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The document explains that green bonds are fixed-income instruments where proceeds are earmarked for projects with environmental benefits, such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. It details four main types of green bonds—'use of proceeds' bonds, revenue bonds, project bonds, and securitized bonds—and notes that the majority are 'use of proceeds' bonds backed by the issuer's entire balance sheet. The market grew significantly from $11bn in 2013 to $36.6bn by the end of 2014, with major issuers including the European Investment Bank and the World Bank. While the 'Green Bond Principles' provide best practice guidelines, the document highlights a lack of universal definitions for 'green' projects, a gap the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) is addressing with sector-specific standards. For investors, green bonds offer a way to meet ESG objectives without necessarily taking on additional project-specific risk, though the secondary market remains thin due to a 'buy-and-hold' investor base.

The report argues that Swedish consumption patterns are unsustainable, requiring resources equivalent to 3.25 Earths if adopted globally. Using the Resources and Energy Analysis Programme (REAP), it demonstrates that consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions in Sweden are approximately 90% higher than official national statistics. Analysis of four cities shows that Stockholm has the highest environmental footprint, while all four exceed the per capita emission levels required to meet the 2-degree global warming target.