Climate Bonds Initiative and Kamakura Sustainability Institute join forces to advance sustainable finance in the Asia-Pacific region

The Memorandum of Understanding seeks to strengthen capacity building, green finance knowledge sharing, and thought leadership on themed bond markets

Tokyo, 24 February 2026 – Climate Bonds Initiative and Kamakura Sustainability Institute (KSI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for collaboration aimed at supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. 

The three-year agreement brings together Climate Bonds Initiative’s global leadership in sustainable finance frameworks and market development with KSI’s research expertise, anchored in its strong domestic platform in Japan, enabling the partnership to bridge global standards with local implementation.  The partnership will focus on strengthening green and transition finance efforts across the Asia-Pacific region, while contributing to broader global climate goals. 

Strengthening sustainable finance capacity and market development 

Under the MoU, Climate Bonds and KSI will collaborate across a range of strategic areas, including: 

• Building capacity for Japanese national, sub-national, and private sector actors in green and transition growth planning, financing, and institutional frameworks
• Enhancing cooperation and evidence-based knowledge sharing on green finance
• Advancing thought leadership on opportunities for growth in Japan’s themed bond markets, drawing on insights from both public and private sector experience
• Facilitating staff exchanges and expert collaboration 

The agreement builds on previous knowledge-sharing collaboration in 2025, when a series of workshops provided participants with domestic and international insights, deepening practical understanding of transition finance and transition plans assessment. 

This MoU consolidates the partnership and is designed to ensure complementarity between the two organisations, reinforcing efforts to accelerate sustainable finance markets and address the global climate crisis. 

Yumiko Watanabe, Japan Programme Lead, Climate Bonds Initiative: 

“Working with Kamakura Sustainability Institute allows us to bridge policy, research, and market practice. Together, we aim to build the institutional capacity needed to unlock capital for green and transition investments.” 

Ai Aonuma, Co-Founder & Representative Director, Kamakura Sustainability Institute (KSI) 

“Through this partnership, we hope to contribute to the development of green and transition finance in Japan, while also supporting progress across the Asia-Pacific region. In collaboration with Climate Bonds Initiative, we aim to support the development of credible transition pathways in Japan and contribute to the realisation of a net-zero society.” 

Japan’s sustainable finance market is gaining momentum as the country strengthens policy frameworks and mobilises capital for climate action. In 2025, Japan demonstrated growing leadership in green and transition finance, advancing its Green Transformation (GX) strategy and engaging public and private stakeholders to align emerging standards and investment strategies with global best practice. This progress reflects broader efforts to turn policy ambition into investable opportunities and scale sustainable finance solutions across the Japanese market. 

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Contact for interviews and further information:  

Luiza Mello 

Communications Senior Specialist, Climate Bonds Initiative 

luiza.mello@climatebonds.net 

Notes to the editor: 

About Climate Bonds Initiative: Climate Bonds is the leading international non-governmental organisation mobilising global capital for climate action. We drive the growth of the green and sustainable debt market through science-aligned frameworks including our taxonomies and standards, our Certification, our data and insights, and our provision of expert policy and technical advice. More information on our website here. 

About KSI:  KSI aims to nurture sustainability specialists who can contribute to the development of responsible business with a focus on the Earth, people, and the future. To help practitioners in the sustainability field deepen their expertise, KSI provides regular learning opportunities through courses, webinars, and reports. The organisation believes that meaningful change begins with individual behavioural shifts, and delivers content that is directly useful for professionals active on the ground. More information on our website here.