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The green bond market began in 2007 with the European Investment Bank and uses specific principles to ensure capital supports climate-aligned causes. As of June 2022, the Climate Bonds Initiative's Green Bond Database recorded over 10,000 green bonds with cumulative volumes of USD 1.9 trillion, though total issuance is higher as the database only includes Paris-aligned bonds meeting specific reporting standards.

The report provides a toolkit for assessing corporate transition plans in Brazil's agri-food sector, using case studies of Syngenta and Amaggi to illustrate the application of the 'Triple A' (Ambition, Action, Accountability) framework. It highlights Brazil's significant role as a GHG emitter, primarily through land use and livestock, and outlines various sustainable finance instruments available to fund the transition to net-zero.

As of September 30, 2022, the cumulative issuance of GSS+ bonds exceeded $3.5 trillion, with green bonds surpassing $2 trillion. While the market saw a decline in Q3 2022 compared to previous periods due to geopolitical and macroeconomic factors, green bonds remained the dominant type, accounting for 52% of issuance year-to-date. International organizations are the largest issuers, and the market is heavily concentrated in Euro, US Dollar, and RMB denominations. A dedicated section highlights the Middle East and Africa market, which has reached $33.3 billion in cumulative issuance, characterized by a high proportion of green bonds and sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs).

In the first half of 2022, GSS+ bond issuance totaled $417.8 billion, a 27% year-on-year decrease attributed to inflation and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Green bonds remained the dominant category, with China leading in issuance volume. The report highlights the growth of transition bonds, particularly in Japan and China, and discusses the evolving landscape of global sustainable finance taxonomies, including the EU's inclusion of gas and nuclear energy.

The global GSS+ bond market reached a cumulative issuance of $3 trillion by Q1 2022, despite a nearly 30% year-on-year decline in quarterly issuance due to interest rate hikes and the Russia-Ukraine war. While green and social bonds saw significant decreases, sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) grew by over 100%, with 61% of their KPIs linked to greenhouse gas emission targets. China led global green bond issuance in Q1 2022, and the period saw the emergence of the first sovereign SLB from Chile and the first public sector SLB from the city of Helsingborg.

The report outlines Indonesia's need for USD 322.8 billion in climate-compatible infrastructure by 2030, focusing on renewable energy, low-carbon transport, sustainable water, and waste management. It highlights a significant financing gap and argues for the use of green bonds, blended finance, and de-risking mechanisms to attract private investment. The document also details the role of the SDG Indonesia One platform and the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility in bridging these gaps.

The guide advises consumers to look for brands with ambitious sustainability commitments and quantified claims to avoid greenwashing in the USD 3 trillion fashion industry. It highlights that while natural fibres like cotton can have high initial environmental impacts from water and pesticide use, they are biodegradable and recyclable, whereas blending natural and synthetic fibres eliminates these benefits. The text emphasizes the role of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSSs) in mitigating the impacts of cotton production, noting that different standards have varying criteria regarding traceability and the use of genetically modified organisms.

The document outlines the process for foreign entities to issue green panda bonds—RMB-denominated bonds issued in mainland China with proceeds earmarked for green projects. It details the regulatory landscape, involving the PBoC, CSRC, and NDRC, and explains the dual requirement to follow both panda bond and green bond guidelines. The guide highlights the growth of China's green bond market, the role of domestic investors (primarily commercial banks), and the increasing use of RMB for cross-border settlements, particularly within the Belt and Road Initiative. It provides a step-by-step issuance process and lists key regulatory requirements for different market segments.

The document outlines the framework for green panda bonds—Renminbi-denominated bonds issued in mainland China by foreign entities for green projects. It details the regulatory roles of the PBoC, CSRC, and NDRC, the requirements for foreign issuers, and the step-by-step process for issuance, including the need for green frameworks and external reviews. As of October 2018, China was the second largest green bond market globally, with renewable energy accounting for over 60% of allocations.

