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Profile: Mandy Rambharos (EDF)

A significant increase in the number of extremely hot days. Far more frequent floods. Coastal erosion. Coral bleaching and die-off. For Trinidad and Tobago, the impacts of climate change are severe. “At the same time, we are unprepared for it in many respects,” says Kristin Qui, who lives in this Caribbean island state. “For example, our drainage systems collapse when flooding occurs.”

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Christiane Weihe

Climate action will require thousands of billions of dollars, says Mandy Rambharos. And what’s more, these funds are unobtainable without carbon markets. “These markets are the vehicle by which we can integrate the private sector in essential processes of transition and through which companies can make a credible financial contribution to climate action,” Mandy Rambharos explains. The funds are needed urgently for investment in renewables and development of infrastructure in the Global South.

“Climate action needs to be not only environmentally and economically worthwhile, but also socially just – particularly with a view to the communities in the countries in which action is taken.”

Responsible for global climate cooperation at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Mandy Rambharos is working hard to safeguard high quality in voluntary carbon markets, including social aspects. “To that end, we have developed a framework which, for instance, charts how local stakeholders can be empowered to participate in climate action. Part of a successful approach is to consult with local communities before a project begins. But it also has to do with tangible involvement, which may, in turn, require retraining and upskilling activities.” The reason is that thousands of billions of dollars must not only be disbursed, but deployed effectively.

Further information

Mandy Rambharos
Vice President: Global Climate Cooperation
Environmental Defense Fund

Mail: mrambharos@edf.org
Web: www.edf.org

Mandy Rambharos worked for twenty-four years for South African energy utility Eskom – tackling issues of sustainable development from the outset. From 2019 to 2022 she concentrated on its  just energy transition strategy. With her team she led the development of a strategy for Africa’s largest electric utility to transition the South African electricity sector from coal to renewables.

In October 2022 Mandy Rambharos joined Environmental Defense Fund EDF. As Vice President, Global Climate Cooperation, Mandy leads EDF’s work to promote more ambitious and effective global climate action, including at the United Nations climate talks. Prior to joining EDF, Mandy was a negotiator for South Africa at the talks, where she was involved in the negotiations on Paris Agreement Article 6. One of the focuses of her work at EDF is on voluntary carbon markets and how they can boost climate action without disadvantaging marginalised communities.

Moreover, the energy expert is a member of the Board of the South African National Business Initiative (NBI) and is on the Board of VERRA, the world’s leading carbon crediting programme. She is also a member of the technical council of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).