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Japan innovates with climate bonds to fund green technology

Japan, leveraging its technological prowess, has become the first country to issue sovereign bonds specifically for funding climate change initiatives and green technology.

Julian Ryall reports for Deutsche-Welle.


In short:

  • Japan has initiated the sale of climate bonds, aiming to raise 20 trillion yen to support its green transition, referred to as GX.
  • The bonds are designed to attract private investment into projects like low-cost wind power, carbon recycling, and advanced batteries.
  • This move is part of Japan's broader goal to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade and achieve zero emissions by 2050.

Key quote:

"This bond shows clearly how governments, and others, can raise funds to invest in that transition. It marks a significant milestone in transition finance."

— Sean Kidney, head of the Climate Bonds Initiative.

Why this matters:

Japan's innovative approach to financing its green transition through climate bonds represents a significant step in global efforts to combat climate change. It sets an example for how countries can mobilize private capital for sustainable development and technological advancements in clean energy.

Be sure to read Douglas Fischer’s 2019 article: Financial markets push for sustainability, climate accountability.

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Izzy Ross reports for Grist and Interlochen Public Radio.

In short:

  • The tribes oppose Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project, which would replace part of a 72-year-old pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, a critical freshwater corridor between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
  • Their withdrawal follows the Army Corps of Engineers’ move to fast-track permitting under President Trump’s energy emergency order, which tribes say dismisses their environmental and legal concerns.
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— Letter from seven Indigenous nations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Why this matters:

Buried beneath the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge, Line 5 has become a flashpoint in the battle over fossil fuel infrastructure, Indigenous sovereignty, and environmental protection. The aging oil and gas pipeline — operated by Canadian energy giant Enbridge — moves millions of gallons of crude and natural gas liquids daily through a region that holds 20% of the planet’s surface freshwater. A proposed tunnel to house a replacement segment beneath the lakebed has drawn fierce opposition from tribal nations, who warn it risks catastrophic spills and continued desecration of sacred territory.

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