IDB, World Bank Launch Amazonia Bond Program to Drive Sustainable Investment in the Rainforest

July 4, 2025

10:32 am

Key Impact Points:

$1 Billion in Sustainable Bonds: IDB to issue up to $1 billion in Amazonia Bonds to support forest protection, biodiversity, and local livelihoods.
Global Guidelines Established: Joint IDB-World Bank Amazonia Bond Issuance Guidelines ensure transparent, high-impact use of proceeds.
Multilateral Backing Ahead of COP30: Supported by Spain, the Green Climate Fund, and Germany, the initiative signals intensified climate finance collaboration before COP30 in Brazil.

New Bond Program Targets Amazonia’s Climate and Development Goals

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank have jointly launched a new bond issuance program aimed at attracting private capital for sustainable development in the Amazon region. Grounded in newly released Amazonia Bond Issuance Guidelines, the platform sets robust standards for environmental and social impact, transparency, and use of proceeds.

First $1 Billion Issuance to Fund Forest Protection and Local Economies

As the program’s first major step, the IDB plans to issue up to $1 billion in Amazonia Bonds to finance projects that reduce deforestation, protect biodiversity, and boost economic resilience for Amazonian communities.

“This program provides a clear framework for channeling private capital into sustainable development in Amazonia,” said Ilan Goldfajn, president of the IDB. “With standards for how proceeds are used and reported, it gives investors the confidence that their financing will drive real impact – supporting projects that protect forests and biodiversity, offering concrete economic alternatives, strengthen local economies, and improve living conditions for communities across the region.”

Multilateral Collaboration Fuels Innovation in Sustainable Finance

The World Bank is helping countries and issuers structure credible, high-impact instruments under the Amazonia Viva framework, part of a broader effort to unlock private finance at scale in emerging markets.

“We are proud to support the launch of the Amazonia Bonds Issuance program – an important step toward mobilizing sustainable finance for one of the world’s most vital regions,” said Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank vice-president for Latin America and the Caribbean. “This builds on technical assistance from the World Bank Group, which has helped emerging market public sector borrowers and commercial banks raise significant resources through labeled green, social, and sustainability bonds.”

Support from Spain, Germany, and the Green Climate Fund

Spain’s development agency AECID contributed $2 million to support the guidelines and future issuer assistance. The Green Climate Fund and Germany also provided critical support, including technical assistance for the Green Bond Transparency Platform, a public platform maintained by the IDB to monitor all bond issuances under the new program.

A Blueprint for Climate Finance in the Amazon

With over 47 million people and 20% of the world’s freshwater, the Amazon is crucial to planetary climate balance. The Amazonia Bond Issuance Program is a cornerstone of the IDB’s Amazonia Forever initiative and the World Bank’s Amazonia Viva program, symbolizing enhanced multilateral coordination leading up to COP30 in Brazil.

This new platform provides a replicable model for turning sustainable finance into tangible development and conservation outcomes in one of the planet’s most critical ecosystems.