REI Alumni Spotlight – Global Environment Facility

GMC Certificate Achievers & REI Alumni Spotlight

The Global Environment Facility, Filippo Berardi

The REI Accredited Center is pleased to focus on the achievements of those who have attended REI courses and achieved the internationally recognized Galileo Master Certificate to further their careers in the Green Energy sector. The REI this month is delighted to speak with Filippo Berardi, of international financing organization the Global Environment Facility, who attended the Electric Vehicles course at The George Washington University. Filippo joined the REI’s network of course participants from over 140 countries worldwide, including delegates from IBM, General Motors and the World Bank. The Electric Vehicles course is held regularly at the University of London in the United Kingdom, at the George Washington University in Washington D.C. and in New York City, USA.

“I would recommend this course to any energy sector practitioner that looks to enter the e-mobility space.”

– Global Environment Facility, Filippo Berardi

1. Hi Filippo, what is your current expertise and how does this relate to the Green Energy field?

I have a somewhat atypical background for a green energy professional, as I have a Law Degree, with a focus on international environmental law, and an MSc in Environmental Technology. I worked many years in carbon finance, developing Clean Development Projects (CDM) for carbon finance firm EcoSecurities and later joined JP Morgan investment bank’s arm. More recently, I was climate finance specialist at the InterAmerican Development Bank, where I coordinated a portfolio of funding proposals for the Green Climate Fund. I now lead the Climate Mitigation Team at the Global Environment Facility, where we have a large program envelope to support countries that want to transition to e-mobility.

2. Why did you choose to train with the REI Accredited Center at the George Washington University and take the exam for the internationally recognized Galileo Master Certificate?

At the GEF we recognise that the transport sector needs to be deeply decarbonized if we are to remain in line with the trajectory demanded by the Paris Agreement. To this end, the transition to low carbon and carbon neutral transportation systems has been given a significant funding endowment within the GEF last replenishment cycle. Considering the GEF’s Secretariat role in the assessment and review of funding proposals developed by the GEF Agencies for the countries we work with, it was very important to have access to a complete and up-to-date set of information regarding the e-mobility market – this is why I decided to sign up to the REI Electric Vehicles course.

“It was very important to have access to a complete and up-to-date set of information regarding the e-mobility market – this is why I decided to sign up to the REI Electric Vehicles course.”

– Global Environment Facility, Filippo Berardi

3. What are the skills that you gained with the REI Accredited Center?

The REI course was well structured, and the lecturer was obviously extremely knowledgeable about the different aspects of electric mobility. The course was good in providing a foundational overview of the vehicle and charging infrastructure technologies, the interaction and integration with the electric grid, the market dynamics and future trends and the environmental benefits compared to internal combustion engines, including with regards to the potential contribution to the transport sector’s decarbonization.

4. How will you apply these skills to your career, either directly or indirectly?

I expect to be able to apply the skills developed from the course directly in my job as I review project proposals in this field. I would recommend this course to any energy sector practitioner that looks to enter the e-mobility space.