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Nazrin Abdul

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In response to Azernews' inquiry, Thomas Debass, Managing Director of the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Partnerships, shared insights into the growing role of the private sector in addressing global climate challenges.

A key focus of his remarks was the Coalition for Climate Entrepreneurship, a U.S.-led initiative designed to foster collaboration between the private sector, NGOs, and academia to create innovative solutions for climate resilience and adaptation.

The initiative, which currently operates nine hubs around the world, has become a focal point for fostering global partnerships to tackle climate change through entrepreneurship. These hubs are designed to support startups and entrepreneurs focused on sustainable solutions, as well as to facilitate workforce development programs aligned with climate goals.

“The U.S. has the most dynamic private sector, both in terms of resources and global reach,” Debass explained during the interview. “In the past four years, we’ve been able to engage key players across industries, from tech giants like Google, NVIDIA, and Salesforce, to smaller startups and academic institutions. It’s a collaborative effort with a shared vision: to address climate change and create impactful solutions through innovation.”

The hubs are located in diverse regions, including Morocco, Kenya, Ghana, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Jamaica, Vietnam, and the United States (San Francisco/Silicon Valley), which acts as a coordinating point for the international network. These hubs aim to cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem dedicated to climate action, with a focus on adaptation, resilience, and new technologies. However, as the initiative expands, Debass acknowledged the possibility of setting up new hubs to meet regional needs.

When asked about the potential for establishing a hub in Azerbaijan, Debass responded positively, noting that while there isn’t yet a hub in the region, the idea would be open for exploration. “We would be happy to explore the possibility of a hub in Azerbaijan,” he said. “These hubs are intended to be regional, and although we don’t have one in that particular area yet, it’s something we could definitely look into. The key is that these hubs are driven by private sector engagement, and we want to see organic interest and collaboration from the local business community.”

Debass emphasized that the creation of such hubs is not a top-down initiative but rather a collaborative effort. "It’s not just about what the U.S. government can do. It’s about what the private sector can bring to the table," he said. “The success of our current hubs will serve as a model, and if there is strong interest from the private sector in Azerbaijan, we would be excited to explore how to make that happen.”

While the focus is currently on ensuring the effectiveness and impact of the existing hubs, Debass expressed confidence that the initiative will continue to expand globally, especially as lessons are learned from the ongoing hubs. “We’re still in the process of seeing what these hubs can deliver, but we are optimistic that they will be an important catalyst for scaling up solutions to the climate crisis,” he concluded.

The U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Partnerships remains committed to fostering public-private collaborations to address climate change, with a focus on leveraging the power of entrepreneurship to create sustainable, impactful change. As the conversation on global climate solutions continues to evolve, the role of regional hubs and private sector partnerships will be crucial in meeting ambitious climate goals.