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Report “Bonds and Climate Change – the State of the Market in 2013“
Climate Bonds Initiative carries out important research on climate-themed bonds. The last report has now been released. The aim is to reduce the cost of capital for climate related investments, while at the same time seeing the creation of safe and secure investments suitable to the needs of pension and insurance funds.
Climate Bonds Initiative carries out important research on climate-themed bonds. It is an investor-focused not-for-profit working to mobilize bond markets for climate change solutions. These involve a rapid transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy
The published report finds:
- The total universe of bonds linked to key climate themes stands at USD 346bn, double last year’s estimate.
- The issuance of new climate-themed bonds was USD 74bn in 2012, up 25% on 2011.
- China accounts for USD 127bn of the total, followed by the UK and France.
- CO2 transport, notably rail, accounts for 75%, followed by clean energy and climate finance.
- 89% of the USD 346bn universe is investment grade
The report can be downloaded here.
The Climate Bonds Initiative is:
1. Providing policy models and advice
Rapid change at very large scale will depend on a close working relationship between government, finance and industry. The Climate Bonds Initiative is developing policy proposals for all three sectors, including:
- How to boost bank lending to renewables by adapting the $3 trillion covered bonds market to create renewable energy covered bonds.
- Delivering on the promise of large-scale energy efficiency (e.g. getting to 85% of housing stock within 10 years).
- Policy risk insurance for renewable energy bonds, to be provided by a consortium of governments.
2. Developing trusted standards
The Climate Bond Standards Board is developing standards for investments eligible to be called Climate Bonds.
This will provide greater certainty for investors about the climate benefit of their investments, especially in controversial areas like energy efficiency and bio-energy.
Board members are California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), the State Treasurer of California, the (US) Investor Network on Climate Risk, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Carbon Disclosure Project, and the (Australian) Investor Group on Climate Change.
An Industry Working Group consults with the Climate Bond Standards Board. Members include representatives from: Standard & Poor’s, Aviva Investors, the IFC (a part of the World Bank Group), KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, DNV and Calvert Funds Management.
The Board has already created standards for wind energy bonds and has certified its first bond, soon to be launched. Solar and energy efficiency investments will be the next to be certified.
3. Launching demonstration projects
The aim of these ‘proof-of-concept’ projects is to demonstrate investibility and the potential to finance with Climate Bonds. For example, working with municipalities in England, the Climate Bonds Initiative is developing a plan for securitization of residential energy efficiency loans with the aim of providing a financing pipeline for the whole country.