ItemBook Chapter

Green Finance and Sustainability: Landscape of Indian Financial Institutions

Title
Green Finance and Sustainability: Landscape of Indian Financial Institutions
Creator
Hridhya, P.K.; Desai, Kavitha; Ananthan, Sriram; Manickam, Thirupathi; Devaraja Nayaka, K.; Joel Jebadurai, D.
Description
Today, green finance and sustainability have become integral parts of the global financial landscape, and it is the Indian financial institutions that are leading the way. This chapter delves into the intricate landscape of green finance and sustainability in Indian financial institutions. It focuses on regulation, green bonds, sustainable banking, public and private sector initiatives, and the challenges and opportunities they present. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) are at the forefront of these initiatives. The RBI, for instance, is already taking significant steps, such as incorporating sustainability into its policy framework, by considering renewable energy in its priority sector lending norms. SEBI, conversely, has made it mandatory for all listed companies to disclose their ESG practices under the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework, a move that promotes transparency and sustainable practices. Green bonds are a potent financial instrument for directing capital toward environmentally sustainable projects. In India, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency and several banks have proactively issued green bonds to finance renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean transportation projects. The State Bank of Indias issuance of its first green bond in 2018, raising USD 650 million for a green project, is a testament to SBIs dedication to sustainable finance and a model for other financial institutions. Indian banks are increasingly integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, a set of standards for a companys operations that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments in their lending and investment decisions fostering longterm green banking practices. They also provide green loans for projects with positive environmental impacts and incorporate climate risk assessment into their risk management frameworks driven by regulatory mandates and market demand for responsible investments. Both the public and private sectors in India are actively promoting green finance. The government provides support and technical know-how for fund arrangements for green projects through initiatives like the Green Climate Fund and the International Solar Alliance. Major corporations, including Tata Power and Reliance Industries, also invest heavily in renewable energy sources aligning with corporate sustainability trends. However, green financing in India still faces challenges. For instance, the general public is unaware of green financial products, which hampers their adoption. The limited number of such products and weak regulatory support pose significant hurdles. Despite these challenges, the potential for green finance in India is immense. The increasing recognition of climate change-related risks is driving demand for resilient investments. The progress in renewable energy and efficiency technologies is creating new investment opportunities, and international collaborations can enhance the capacity of Indian financial institutions to support green projects. Finally, the green finance and sustainability landscapes in Indian financial institutions are dynamic and changing rapidly. Regulatory systems, innovative financial instruments, sustainable banking practices, and proactive initiatives from public and private sectors collectively drive green finance growth and support by the countrys strive toward green financing of its transition to a sustainable and resilient economy. 2025 Scrivener Publishing LLC.
Source
Financial Innovation for Global Sustainability;pp.359-383
Date
01-01-2025
Publisher
wiley
Subject
Climate risk management; Corporate sustainability; ESG; Green Climate Fund; Green finance; Renewable energy; Sustainability
Coverage
Hridhya P.K., Department of Professional Studies, Christ University, Karnataka, Bangalore, India; Desai K., SVKMs Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Karnataka, Bangalore, India; Ananthan S., Department of Business Management, Western Community College, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Manickam T., College of Business, University of Buraimi, Al Buraimi Governorate, AI Buraimi, Northern part of Oman, Oman; Devaraja Nayaka K., College of Business, University of Buraimi, Al Buraimi Governorate, AI Buraimi, Northern part of Oman, Oman; Joel Jebadurai D., Department of MBA, St. Josephs College of Engineering, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, India
Rights
Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
Relation
ISBN: 978-139431168-2; 978-139431165-1;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Book chapter

Citation

Hridhya, P.K.; Desai, Kavitha; Ananthan, Sriram; Manickam, Thirupathi; Devaraja Nayaka, K.; Joel Jebadurai, D., “Green Finance and Sustainability: Landscape of Indian Financial Institutions,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 19, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/23935.

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