> The Financial Times recently reported that China's economy is slowing, profits are falling and its stock market is drifting down, but its corporate bond market is moving in the exact opposite direction: it is booming. Bond issuance was up about 60 per cent by volume in the first half of 2012, compared to last year. The major reason for this has been regulatory reform, with officials clearing away some of the obstacles that have stood in the way of the development of the bond market. Read more.
Climate Bonds Blog
Posted: Aug 5, 2012
China news: corporate bond market booms / Govt cautiously allows bond trading while tightening scrutiny / Beijing Jingneng Clean Energy issuing $567m of bonds
Posted: Aug 5, 2012
> French region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur has issued a 12 year, AA-rated, €119.5m “socially responsible” bond with 75% of proceeds going to environmental projects (renewable energy, energy efficiency, transport) and 25% to social housing. The bond was significantly over-subscribed. Coupon is 3.6%; joint bookrunners were Crédit Agricole CIB (bravo Tanguy Claquin!) and HSBC France. Insurance companies made up 58% of investors, followed by asset managers at 33%. A third French, almost a third German, and the rest divided between Belgian and Dutch.
Snippets: French province issues €119.5m green-SRI bond / S&P says we need bonds to finance renewables / EDHEC study says Solvency II will reduce lending to business / Greenland’s big melt
Posted: Jul 29, 2012
Energy efficiency is a key investment area for the shift to a low-carbon economy. A Technical Working Group has been convened to develop eligibility criteria for the certification of energy efficiency related bonds under the Climate Bonds Standard.
The first meeting, via teleconference, was held on 20 July 2012.
This Working Group is focusing on the built environment; a separate Working Group will be convened to look at industrial and manufacturing energy efficiency.
Climate Bonds Standards Energy Efficiency Working Group starts work
Posted: Jun 26, 2012
You're invited to join Nick Robins from HSBC and Sean Kidney from the Climate Bonds Initiative present a Webinar about the recent ClimateBonds/HSBC report on "Bonds and Climate Change: State of the Market 2012". The report shows that there are $174 bn of climate-themed bonds outstanding in seven different investments areas.
There are two Webinar time options you can choose from:
1. For EU, Asian & Australian audiences - Wed 11 July, 9.30am Paris / 1.00pm Delhi / 3.30pm Hong Kong / 4.30pm Seoul / 5.30pm Sydney
2. For North American & UK audiences - Thurs 12 July, 8.00am San Francisco / 11.00am New York / 4.00pm London (BST).
Join us for 'Bonds & Climate Change' report Webinar 11-12 July / Reminder invite: 3 July, Peggy Liu on China renewables
Posted: Jun 20, 2012
Time: 4pm-6pm, Tuesday 3 July 2012Venue: Shearman & Sterling, Broadgate West, 9 Appold Street, London, EC2A 2AP
JUCCCE (Joint US-China Collaboration for Clean Energy) chairperson and co-founder, Peggy Liu, is a renowned expert on China's renewables market. She was a Time Magazine Hero of the Environment in 2008, a WEF Young Global Leader in 2009, and a "top 25 innovative business leaders" of China Business News Weekly 2012.
Invitation: 3 July 4-6pm London, Climate Bonds roundtable w. Peggy Liu on the Chinese govt & China's cleantech market - how it really works
Posted: Jun 6, 2012
> German wind company Windreich has placed another €5m of 5 year bonds, taking their issuance to €75m in total. The bond has an investment grade BBB+ rating - wind energy bond ratings are improving all the time! Interest rate is 6.5%. http://goo.gl/KcU5g
Windreich BBB+ wind energy bond / Local Govt PF makes climate bonds allocation / Diary alert 3 July: Peggy Liu on China energy / Clements-Hunt+Damerow join CB Adv Panel
Posted: May 31, 2012
The climate-themed bond market is broader and deeper than expected
The Climate Bonds Initiative, in association with HSBC Climate Change Centre of Excellence, today launches a new report on the current size and future prospects for climate-themed bonds.
The Report gives a snapshot of the climate-themed bond markets’ size, the key investments themes and regional market, and finally identifies three key ways to accelerate market expansion.
New report finds USD174bn of climate-themed bonds
Posted: May 25, 2012
> At NYC Environmental Conference this week Citibank director of structured finance Stuart Murray said: "The Climate Bonds market is ready to explode." He added: "The demand for climate bonds among investors we talk to is robust ... the issue is just that we’re not seeing that many bonds coming to market." Come on originators!
Citi: "Climate Bonds market ready to explode" / New ADB clean energy bonds / Climate Bonds on Canadian BizTV / IEA-RETD features green bonds / + bits
Posted: May 23, 2012
Media release below | Read the Executive Summary | DOWNLOAD FULL PAPER NOW
Renewable Energy Covered Bonds - how to adapt the covered bond market to bring capital into the low-carbon economy
Climate Bonds Initiative suggests covered bonds as a means to get bank lending flowing again
New Climate Bonds proposal released today: Renewable Energy Covered Bonds - how to adapt the covered bond market to bring capital into the low-carbon economy
Posted: May 18, 2012
CDC Climate has published a useful paper on green bonds. They suggest that at a time when bank lending is squeezed, green bonds offer an alternative financing for initiatives with an environmental goal.
CDC Climat on green bonds and amazing success of Ile-de-France's €350m green bond / Tickets still going for NYC Env Bonds next Wed / +Berlin +Cologne