Big signals for greener financial markets
The evolution of the green bond market from a niche to mainstream asset class will drive its expansion
THE green bond market has been a tremendous success, from a relatively modest start in 2013 to an expected US$250 billion of green issuance in 2019. Rising green issuance is a global phenomenon and Asia is playing an important role in the development and evolution of the green bond market. Among investors, the adoption of specialised climate-driven or broader ESG investment strategies is still at a relative infancy in Asia. We have identified three key factors which will drive further expansion of green finance in the region.
Signal #1: Issuance by sovereign issuers
In the world of global finance and especially in emerging markets, sovereigns are often best positioned to open new financial markets to their domestic corporate issuers. Sovereign issuance establishes feasibility and defines reference points for quasi-sovereigns and private corporates to then follow.
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