The report analyzes China's green bond market in Q3 2018, noting a total issuance of USD 8.5bn. It highlights that while total issuance for the first three quarters of 2018 (USD 21.5bn) exceeded the same period in 2017, only 49% of Q3 volumes aligned with international definitions. Financial corporates dominated issuance, and renewable energy remained the largest sector for proceeds. The document also details new regulatory guidelines from the PBoC, SSE, and CSRC, and updates to the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) taxonomy regarding utility tunnels and hydropower.

The report finds that while Korea has a massive overall bond market and strong climate policies, its climate bond market remains small with only six bonds issued by four entities. It identifies a potential USD 18bn in unlabelled climate-aligned bonds and suggests that Korea could lead the Asian region by adopting national guidelines, sovereign issuance, and tax incentives, drawing on successful models from China, India, and other ASEAN nations.

The document details various green asset-backed securities (ABS) and aggregation mechanisms used to fund low-carbon transitions. It highlights specific instruments such as synthetic ABS, PACE ABS, solar ABS, and green covered bonds, providing examples of issuers and the types of underlying assets—ranging from energy-efficient mortgages to electric vehicle leases—that enable institutional investors to finance smaller-scale green assets.

The report examines the use of biometrics in digital financial services, distinguishing between identification (1:N) and verification (1:1). It concludes that while biometrics are valuable for strong authentication and customer verification—particularly via smartphones for the mass market—they are often too costly and complex for primary customer identification (KYC) at scale. The document evaluates several technologies, including fingerprints, facial recognition, and vein patterns, noting that the choice of biometric depends on the required balance between security, convenience, and transaction speed.

The document describes the U.S. plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) landscape in 2014, distinguishing between all-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). It highlights that while PEVs represent less than 1% of new vehicle sales, they are the fastest-growing segment, with sales increasing 85% from 2012 to 2013. The text details specific models like the Nissan LEAF and Tesla Model S, discusses the necessity of expanding public charging infrastructure, and notes a downward trend in battery costs. Additionally, it outlines federal tax credits and various state-level incentives designed to encourage PEV adoption.

This report provides an overview of nanomaterials, their impacts on health and the environment, the current market for nanoproducts, and regulatory initiatives for their management, with a specific focus on the Global South.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of wind energy, detailing how turbines convert wind into electricity and the factors affecting power output, such as wind speed and turbine height. It examines the history of the US wind industry, noting the influence of federal tax credits and state renewable energy standards. The text argues that wind power is a cost-competitive, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels that can be integrated into the electric grid without compromising reliability, citing examples from Xcel Energy and various European nations. It concludes that achieving 20 percent wind energy in the US by 2030 is technically and economically feasible.

The European Union is the global leader in biogas production, reaching 22.8 billion m3 in 2024. While promoted as a renewable energy source, the report argues that the sector risks causing significant environmental harm through methane leakages, the incentivisation of industrial animal farming, and the use of food crops as feedstock. It further contends that the injection of biomethane into existing gas grids may postpone the transition to truly sustainable energy systems by locking in fossil gas infrastructure. The report examines the policy landscapes of seven European countries, noting that while most support biogas expansion, regulatory safeguards against these environmental risks are often insufficient. It also details the role of major oil, gas, utility, and agri-food companies in the sector and identifies the primary financial institutions providing credit and investment to biogas producers.

Energy savings certificates (ESCs), also known as white certificates, are tradable credits typically representing one megawatt-hour (MWh) of energy savings. They allow third parties to generate efficiency savings and sell them to utilities to help meet regulatory targets established via Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS) or Renewable Electricity Standards (RES). In the U.S., 21 states have such targets, with Connecticut operating an active market where prices have generally ranged between $20 and $25/MWh. Internationally, programs exist in New South Wales, Italy, Great Britain, and France, with India encouraging a national market. ESCs incentivize efficiency investments by providing an additional revenue stream for commercial and industrial entities.