SLBs Touted to Fund Nature Restoration  

Sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) could help fund the estimated US$200 billion in nature restoration costs in Southeast Asia, a new report from Imperial Business College has found. SLBs, of which some US$73 billion were issued globally in 2022, typically offer a lower interest rate to issuers who hit sustainability key performance indicators. Researchers from the Imperial’s Centre for Climate Finance & Investment (CCFI) explored the use of SLBs in funding restoration projects in Malaysia, noting it could entice fixed income investors to support the Malaysian government’s biodiversity ambitions. The report also highlights a collection of mangrove restoration projects which offer asset owners, insurance companies and impact investors cost savings or financial returns; but notes that scalable business models are in their infancy. The report also advises against overreliance on carbon credits to provide the investment case for nature, instead encouraging long-term incorporation of nature benefits into broader corporate investment decisions.  

 

 

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