Emmanuel Lagarrigue on Climate Investing Today

In this episode of Columbia Energy Exchange, Jason Bordoff interviews Emmanuel Lagarrigue, partner and global co-head of KKR's climate transition strategy, about climate transition and energy investments. Lagarrigue draws on his extensive industrial background at Schneider Electric to discuss KKR's investment approach, emphasizing the importance of understanding supply chains and creating economic value alongside decarbonization. He critiques the climate movement's past over-optimism and virtue signaling, advocating for energy sovereignty, affordability, and secure supply chains. Lagarrigue identifies opportunities in solar, EV electrification (particularly commercial fleets), heating, and critical mineral supply chains, while cautioning against overhyped areas like the hydrogen economy. The conversation also covers the impact of policy changes, geopolitical risks, and regional differences in energy markets, with a focus on balancing decarbonization with economic realities and energy security.