Green bonds are generally defined as a type of bond instrument whose proceeds are used mainly for investment in projects that offer environmental benefits, such as renewable energy or other efficient types of energy. The number of issuances of green bonds has been increasing worldwide since the establishment of the Green Bond Principles (GBP) in January 2014, by the International Capital Market Association. In March 2017, the Japanese Ministry of Environment (MoE) published the Green Bond Guideline, which was drawn up in accordance with the GBP, aiming to make green bonds more popular and increase the number of issuances and investments within Japan in line with the global development of the green bond market. The Guideline was expected to encourage issuances of green bonds, and accordingly, several corporations and local governments in Japan have issued debt structured as green bonds.
April 27, 2018