Arun Krishnan

Arun Krishnan is a leading climate finance expert and sustainable infrastructure strategist currently serving as Program Director – Climate Finance at WRI India (World Resources Institute India). With over 15 years of experience in climate finance, infrastructure advisory, project finance, and public policy, he has established himself as one of India’s foremost professionals working at the intersection of finance, climate action, and sustainable urban development.

At WRI India, Arun leads the organization’s Climate Finance program, focusing on mobilizing public and private capital to accelerate India’s transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. His work spans innovative financing mechanisms for sustainable cities, clean mobility, renewable energy, climate adaptation, and resilient infrastructure. He collaborates closely with governments, multilateral institutions, financial institutions, investors, and the private sector to develop scalable financial solutions that support India’s climate commitments and sustainable development goals.

Before joining WRI India, Arun headed the India program of the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance at the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), where he led the development and implementation of innovative climate finance instruments designed to unlock private investment for clean energy and sustainable infrastructure. He also directed CPI India’s urban infrastructure and transport portfolio, contributing to several landmark initiatives in sustainable mobility and infrastructure financing. Earlier in his career, he worked with leading consulting firms, advising governments and private sector organizations on project finance, public-private partnerships (PPPs), infrastructure strategy, and policy development for major urban infrastructure projects, including transport systems and airports.

An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad) with a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Anna University, Chennai, Arun also holds the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) certification from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). His multidisciplinary expertise combines financial innovation, climate risk management, infrastructure development, and sustainability strategy, enabling him to bridge policy objectives with investment opportunities.

Beyond his institutional responsibilities, Arun is a respected speaker, mentor, and educator. He has served as a visiting faculty member at institutions including IIM Kashipur and IIM Shillong, mentoring over a thousand students and professionals in climate finance, public policy, infrastructure, and sustainability. He regularly speaks at national and international forums on green finance, climate investment, sustainable mobility, and urban resilience, contributing to policy dialogue and capacity building across the climate ecosystem.

Through his leadership at WRI India, Arun Krishnan continues to advance innovative climate finance solutions that catalyze investment in sustainable infrastructure, clean transportation, and resilient cities. His work plays a critical role in strengthening India’s climate finance architecture while helping governments and businesses accelerate the transition toward an inclusive, low-carbon, and climate-resilient future.