GREEN FINANCE: GREEN BOND DIRECTIONS COP22 Highlights

The green bond market experienced substantial growth in 2016, with issuance on track to double from 2015 levels, driven largely by China and other emerging markets. While mitigation projects in clean energy and energy efficiency receive the majority of capital, adaptation financing is increasing, particularly through US municipalities. The private sector now accounts for 66% of issuance. To meet Paris Agreement targets, the report advocates for governments to develop green investment pipelines and implement five key actions: issuing demonstration bonds, applying green standards, enabling domestic verifiers, providing market infrastructure, and promoting international collaboration.

• Green bond issuance in 2016 is projected to be more than double that of 2015, with Moody's estimating total issuance for the year at USD 80bn.
• China is positioned to become the world's largest green bond market, following the 2016 release of Guidelines for Establishing the Green Financial System by seven major regulators.
• The majority of green bond proceeds (approximately 75%) are allocated to mitigation, specifically clean energy, energy efficiency, and low carbon transport, with wind and solar projects dominating clean energy spending.
• Financing for climate adaptation has grown from nearly zero in 2011 to 5% of total issuance, primarily driven by US municipalities funding water system upgrades.
• The private sector's role in the market has expanded significantly, with corporations and banks increasing their share of issuance from zero in 2010 to 66% in 2016.
• To substantively address climate change, the report argues that annual green bond issuance must reach USD 1 trillion by 2020.

APA

Climate Bonds Initiative (2016). GREEN FINANCE: GREEN BOND DIRECTIONS COP22 Highlights. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/publications/COP22_Directions_WEB.pdf

Chicago

Climate Bonds Initiative. GREEN FINANCE: GREEN BOND DIRECTIONS COP22 Highlights. 2016. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/publications/COP22_Directions_WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Bonds Initiative |title=GREEN FINANCE: GREEN BOND DIRECTIONS COP22 Highlights |date=2016 |url=https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/publications/COP22_Directions_WEB.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatebondsinitiative2016green, author = {{Climate Bonds Initiative}}, title = {{GREEN FINANCE: GREEN BOND DIRECTIONS COP22 Highlights}}, institution = {Climate Bonds Initiative}, year = {2016}, url = {https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/publications/COP22_Directions_WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }