The past few years have seen a surge in interest in ethically labelled bonds for countries in the Global South. This includes so-called ‘green’ and ‘social bonds’ and derivatives, including ‘sustainability-linked bonds’ and ‘blue bonds’, now being heavily promoted for small island developing states (SIDS). In the past five years, at least 22 countries in the global south have issued sovereign environmental, social and governance (ESG) bonds, raising well over US$60 billion. Most international organisations view this as a positive development, and the expansion of ESG bonds is now a common recommendation made in international meetings and agreements on climate and biodiversity. These bonds are often presented as the solution to bridging the funding gap in climate finance and the SDGs. But this approach does not come without risks. How can CSOs counter the mainstream narrative around sovereign ESG bonds?

This webinar serves as an introductory session for CSOs on this subject, building on Eurodad’s report  “Sovereign ESG bonds in the global south: 10 questions for those concerned about debt and climate justice”, written by Andre Standing. 

Speakers

• Andre Standing, Independent consultant expert on conservation finance

• Celine Tan, Professor of International Economic Law - University of Warwick

• Carola Mejía, Coordinator of the area of Climate Justice, Transitions and the Amazon - Latindadd

• Iolanda Fresnillo, Policy and Advocacy Manager (Debt Justice) - Eurodad

Moderated by Farwa Sial, Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer (Development Finance) - Eurodad

Read the report