In this seminar, we will explore the development of Green Finance, particularly since 2021 given the global annual green bond issuance saw a hike in the year, and its central role in climate, decarbonisation and net zero. We will also examine green finance’s role in energy diversification and the transition to renewable energy.

Just to level set what we are talking about: The UN’s (United Nations Environment Programme) definition of green financing is “to increase level of financial flows (from banking, micro-credit, insurance and investment) from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to sustainable development priorities.” In BTT Consulting’s in-house consulting report from early 2022, we considered financial instruments and products, including bonds, equities, loans, grants and insurance, that are labelled green to be in scope of Green Finance. I will draw upon this paper to inform this seminar.

By the end of the seminar, we hope to give you: a) a literature review of the development of Green Finance, b) an assessment of its progress in the last 4-5 years & c) its utility for the positive progression of climate, decarbonisation, net zero, and consequently energy diversification. I will also give estimations of the size of the green bond market at the end of 2030, drawing from models detailed in BTT’s consulting report on the topic.