The SFA Blog – Archive
More than a milestone, China’s first sovereign green bond marks a strategic step in climate finance—and signals a new era of global green leadership. There are few players more consequential to the global transition than China. As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and simultaneously its most dominant supplier of low-carbon technology—from photovoltaic panels…
April 2025 marks a historic achievement in the world of Sustainable Finance: the cumulative issuance of sustainable bonds has now exceeded $6 trillion. But while this is a remarkable milestone—largely reached under a market of voluntary frameworks—the next $6 trillion will emerge under a new regime, one defined by regulation and taxonomy alignment. The future…
Available on Spotify The European Green Bond Standard: A New Era in Sustainable Debt After years of growing scrutiny around greenwashing and fragmented sustainability claims in capital markets, the European Union has introduced a new regulatory milestone: the European Green Bond Standard (EuGBS). Officially adopted in November 2023 and applicable from December 2024, the EuGBS…
A New Era of Scrutiny and Standards – In 2025, ESG investing stands at a crossroads. While the momentum for Sustainable Finance continues, there’s a pronounced shift towards greater transparency and accountability. Investors, regulators, and stakeholders are demanding more rigorous standards to ensure that ESG claims are substantiated and meaningful. Evolving Regulatory Landscape A significant…
A shifting tide: Uncertainty, regulation, and the cooling of momentum – The Sustainable Bond market has passed a historic milestone, crossing the $6 trillion mark in cumulative issuance. But while the headline is celebratory, the underlying tone in 2025 is far more complex. A mix of global uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and shifting investor sentiment is…
Available on Spotify Early Foundations: ESG Awareness and Policy Catalysts Japan’s journey in Sustainable Finance traces back to the late 1990s, when public awareness of global environmental and social issues was on the rise. In 1999, the country saw its first socially responsible investment (SRI) mutual fund – the Nikko Eco-Fund – marking the dawn…