Green Bonds: An Overview

The nascent market for green bonds saw a growth spurt in 2014 with issuance tripling from a year earlier, surpassing $38 billion. The growth in green bonds comes amid greater awareness of climate change and expanding investor appetite for environmentally-aware investment products. The prevalence of these securities is likely to rise as they allow issuers and investors alike to demonstrate their commitment to environmentally focused initiatives. The growing need for energy efficient and clean technologies globally, especially in emerging market countries, also may help drive issuance going forward.