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Green Bonds Simulation

In the Green Bonds Simulation, participants are corporate finance professionals or impact investors tasked with designing, issuing, or evaluating green bonds. They balance financial return, regulatory requirements, and environmental outcomes.

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Green Bonds Simulation Overview


Participants play the role of decision-makers navigating the issuance and investment in green bonds. Depending on the scenario, they might represent corporations aiming to raise funds through sustainable finance or investors deciding how to allocate capital across green instruments.

Participants explore key trade-offs such as project eligibility, bond structuring, third-party certification, and investor relations. They must align stakeholder expectations, manage reputational and financial risks, and present a compelling sustainability story backed by real numbers.

Developed by sustainable finance experts and capital market practitioners, this simulation gives participants a realistic understanding of how green bonds work, why they matter, and what it takes to execute them credibly in today’s market.
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Green Bonds Simulation Concepts


Participants work through realistic scenarios, which can be customized to emphasize or exclude specific topics depending on the learning goals. This modular structure allows the simulation to be tailored to different types of sessions. Key concepts include:
  • Green Bond Principles & Taxonomies: Understanding various frameworks

  • Project Eligibility: Selecting projects aligned with environmental goals

  • Use of Proceeds: Communicating how funds will be spent

  • Verification & Certification: Engaging third-party reviewers

  • Bond Structuring: Deciding tenor, coupon, pricing, and repayment terms

  • Impact Reporting: Planning for post-issuance transparency

  • ESG Integration: Considering the broader impact beyond financials

  • Stakeholder Communication: Pitching to investors, boards, and regulators

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Gameflow


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What Participants Do


Participants may play issuers, underwriters, or institutional investors. Tasks include:
  • Reviewing environmental goals and capital needs

  • Designing green bond frameworks and selecting eligible projects

  • Working with certifiers to validate green credentials

  • Structuring bond terms and preparing marketing materials

  • Engaging in simulated investor pitches or roadshows

  • Reacting to regulatory, media, or market developments

  • Producing impact reports and post-issuance updates

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Learning Objectives


Participants will strengthen their ability to:

  • Align financing strategy with sustainability goals

  • Design a green bond that meets both investor and regulatory expectations

  • Apply global green bond standards and verification processes

  • Assess financial and non-financial risks in ESG investment products

  • Build transparent and defensible ESG communications

  • Navigate the tension between environmental integrity and market realities

  • Collaborate across finance, strategy, and sustainability functions

  • Defend decisions under pressure from multiple stakeholders

The simulation’s flexible structure ensures that these objectives can be calibrated to match the depth, duration, and focus areas of each program, whether in higher education or corporate learning.

How the Green Bonds Simulation Works


The simulation runs in multiple decision-making cycles, either individually or in teams:

1. Receive a Brief: Begin with a mandate to finance a green initiative (e.g., renewable energy project, climate resilience infrastructure).

2. Analyse and Design: Assess the project's impact and eligibility, choose structure, pricing, and external verification path.

3. Make Decisions: Submit bond design, including use of proceeds, terms, framework, and communication strategy.

4. Interact: Respond to simulated investor, rating agency, or NGO feedback.

5. Review Outcomes: Evaluate issuance success, investor response, and reputational impact.

6. Repeat: Adjust for future issuances with refined approaches.

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Why This Green Bonds Simulation Works


Green bonds are a fast-growing yet complex part of modern finance. This simulation brings clarity by putting learners in the driver’s seat. It goes beyond ESG theory to build practical, high-stakes decision-making capabilities across finance and sustainability teams.

Perfect for finance, ESG, public policy, or investment courses and training programs, it delivers real-world learning with real-world relevance.
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Frequently Asked Questions


  • Do participants need prior knowledge of ESG finance? No. The simulation is guided and suited for both beginners and experienced learners.

  • Is this based on real green bond frameworks? Yes. The simulation incorporates current ICMA Green Bond Principles and market trends.

  • Can it reflect corporate and sovereign contexts? Yes. Cases can be adjusted for different issuers, including corporates, banks, or governments.

  • How technical is the financial modeling? Moderate. The focus is on structuring and decision-making more than formulaic modeling.

  • Are investor profiles included? Yes. Participants engage with varied investor types – from climate funds to traditional asset managers.

  • Can we include external shocks (e.g., climate risk, regulation)? Absolutely. Additional rounds can introduce market volatility or regulatory changes.

  • Is it team-based or individual? Both formats work well. Teams mirror real ESG issuance committees.

  • How is performance assessed? Based on bond success, stakeholder feedback, and clarity of communication.

  • Is it customizable for local markets? Yes. The simulation can reflect region-specific ESG standards and market practices.

  • Can it be used in short workshops? Yes. It can run as a 90-minute session or be expanded into multi-day learning formats.

Assessment


Assessment is based on:
  • Quality of the green bond framework and alignment with goals

  • Stakeholder management and communication

  • Responsiveness to feedback and evolving context

  • Final outcome in terms of bond pricing, uptake, and reputational impact

  • Peer or instructor feedback on team collaboration

The simulation can include written components (e.g., investor memos, ESG disclosure drafts) and group presentations to encourage integrated learning. Additionally, you can also add a built-in peer and self-assessment tool to see how participants rate themselves. This flexibility allows the simulation to be easily integrated into by professors as graded courses at universities and by HR at assessment centres at companies.

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Enquire

Webinar 26 Nov 2025 00:00

Join this 20-minute webinar, followed by a Q&A session, to immerse yourself in the simulation.

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Private Demo

Book a 15-minute Zoom demo with one of our experts to explore how the simulation can benefit you.