THE UK: A GLOBAL HUB FOR GREEN FINANCE
PUBLISHED MARCH 2016
The UK: a global hub for green finance Leadership in the green finance sector extends from
public sector alone cannot finance this transition,
London to Bristol to Edinburgh, and encompasses
and across the UK we have seen the benefit of
the full breadth of the UK’s financial and professional
empowering individual investors to pool their capital
services sector. From cutting-edge start-ups to
in carbon-conscious crowdfunding portfolios, and
centuries old institutions, UK market participants
the scale that can be achieved by attracting foreign
have demonstrated clear support for the country’s
and institutional investment in some of the world’s
£122 billion low-carbon economy and generated
largest renewable energy projects.
one of the world’s largest and most vibrant green finance sectors in the process. The UK’s reputation
The City of London’s Green Finance Initiative has
for innovation, access to a global investor base
been convened to drive these efforts further still,
and world-class clusters of expertise and thought
specifically by working to:
leadership mean it’s also a leading centre for the provision of green services internationally, becoming the venue of choice for landmark renminbi- and rupee-denominated green bond issuances and supporting low-carbon project financing worldwide.
n I mprove the flow of projects generating green product issuance in the UK n E nhance transparency and accreditation standards and promote best practice n B etter inform and incentivise the market, and
The challenge laid out at COP21, however, is to scale
strengthen market infrastructure
these markets yet further; to invigorate corporates, savers and institutional investors to support the
More information about our activities can be seen at
transition toward a low-carbon economy and to
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/greenfinance
finance implementation of each country’s post-
Alternatively, you can contact us directly at
2020 climate action plan, or INDC. It is clear that the
green@cityoflondon.gov.uk
UK crowdfunding platforms have raised over £2 bn for investment in green projects, representing investments by more than 20,000 individuals
Investment in the UK’s clean energy sector has surpassed £100 bn since 2004, representing 12.6% of all new investment in clean energy in the EMEA region
London is the world’s carbon trading capital with an 85% market share, and the UK is discussing the possibility of linking EU and Chinese trading emissions schemes post-2020
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Total capital mobilised by the Green Investment Bank has surpassed £10 bn, supporting more than 65 projects across the UK
The London Stock Exchange’s green bond segment greatly enhances market accreditation and transparency, requiring issuers to obtain second opinions
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Six renewable yieldcos have listed in London since 2013, with a collective market capitalisation in excess of £2.2 bn
26 green bonds are listed on the London Stock Exchange in six different currencies, including the first CNH and INR-denominated green bonds
45 40 35 30 25
2015
20 15 10 5
Global green bond issuance hit a record $42 bn in 2015 k
0 2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Issuance $bn
THE UK: A GLOBAL HUB FOR GREEN FINANCE
The UK: a global hub for green finance