eib

> The European Investment Bank (EIB) lends more to clean energy than any other bank in the world. That’s something for Europe to be proud of. But CEE Bankwatch has just shown how, in a way that undermines the EU’s emission reduction targets, the EIB also continues to lend to coal-fired power stations. In fact they lent more this year than last.

1. The UK's Green Deal legislation went through Parliament this week - Hurrah! It allows residential retrofit loans to be repaid via electricity bills, and ties the loan to the house rather than householder. It will significantly reduce the risks of default, eventually allowing investment grade (climate) bonds to be issued against portfolios of these loans. It's a model that will need to be adopted in other countries if we're going to reduce emissions from the housing sector - but, it won't by itself solve the problem of take-up.

The European Investment Bank (the EIB), the EU's bank, is the world's largest clean energy lender. True! Yet their lending is not (yet) enough to achieve the transition to a low-carbon economy the EU needs and has mandated by 2050.

The Climate Bonds Initiative called today for the "greening" of the European Investment Bank (EIB). The call was in response to the EIB's push this week to become the main route for EU climate cash to the developing world.

Speaking in London's Canary Wharf, Climate Bonds Initiative Chair Sean Kidney said: "We support the bank becoming a conduit for European Union climate financing; climate investment banks will be a key part the financing of a rapid transition to a low-carbon economy".

Hard in the heels of the IFC’s US$200 million Green Bond last month, comes the AAA-rated European Investment Bank (EIB) with a third issue of its “Climate Awareness Bonds”.

Denominated in Australian dollars and South African Rand, yesterday’s issue is for the equivalent of €300 million. They will be sold largely to Japanese retail and institutional investors.