Climate Bonds Partner Serge Martin makes CA$100,000 commitment to “turbo-charge” Climate Bonds Initiative

 

Serge Martin is a Canadian philanthropist and founder of SOFINOV, a venture capital fund of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the largest pension fund in Canada. In 2002, SOFINOV had assets of CA$1.9 billion with an annual compound return of 24.2% since its launch in 1995.

Serge has made a philanthropic commitment of funding of CA$100,000 to support the work of the Climate Bonds Initiative.

He explains:

“I know the power of financial markets to move agendas. Clinton’s political advisor, James Carville, once said he’d like to come back as the bond market in his next life – they have the power!

“The Climate Bonds Initiative is an NGO that has achieved an enormous amount on a virtually zero budget. I thought ‘imagine what it could do with some funding’.

“So I’m pledging CA$100,000 of my own money — and I’m calling on all those people in the financial sector who know that climate change is the biggest challenge facing the planet to join me. Let’s turbo-charge this fantastic initiative!”

“When you understand financial markets, you’ll understand why the Climate Bonds Initiative is about the most hopeful project we have.”

Climate Bonds CEO Sean Kidney said:

“Serge made his name running the enormously successful SOFINOV venture fund for the people of Quebec. Now he’s a renowned campaigner for environmental issues.

“We’re honoured by his support — and also by the way he has taken on a mission to promote climate bonds in countries around the world. Serge is a fully-fledged Climate Bonds Partner.”

Serge Martin is a Special Advisor to the United Nations Foundation, Sustainable Energy For All Initiative.

In 1974, Serge became a founder of The Great Explorers (www.lesgrandsexplorateurs.com), a series of film presentations on the cultural and natural wonders of the world, narrated live on stage by French-speaking film-makers. Each year, over 400,000 people in 53 cities attend these presentations.

As President of Martin International, he has organized world-class exhibitions on finance (Savings & Investment Marketplace), on entrepreneurship (Business World Exhibition) and on new technology (Multimedia International Market).

As a philanthropist, Serge is working with UNESCO to protect World Heritage Sites, with the World Tourism Organization to develop the Silk Road, with the World Bank Group to eradicate extreme poverty, with David Rockefeller, Jr. and his Sailors for the Sea to preserve the ocean, and also with the Bureau of International Exhibitions to promote the legacy of Universal Exhibitions from London in 1851 to Shanghai in 2010.

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The Climate Bonds Initiative has issued an open invitation to banks, issuers, investors and NGOs to join as Climate Bond Partners to help rapidly grow what is already a US$50bn market of green and climate bonds.

Partner benefits:

  • Access to bonds data, including the latest green and climate bonds, underwriter details and new investment areas.
  • Market insights, tailored corporate briefings and advice making the most of opportunities in the market.
  • Opportunities to connect with issuers, banks, investors, and other Partners.