Information Asymmetry and Greenwashing in the Green Bond Market

Abstract

Disclosure and transparency are two critical components in the green financing sector, especially the green bond segment. Compared to green instruments like green credit, green bond issuances facilitate information dissemination and reduce information asymmetry. Still, concerns stemming from numerous macro-level and firm-level factors impede market advancement. Investors are restrained from green bond financing owing to a fear of potential greenwashing. The nascency of the market, resulting in inadequate disclosure regimes and measurement challenges, exacerbates the problem. Can we find a solution to tackle the dilemma of greenwashing and information asymmetry using emerging, sophisticated technologies? Assessing the major theoretical underpinnings, this chapter presents a comprehensive landscape of how technologies like distributed ledger technologies, blockchain, the internet of things, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the like fit into the green debt market. While following a theoretical approach, collating research, and the green bond market developments, the authors initiate an investigation into how technology can manage disclosure biases. The assessment signifies the role of technology, specifically FinTech, blockchain, and AI technologies, in spotting greenwashing and information asymmetry.