Mikkel Larsen, who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 50, was a rare breed of executive: a practical idealist who believed that finance could be harnessed to heal the planet. As the former Chief Executive Officer of Climate Impact X (CIX), a Singapore-based carbon exchange, he worked to bring integrity and credibility to voluntary carbon markets. His ambition was grand yet grounded: to create a world where financial flows aligned with nature’s needs, and where conservation and commerce could coexist.
Larsen’s journey in the financial world began at KPMG in Denmark before taking him through the corridors of Citigroup and UBS in London and Hong Kong. But it was at DBS Bank in Singapore, where he served as Group Chief Sustainability Officer, that his vision crystallized. There, he championed nature-based solutions and saw firsthand the potential of carbon markets to drive meaningful change. Leaving his secure position at Southeast Asia’s largest bank, he took a leap of faith to lead CIX, convinced that well-structured carbon markets could make a difference at scale.
As an early pioneer of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and Singapore’s Emerging Stronger Taskforce, Larsen had a keen eye on the bigger picture. He worked to position Singapore as a global hub for climate services, understanding that transparency and integrity were essential to building trust in the nascent carbon trading industry. His leadership extended to international sustainability councils and advisory roles at institutions like the
World Wildlife Fund, BirdLife International, and the WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Yet beyond boardrooms and strategy sessions, Larsen’s passions ran deep. An advocate for animal rights, he often spoke of the interconnectedness between reducing meat consumption and mitigating climate change. He lived his values—embracing a vegan lifestyle, limiting air travel, and championing sustainable living in one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities.
Tributes from colleagues paint a portrait of a man who was kind to a fault, principled yet pragmatic, and deeply committed to the causes he championed. In the words of a former colleague, “Mikkel’s passion, creativity, and irrepressible drive for progress paved the way for so many of us. He believed in doing the right thing aligned to deeply rooted principles, fighting for what he believed in, and making the world that much better.” It is in this continuation—of passion, purpose, and perseverance—that Larsen’s impact may be most keenly felt. His vision of a world in harmony with nature will remain an enduring influence for those who continue his work.
Tribute page for Mikkel Larsen:
https://lnkd.in/gA2_cv3d
Statement from CIX:
https://lnkd.in/gHAHAAmN