New Chief Climate Officer, Deputy Chief Climate Officer will focus agency efforts on climate-focused investments
WASHINGTON – U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) today announced the agency’s first-ever dedicated senior officials focused on climate. Specifically, DFC has appointed Jake Levine as Chief Climate Officer (CCO) and Aparna Shrivastava as Deputy Chief Climate Officer. As CCO, Mr. Levine will lead DFC’s efforts to confront the climate crisis, including leading execution of the agency’s recently announced plan to reach net zero emissions by 2040 and increase new climate-focused investments by 33 percent beginning in FY 2023. Ms. Shrivastava will help lead and coordinate DFC’s climate efforts with the interagency, and integrate a climate focus throughout all of the agency’s lines of operation.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jake and Aparna to DFC at such a critical time for the agency, as we commit to reach net zero by 2040 and pledge to increase our climate investments,” said DFC Chief Operating Officer David Marchick. “These extraordinary professionals bring significant expertise and leadership to DFC and will lead our efforts to implement and advance President Biden’s Climate Finance Plan.”
Jake Levine most recently served as an attorney at Covington & Burling, advising clients on a broad range of policy, regulatory, litigation, and commercial matters related to climate, clean energy, and clean air. Prior to joining Covington, Levine was Senior Counsel and Principal Consultant to California State Senator Fran Pavley, where he led the successful campaign to draft, design, and enact landmark climate and environmental justice legislation in California. Mr. Levine also served as Chief of Staff to the President of Opower, Inc. (Oracle Utilities), a software firm that uses big data and behavioral science technology to help consumers save energy. Mr. Levine serves on the Board of Grid Alternatives of Los Angeles, a non-profit focused on creating jobs in the clean energy transition, and as Advisor to the California Climate Action Corps, a statewide service corps focused on climate resilience in underserved communities across California.
Aparna Shrivastava is a climate adaptation and international development specialist with a decade of experience in sustainable development and humanitarian work across East Africa, Central America, and South and Southeast Asia. Most recently she has worked at the intersection of climate change and finance to support developing countries. Prior to joining DFC, Aparna worked as the Climate Finance Lead at Mercy Corps where she oversaw a wide range of efforts including adaptation finance research and development, private sector engagement, and high level representation at COP24 and COP25. Along with serving on a technical expert group on UN Climate Change, she is the strategic director of a renewable energy investment group, Fettl, serving emerging markets.
Mr. Levine and Ms. Shrivastava join DFC following President Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate where the White House announced new, coordinated climate action deliverables across the U.S. government, including through the U.S. Climate Finance Plan, which identified DFC as a central agency in executing U.S. international action given the agency’s development mandate and unique financing tools.
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U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is America’s development bank. DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. We invest across sectors including energy, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and technology. DFC also provides financing for small businesses and women entrepreneurs in order to create jobs in emerging markets. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights.