A Primer on Green Finance: From Wishful Thinking to Marginal Impact

Abstract

We raise some critical points against a naïve interpretation of "green finance"products and strategies. These critical insights are the background against which we take a closer look at instruments and policies that might allow green finance to become more impactful. In particular, we focus on the role of a taxonomy and investor activism. We also describe the interaction of government policies with green finance practice - an aspect, which has been mostly neglected in policy debates but needs to be taken into account. Finally, the special case of green government bonds is discussed.