TED Talks Daily The purity test that's killing clean energy | Riddhima Yadav
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Jan 27, 2026 
Riddhima Yadav, a finance innovator who mobilizes capital for the energy transition, argues for pragmatic engagement with high-emitting industries. She challenges perfectionism in climate investing. She explains how funding heavy emitters and emerging markets can speed decarbonization. She calls for trust-building and realistic finance to unlock large-scale clean growth.
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Spectrum, Not Binary, For Climate Finance
- Climate finance is stuck because investors treat opportunities as binary 'green' or 'gray' instead of a spectrum.
- Riddhima Yadav argues we must engage across 50 shades of green to scale capital quickly.
Money, Not Just Rules, Drives The Transition
- Financing clean growth requires real money at scale, not just standards and frameworks.
- Yadav notes we invested $1T/year but need $3.5T/year through 2050 to meet goals.
Buy Assets To Accelerate Phase-Outs
- Investors should buy coal assets and accelerate phase-out while capturing returns from falling renewable costs.
- This approach can reduce emissions, lower costs, and protect ratepayers.