“The Green Finance Framework augments the University’s existing work to carry out cross-disciplinary research for a better and more sustainable future for Singapore and the world. The Framework facilitates collaborations between academia and industry to translate research into solutions for real-world problems.”
– Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President
As an extension of NUS’ commitment towards its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan 2030, the University launched a framework on sustainability-linked finance in April 2020. The Green Finance Framework provides the overarching criteria and guidelines for it to enter into green finance transactions, such as green bonds and loans.
Proceeds from the green finance transactions will be used to fund a strong pipeline of eligible projects with clear environmental benefits. The green projects defined in the Framework are aligned to five focus areas:
- Green buildings or precincts;
- Renewable energy and energy efficiency infrastructure;
- Sustainable water and wastewater management;
- Pollution prevention and control; and
- Sustainable management of natural resources and land use.
In 2020, NUS successfully raised S$300 million through its first green bond issuance. It has since raised a total of S$940 million in green bonds.
The proceeds were used to fund or re-finance green projects such as SDE4, Singapore’s first new-build net-zero energy building, the state-of-the-art multi-tenanted Wet Science research building, the incorporation of sustainable features in buildings, and the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on the rooftops of campus buildings.
On 15 December 2024, NUS signed a MOU with Northern Trust, to drive innovation in green finance and promote the adoption of green finance framework and blockchain technology in ESG reporting. This initiative is another step forward in our finance transformation.
Green Bond Reports
In line with the Green Finance Framework, NUS publishes a Green Bond report on an annual basis, starting from the first anniversary of its inaugural Green Bond issuance until full allocation of the proceeds from the relevant issuance.
- S$300m 10-Year Bond issued in 2020
- S$300m 10-Year Bond issued in 2021
- S$340m 10-Year Bond issued in 2023