EU states agree to delay ‘green’ investment guide, leave it open to nuclear, coal

An effort to set standards for determining which financial products qualify as "green" should be delayed until the end of 2022, European Union governments agreed on Wednesday, and might end up including investments in coal and nuclear power.

The delay, if confirmed by EU lawmakers, could slow the growth of the $200-billion market for green bonds, by pushing back clearer standards that many investors wanted.