been attributed to the fall in the cost of solar, but other factors at play include policy uncertainty, which is leading to more cautious investment approach.
So how can the huge pools of investment that are needed be unlocked? Join our panel of experts for a live chat on this topic Thursday, 3 July, 1-2:30pm BST (8-9:30am ET). We'll be taking your questions on a wide range of topics, including:
• How can we establish the business and social case for investment in renewables?
• What incentives are needed to increase funding for clean energy from banks, venture capitalists, private equity firms and retail investors?
• Could the rise of crowdfunding give renewables a needed boost? What progress has been made and what's holding it back?
• What lessons can we learn from around the world? A quarter of Germany's energy comes from renewables and half of that capacity is owned by individuals. And last year, China invested more in renewables than the whole of Europe combined.
Panelists
Jenny Chase - manager of Solar Insight at Bloomberg New Energy Finance
Emma Howard Boyd - former director stewardship of Jupiter AM, independent member of the Environment Agency Board and member of the 30% Club steering committee
Bruce Davis - founder and retail director of Abundance Generation
Paul Monaghan - sustainability advisor, Co-operative Energy
Will Ritzrau - head of sustainable strategy at SAP
Chhavi Sharma - international programme manager, Ashden
Ben Warren - global cleantech transactions leader and the UK&I environmental finance leader at EY
How to join
The live chat is completely text based and will take place on this page in the comments section below, kicking off on 3 July, 1-2:30pm BST (8-9:30am ET). You can submit any questions in advance using the form below, or tweet them to @GuardianSustBiz using #askGSB and we'll put them to the panel on the day.
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