This book offers a comprehensive and structured exploration of how financial systems are being reshaped to support the net-zero transition. It guides readers through the evolving architecture of standards, instruments, and market mechanisms that underpin climate-aligned capital flows. Using an accessible but conceptually rigorous approach, it distinguishes climate finance from green and sustainable finance and examines key tools such as corporate and sovereign green bonds, blue finance, and carbon markets.

What sets this volume apart is its integrative perspective: it combines theoretical clarity, policy analysis, and empirical depth to trace the journey of climate finance from conception to implementation. It also explores underexamined topics such as carbon as an anchor asset and the role of climate finance in global monetary dynamics, including RMB internationalization.

Designed for scholars, graduate students, policymakers, and financial professionals, this book provides clear conceptual frameworks and evidence-based insights. It is particularly valuable for readers interested in finance-driven climate transitions and the institutional design of net-zero finance.

Key features include:

1. Provides a comprehensive analysis of climate finance instruments and regulatory systems.

2. Offers a structured treatment bridging theory, policy, and market practice.

A comprehensive treatment of climate finance instruments from conception to regulation and practical implementation Features a dual-level structure accessible summaries for general readers and advanced econometric analysis Aligns strategically with key UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDG 7, SDG 13, SDG 14 and SDG 17

Autorentext

Professor Peng Zhou is a Professor of Economics, Unoversity Dean of Internation, and Director of the Cardiff Confucius Institute, and Dean of International at Cardiff University, UK. His research footprint spans economic growth, economic inequality, financial economics, and innovation economics, with a track record of publications in leading journals across these fields. Beyond academia, he actively provides consultancy to media, charities, governments, and companies in the UK and China.

Dr Dong Guo is a Senior Economist and Senior Manager at the China Development Bank with over 20 years of expertise in international project financing and capital markets. His research focuses on RMB sovereign bonds, exchange rates, fiscal and monetary policy, and financial sanctions. He has rich experience in green finance and fintech, leading RMB green bond issuance projects worth billions, and contributing to standards for blockchain financial infrastructure.

Inhalt

Part I: Foundations.- Chapter 1: Conception.- Chapter 2: Institutions.- Part Ii: Green Bonds And The Net-Zero Transition.- Chapter 3: Corporate Green Bonds.- Chapter 4: Sovereign Green Bonds.- Chapter 5: Investing In Green Bonds.- Part Iii: Blue Finance And The Ocean Economy.- Chapter 6: Blue Finance.- Chapter 7: Financing The Ocean Economy.- Part IV: Carbon Trading And The Sustainable Development.- Chapter 8: Carbon Finance.- Chapter 9: Carbon Trading.- Chapter 10: Shaping Sustainable Development.