Sovereign Green Bonds

Civil services Current affairs - Sri Madhwacharya

Sovereign Green Bonds

 

Context:

  • Recently, the Finance Minister in the Budget 2022 announced that the government proposes to issue sovereign green bonds to mobilise resources for green infrastructure.
  • The proceeds will be deployed in public sector projects which help in reducing the carbon intensity of the economy.
  • The announcement is in sync with India’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

 

About:

  • Green bonds are issued by companies, countries and multilateral organisations to exclusively fund projects that have positive environmental or climate benefits and provide investors with fixed income payments.
  • The projects can include renewable energy, clean transportation and green buildings, among others.
  • Proceeds from these bonds are earmarked for green projects. This is unlike standard bonds, the proceeds of which can be utilised for various purposes at the discretion of the issuer.
  • The international green bond market has seen cumulative issuance worth more than USD 1 trillion since market inception in 2007.
  • By the end of 2020, 24 national governments had issued Sovereign Green, Social and Sustainability bonds totalling a cumulative USD 111 billion dollars, according to the London-based Climate Bonds Initiative.

 

Significance:

  • Sovereign green issuance sends a powerful signal of intent around climate action and sustainable development to governments and regulators.
  • It will catalyze domestic market development and provides impetus to institutional investors.
  • It will provide benchmark pricing, liquidity and a demonstration effect for local issuers, helping to support the growth of a local market.
  • With the IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2021, estimating that 70% of the additional USD 4 trillion spending to reach net-zero is required in emerging/developing economies, sovereign issuance can help kickstart these large inflows of capital.

Source: THE HINDU.