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In Q1 2022, the cumulative GSS+ labelled debt market reached USD3tn, though quarterly issuance fell nearly 30% year-on-year to USD202.2bn due to market volatility and rising interest rates. While green and social bond volumes declined, sustainability and sustainability-linked bonds saw growth. The period was marked by the first sovereign sustainability-linked bond from Chile and the first public sector sustainability-linked bond from the City of Helsingborg. The report also highlights the role of the IPCC WG3 report and the war in Ukraine in underscoring the urgency of the energy transition, while noting the emergence of transition bonds in Japan.

The paper argues that developing countries lack the financial sector capacity to fund the scale of investment required for low-carbon transitions. It distinguishes between 'commercially viable technologies' that need scaled-up investment and 'financially underserved technologies' that require de-risking. Proposed solutions include the creation of a Global Clean Investment Risk Mitigation Mechanism (GCI-RMM), the implementation of sustainable taxonomies and corporate disclosures, and the use of carbon pricing. The authors emphasize that multilateral cooperation is essential to harmonize these regulations and increase grant-based concessional finance to catalyze private investment.

The report assesses the 50-year legacy of the 1972 Stockholm Conference, concluding that while scientific knowledge and goals have increased, an 'action gap' persists, with only about one-tenth of global environmental targets achieved. It argues that the world faces entwined planetary and human crises, where the richest 10% of the population emitted more than half of total carbon emissions from 1990-2015, while the poorest suffer the most. To unlock a better future, the authors propose three systemic shifts: redefining the human-nature relationship from extraction to care, rethinking prosperity beyond GDP to ensure it lasts for all, and redirecting financial flows toward sustainable innovation. The report emphasizes the need to move from 'technology transfer' to 'technology co-development' and to implement 'Rights of Nature' and biophilic urban design. It also calls for improving conditions for change by tackling policy incoherence, renewing multilateralism to manage chronic risks, and establishing a culture of accountable promises for both state and non-state actors.

The GCF's private sector strategy aims to mobilize institutional finance and private capital for climate adaptation and mitigation in developing countries through a four-pronged approach: promoting conducive investment environments, accelerating innovation, de-risking market-creating investments, and strengthening domestic financial institutions. The report reviews the PSF's performance, noting a co-financing ratio of 3.25:1 and a heavy initial reliance on concessional loans. To meet its updated Strategic Plan targets, the GCF proposes expanding its use of equity and guarantees, improving the accreditation process via a project-specific assessment approach, and implementing a private sector outreach plan.

The report analyzes the 2021 Chinese green bond market, which saw a sharp rebound with USD 109.4bn in total issuance. It highlights the role of top-down policy guidance, such as the Green Bond Endorsed Project Catalogue (2021 Edition), in standardizing the market and aligning it with international principles. The analysis finds a positive correlation between local policy efficacy scores and the volume of green bond issuance, particularly in economically developed regions like the Yangtze and Pearl River Deltas. However, stakeholders identify challenges including inadequate information disclosure and a lack of issuer experience in identifying green assets. The report recommends strengthening disclosure standards, developing transition finance frameworks, and expanding innovative products like sustainability-linked bonds to support high-emitting sectors.

The 2021 China Green Bond Investor Survey reveals a strong demand for high-quality green bonds, particularly in renewable energy and low-carbon transport. While investors value green credentials and credit fundamentals, they highlight significant gaps in transparency and post-issuance disclosure. International investors face barriers related to market access and regulatory quotas. The report emphasizes the need for standardized green definitions aligned with international benchmarks and the adoption of TCFD recommendations to enhance market integrity and attract global capital.

The report examines China's green finance landscape in 2021, highlighting the role of top-down policies in driving the green bond market. It identifies a positive correlation between regional policy stimulus and bond issuance volumes, while noting that economic disparities limit policy effectiveness in less developed provinces. The document also analyzes the alignment of Chinese green bonds with international standards and provides recommendations for improving information disclosure and developing transition finance.

The report finds that while China has a stringent regulatory framework for green bond reporting, actual post-issuance disclosure—particularly regarding environmental impacts—is lower than global averages. UoP reporting is more common than impact reporting, with financial institutions showing higher compliance due to stricter PBoC requirements. The study highlights a unique Chinese reliance on 'fossil fuel savings' as a metric and recommends shifting toward GHG and energy savings to align with international standards. While the quality of impact reporting among those who do report is generally high, the report notes significant inconsistencies across different bond types and regulatory bodies.

The document serves as a tool for actors in the bond ecosystem to mainstream gender considerations within sustainable bond issuances. It highlights that while the sustainable bond market grew to a record USD 732.1 billion in 2020, the adoption of gender considerations has been slower. The guide argues that integrating gender-smart financing into green, social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked bonds allows investors to improve women's lives while achieving financial returns.

