ADB issues green bond to raise awareness of glacier melt

ISLAMABAD
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has issued a green bond to raise awareness of glacier melt, engaging with investors on ADB’s projects and programs that will help communities in Asia become more resilient against the impacts of melting glaciers.
The $100 million 5-year issue was arranged by BNP Paribas and Morgan Stanley, proceeds of which will be used in accordance with ADB’s Green and Blue Bond Framework. The notes will be listed on the Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX).
“Glaciers are among the most critical yet climate-sensitive natural systems in Asia.
Their accelerated retreat is reshaping river flows, increasing hazard risks, and threatening the water security and livelihoods of the hundreds of millions of people who rely on mountain rivers for drinking water, agriculture, and energy,” said ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management Roberta Casali.
“Through this green bond, ADB is mobilizing global capital to strengthen climate adaptation and water resource management as well as disaster risk reduction in high-mountain regions.
This innovative issuance reflects ADB’s commitment to supporting communities in vulnerable regions as climate pressures intensify,” Casali added. Glacier- and snow-fed river basins support water security for around 2 billion people in Asia.
Rising temperatures are accelerating glacier retreat and altering snowfall patterns, intensifying both near-term flood risks and long-term water stress, particularly in South Asia and Central and West Asia.
As these hydrological shifts become more pronounced, investments in climate adaptation and resilient water systems are increasingly urgent.