Climate bonds: Are they invested efficiently?

Abstract

Achieving a Net-Zero goal is heavily reliant on transitioning to green methods, making it a top priority. Our research, which used the Generalized Least Squares (GLS) panel method, found that each Macro-region should invest at least 2% more per capita annually in Climate Bonds, a type of green bond. Although some studies have questioned the effectiveness of Climate Bonds, our focus is on their efficient use in countries that produce more fossil fuels. Our findings show that globally, a) Climate Bonds are underutilized in areas with higher per capita use of fossil fuels, and b) High-income countries are gradually reducing their reliance on fossil fuels, while low-income countries have always used very little (with a forecast of future growth). Allocating financial resources in the form of Climate Bonds for the green transition should consider per capita use of fossil fuels, as well as the heterogeneity of population growth and different Macro-Regional economic development. Developing countries, with their large populations, will require more financial resources for an ethically acceptable green transition in the future.

Keywords: Climate bonds; Efficiency of green finance; Green transition.