icma

A Greenpeace study on 2021-issued government municipal bonds in China reveals a large number of projects with green potential. But local governments face challenges and are unwilling to issue green products.

The regional leader in green bonds will keep looking at labelling and internationally aligned standards, such as the common ground taxonomy with the EU, experts discussed at ICMA's inaugural summit. Meanwhile transition finance taxonomies are being rolled out in Chinese provinces.

The issuance marks the city-state’s first ever 50-year bond and the longest-tenor green bond issued by a sovereign to date.

There are welcome signs the new asset class is finding its feet the region. After South Korea’s pioneering efforts, interest is now picking up in India and accelerating in Japan. However, not everyone is yet fully convinced of its virtues just yet.

The Indian group's recent financing has set the tone for a decade when ESG financing will increasingly take centre stage. Its CEO tells FinanceAsia how it passed muster with investors and what is next for the pioneering credit.