The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank have unveiled guidelines for Amazonia Bonds, a new capital markets instrument aimed at financing activities that positively impact local communities, biodiversity, and zero deforestation efforts in the Amazon region. These guidelines cover project selection criteria, measures to mitigate risks, and indicators for reporting expected impacts.
Based on global standards for sustainable bonds, the guidelines enable the issuance of Amazonia Bonds as a credible sub-label. They were developed with input from stakeholders including finance ministries, banks, corporations, and Civil Society Organizations. Future dialogues will include Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities to ensure the guidelines meet their needs.
Jordan Schwartz, IDB Executive Vice President stated, “We reached a significant milestone today, and we are committed to an ample dialogue to receive more contributions to the continuous improvement of the guidelines.” He emphasized that this initiative is designed to serve all Amazonian countries with critical roles for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Carlos Felipe Jarmillo, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean Region noted that "innovative financing is essential for the preservation and sustainable development of the Amazon forest." He highlighted that partnerships can mobilize resources needed to protect ecosystems and support dependent communities.
The guidelines aim to prevent reaching an Amazonia tipping point by helping scale up investments consistent with regional development needs. They are part of broader programs like IDB’s Amazonia Forever which focuses on biodiversity protection through expanded funding and regional coordination among eight countries. The World Bank's Amazonia Viva seeks similar goals by fostering economic opportunities while safeguarding natural assets.