Net Zero Finance: Navigating the booming climate, green and transition bond market

BusinessGreen staff
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: Climate Bonds Initiative's Sean Kidney, LaFargeHolcim's Nicolas Vaniet, MSCI's Elisabeth Seep, and Ben Caldecott of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Programme discuss the trends, challenges and potential of the rapidly evolving green bonds market

The emergence of new bonds in support of the net zero transition has been one of the big stories of the past few years, with green finance issuance set to surge by 60 per cent in 2021. What are green bonds - and indeed, climate bonds, transition bonds, and blue bonds - and why are they important? How can the sector evolve to meet the demand? What part can the government play in this market?

To discuss these issues and offer their expert insight on this fast growing sector, Climate Bonds Initiative co-founder and CEO Sean Kidney, LaFargeHolcim's  head of treasury and front office Nicolas Vaniet, MSCI's executive director for ESG products Elisabeth Seep, and Ben Caldecott, director of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Programme at Oxford University's Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, joined together for a fascinating chat at BusinessGreen's recent Net Zero Finance summit. Their conversation can be watched in full above.

All of the panel debates, keynote speeches, and presentations from BusinessGreen's recent Net Zero Finance summit event - which took place on 16 March and featured scores of top speakers from business, politics and academia - are now available to watch again on demand for those who have signed up to the event through the Net Zero Finance website and on Swapcard.

More on Investment

Reports: Pensana scraps plan for UK clean tech minerals refinery in favour of US

Reports: Pensana scraps plan for UK clean tech minerals refinery in favour of US

London-listed firm had planned to develop £250m rare earth refinery in Saltend near Hull, but is now reportedly switching its focus to the US after an offer of support from the White House

Michael Holder
clock 17 October 2025 • 3 min read
UNEP: Annual global investment in forests needs to triple to $300bn by 2030

UNEP: Annual global investment in forests needs to triple to $300bn by 2030

Tropical forests provide huge range of vital services on which humanity depends, yet conservation funding shortfalls are set to reach over $200bn a year by the end of the decade

Michael Holder
clock 15 October 2025 • 4 min read
Lidl GB to plough £30bn into British food and farming over next five years

Lidl GB to plough £30bn into British food and farming over next five years

Discounter doubles food and farming funding pledge in bid to enhance climate resilience and promote more sustainable farming practices

Stuart Stone
clock 15 October 2025 • 2 min read