“Green Finance” incorporated into G20 Meeting Communiqué – UNEP Inquiry

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity, Reforming Global Finance, Greentech, Beyond GDP

“ Ethical Markets welcomes this leadership by the Chinese at the G20! Hazel Henderson, Editor”

 

“Green Finance” incorporated into G20 Meeting Communiqué

G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Chengdu on July 23-24 issued the final Communiqué before this year’s G20 Summit in Hangzhou emphasizing the development of green finance.

The communiqué also welcomed voluntary options developed by the G20 Green Finance Study Group (GFSG) for which the UNEP Inquiry acts as secretariat. This marks the first time that green finance has been incorporated into the G20 agenda.

Launched at the initiative of the Chinese G20 presidency, the GFSG is co-chaired by China and the United Kingdom. From its first meeting in January this year, the GFSG has benefited from the active participation of more than 80 participants from all G20 members, a number of invited countries and six international organizations.

The GFSG has supported the development of the G20 Green Finance Synthesis Report which was submitted to the Third Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Chengdu. The Synthesis Report comprehensively examines the necessity and challenges of developing green finance globally. It also provides seven voluntary options to overcome these challenges facing green finance development.

The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting Communiqué states that:

“We recognize that, in order to support environmentally sustainable growth globally, it is necessary to scale-up green financing. We welcome the G20 Green Finance Synthesis Report submitted by the Green Finance Study Group (GFSG), and welcome the voluntary options developed by the GFSG to enhance the ability of the financial system to mobilize private capital for green investment. In particular, we believe that efforts could be made to provide clear strategic policy signals and frameworks, promote voluntary principles for green finance, expand learning networks for capacity building, support the development of local green bond markets, promote international collaboration to facilitate cross-border investment in green bonds, encourage and facilitate knowledge sharing on environmental and financial risks, and improve the measurement of green finance activities and their impacts.”

Commenting on the report, Ma Jun, Chief Economist of the People’s Bank of China, said: “Promoting the consensus of developing green finance internationally is a key objective of the G20 GFSG. The statements in the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting Communiqué demonstrate that major countries’ financial leaders have realized the necessity and feasibility of developing green finance through various financial instruments, policies, and mechanisms.”

Michael Sheren, Senior Adviser, Bank of England, said: “Globally, less than 1% of private capital controlled by institutional investors is invested in anything green. It is why the communiqué includes the option to promote international collaboration to facilitate cross-border investment in green bonds. The communiqué also addresses climate-related financial risk by including an option to encourage and facilitate knowledge sharing on environmental and financial risks, and improve the measurement of green finance activities and their impacts.”

Simon Zadek, Co-director of the UNEP Inquiry and lead for UNEP for the GFSG secretariat, said establishing and co-chairing the G20 GFSG underlines China’s global influence in green finance. “By taking green finance to the G20, China has used its presidency to inspire many countries and financial institutions around the world to take notice of the importance of this agenda,” he said.

China’s pursuit of green finance has been attracting global attention in recent years. Green credit in China now makes up 10% of the balance of total loans and the country is now home to the world’s largest green bond market. China is also one of just three countries that issued “Green Credit Definitions” and was the first country that officially released its “Green Bond Directives” and Green Bond Catalogue.

Elsewhere, countries including Kenya, Sweden, Brazil and Indonesia are now advancing green finance plans and practices while financial centres – such as London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Switzerland – are entering a “race to the top” by viewing green finance as a source of competitiveness.

UNEP Inquiry

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