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 document identifies a dilemma in India's financial system where increasing green finance is perceived to raise credit risk, while strict risk management may constrain green capital flows. It argues that current frameworks, including Basel III, do not adequately factor in climate-related financial risks. To bridge the investment gap—estimated at USD 170 billion per annum—the report recommends a three-pillar approach: policy interventions (such as carbon pricing and green government securities), regulatory prescriptions (including modified risk weights and carbon ratings), and market mechanisms (such as standardized disclosure frameworks and capacity building).

The document analyzes India's power sector financing between 2013 and 2019, noting that while utility-scale renewables dominate tracked commitments, continued investment in coal-fired power remains a significant barrier to Paris Agreement alignment. It highlights the risk of stranded assets in the thermal sector and recommends a shift toward green bonds, improved transmission infrastructure, and the accelerated decommissioning of old coal plants to meet 2030 climate targets.

The document analyzes power sector financing in Indonesia from 2015 to 2020, revealing a significant investment gap in renewables and a continued reliance on fossil fuels. While international finance for coal dropped sharply after 2018, domestic finance remains heavily skewed toward fossil fuels. To meet the 2060 Net Zero target, Indonesia requires USD 16.1 billion in annual renewable energy investment, far exceeding the tracked average of USD 2.7 billion. The report highlights solar energy as having the largest investment gap and suggests leveraging blended finance, green sukuks, and the Energy Transition Mechanism to accelerate the transition.

The document examines India's power sector financing between 2013 and 2019, noting that while utility-scale renewables dominate tracked commitments, continued investment in coal-fired power creates significant misalignment with Paris Agreement temperature goals. It highlights the risk of stranded assets in the thermal sector and proposes innovative financial mechanisms, such as green bonds and foreign exchange hedges, to accelerate the energy transition.

The report examines the global trend of establishing green taxonomies to define sustainable economic activities and reduce 'greenwashing'. It details three primary methodology types: whitelist-based, technical screening criteria-based, and principle-based. A significant portion of the document compares the EU's six-objective framework with China's three-objective system, highlighting the 'Common Ground Taxonomy' as a tool to improve interoperability between the two markets. The report concludes that while taxonomies are essential for product development and risk management, challenges remain regarding data quality and the need to incorporate transition guidelines for high-emission industries.

The report examines the rise of green taxonomies as classification systems to identify sustainable economic activities and reduce greenwashing. It identifies three primary development approaches: whitelist-based, technical screening criteria (TSC) based, and principle-based. A central focus is the alignment between the EU and China taxonomies via the International Platform on Sustainable Finance (IPSF) and the Common Ground Taxonomy (CGT), which aims to facilitate cross-border green capital flows. The document details how these taxonomies are implemented by regulators for mandatory disclosure and by financial intermediaries for product development and risk management.

The report argues that while COVID-19 provided a temporary respite for the environment, it exacerbated social inequalities and led to a rebound in carbon emissions. It contends that current 'green recovery' efforts are insufficient, primarily limited to wealthy nations and focused narrowly on decarbonisation while neglecting nature and social justice. The authors advocate for a structural shift toward a circular economy, nature-based solutions, and innovative finance like debt-for-nature swaps to ensure a sustainable and equitable transition.

The document outlines a comprehensive approach to soil remediation in China, combining international technical standards for risk assessment and remediation with an analysis of China's specific legal and financial landscape. It details the process of identifying contaminated sites—using mercury (Hg) as a primary example—and evaluates various remediation technologies and their costs. The guide examines the role of stakeholders under the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Prevention and Control of Soil Contamination (LPCSC) and identifies significant financing gaps, suggesting a mix of public funds, green bonds, and blended finance to address the high costs of land rehabilitation.

The document assesses Indonesia's progress toward its 23% renewable energy target by 2025, identifying a significant investment gap of approximately USD 29 billion. It analyzes roadblocks such as non-cost-reflective pricing, fragmented regulations, and the dominance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the electricity sector. The brief evaluates existing support mechanisms, including Green Sukuk, tax incentives, and the roles of Public Financial Institutions (PFIs) like PT SMI and the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA). It recommends reforming fossil-fuel subsidies, implementing renewable energy auctions, and mandating SOEs like PT PLN and PT Pertamina to prioritize clean energy to mobilize the private capital necessary for a fossil-free recovery.

The document outlines the financial landscape for nine Swedish cities—Gothenburg, Linköping, Lund, Malmö, Nacka, Örebro, Östersund, Västerås, and Vellinge—stating that achieving climate neutrality would require at least 19,271 SEK per capita per year until 2030. It details municipal funding inflows, including taxes, subsidies, and debt, and distinguishes between on-balance sheet investments (equity and debt) and off-balance sheet options like blended finance and crowdfunding. A significant focus is placed on green bonds, with the nine cities having issued 52 such bonds to raise 31.2 billion SEK for projects like renewable energy and clean transportation.