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By UNI.CORN Team 2.5 BT | Celine, Natelie, Rayner and Zhi Wei

Green is the new Gold

June 28, 2017

Global endeavours to address climate change and sustainability issues met with an unforeseen roadblock on June 1, 2017, when the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement. Trump’s decision to pull out of what has traditionally been regarded as the best and most promising effort to combat climate change in history has cast a gloom over the future of our environment and potentially, that of our descendants.

 

What followed was the resurfacing of debates on the pursuit of economic growth versus environmental sustainability worldwide and its trade-offs. Moreover, even as Trump pulls out of the Paris Agreement, green bonds and green agendas continue to rise in popularity with investors.

 

Green bonds have grown from just US$11.5bn in 2013 to a whopping US$48.2bn in 2016 and is expected to continue growing exponentially.

 

In this article, we will be shedding some light on a recent financial innovation that bridges both economic growth and environmental conservation – Green Bonds.

Source: Wall Street Journal

What Are Green Bonds?

 

Green bonds are created to encourage sustainable practices. They are used to finance projects aimed at energy efficiency, the protection of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the cultivation of environmentally friendly technologies.

 

With studies labelling millennials as the generation primed to make this world a better place, yielding returns by saving the planet sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

 

Exploring the twin pursuits of financial gains and environmental protection

 

We’re used to seeing advertisements headlined with “Make $10,000 a month now by following these three simple steps!”, which many of us are sure to able to call BS on.

 

However, would that be the case if the headline were to read “Earn money while saving the Earth” instead?

 

Some of us may feel wary and doubtful that the twin pursuits of financial gains and environmental protection can be reconciled, given that the latter has often come at the expense of the former. Case in point, humans have for decades now been paving the Earth’s natural landscapes to usher in modern infrastructure and urban cityscapes. To this, we believe that green bonds have the potential to redress this situation – a sentiment shared by many.

 

The Growing Green Bond Market

 

 

This global movement presents a heartening opportunity for us to show our support by participating financially and environmentally in the bond market.

 

Many of us are motivated to change the world, fight climate change and hedge against climate risks. Just think about it, this could be one way to fix the Earth! All you need to do is to add a tinge of green today.

 

As a group of millennials ourselves, we are excited by the innovation we see in the financial services industry. This trend towards adopting green bonds reflect a growing corporate concern towards the economic impact of climate change, which we welcome.

 

When you are out and about doing your daily tasks, we encourage you to take on a green agenda just like big corporations out there and take small steps that can make a difference in combating climate change and environmental deterioration.

 

While you invest in the markets, why not invest in the future too?

#team25bt  #greenbonds

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Team 2.5 BT

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