Climate Bonds Blog

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) today launched a US$200 million AAA Green Bond offering, ring-fenced to fund IFC climate change related programs.

The bond follows the footsteps of its sister institution, the World Bank. The World Bank has raised over $1 billion in Green Bonds in recet years.

Settlement date for the IFC bond is 26 April; they may get to $250 mil by then. SEB are the lead manager - they're becoming quite a green bond specialist.

This issue is really a market test for the IFC. If the issue is over-subscribed expect more later in the year.

Now the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is getting with the "themed" bonds rhythm: they're marketing Water Bonds to finance its work in the AsiaPac water sector. Daiwa Securities is lead manager; bonds will be issued in Australian dollars and South African rand.

While bond finance for water infrastructure is commonly sought in developed countries, it's rare in emerging nations.

Energy Policy is perhaps the most authoritative international academic journal on energy policy.   It has just published a short piece on climate bonds.

A few weeks ago we told you about Nikko Asset Management’s new World Bank green bonds fund for Japanese investors. They’ve now created a Luxembourg fund aimed at European and Middle Eastern investors. It will be available in £, US$ and Euro share classes.

The fund - the first of its kind - can invest up to 100% of its portfolio in green bonds issued by the World Bank, with funds ring-fenced for World Bank funded climate change projects such as energy efficiency, renewable energy and reforestation.