The European Commission could expand the European Banking Authority’s mandates for follow-up work on the EU covered bond directive to include recommendations on green covered bonds, which were a key topic for the European Central Bank at a recent Helsinki European Covered Bond Council plenary.
Issuers facing problems sourcing green, social or sustainable assets or aligning them with short term debt issuance could instead turn to ESG-linked commercial paper as an efficient alternative, according to ABN AMRO’s Dick Ligthart. Meanwhile, one issuer who follows the use-of-proceeds approach acknowledges that in the money market sustainable investors might prefer a more holistic ESG rating-based approach, which relies more on the overall ESG credentials of the company given […]
ECB officials called for greater disclosure of all covered bonds’ climate-related risks at a European Covered Bond Council plenary last week, while speakers were sympathetic towards a flexible definition of green covered bonds as the EBA asked the industry whether it feels the asset class requires a dedicated framework.
The European Covered Bond Council is working on a definition of green covered bonds aimed at reflecting the distinct characteristics of the instrument to ensure its appropriate treatment in incoming regulations, and following a Green Bond Principles update deemed contradictory to its core feature by some.
ICMA, the IFC and UN Women have launched a guide outlining practical ways to use sustainable debt to advance gender equality, with the bond market yet to realise its potential to meaningfully contribute to SDG 5, according to proponents of the new guide.
Net zero ambitions abounded during the Finance Day of the COP 26 Presidency Programme in Glasgow on Wednesday, with a Mark Carney-led alliance touting a $130tn headline figure, but critics questioned whether such pledges are sufficient.
Jyske Realkredit published the first Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) Label harmonised disclosure template yesterday (Thursday), with the EMF-ECBC hailing the move as supportive of preferential treatment for green mortgages as the EBA and European Commission move ahead with regulation.
The first update to the Green Bond Principles (GBP) since 2018 was issued on Thursday, including formalising recommendations that bond frameworks and external reviews be used, and a recommendation of heightened transparency around issuer-level sustainability aims.
The final EU Taxonomy delegated act looks set to prove accommodating to green covered bonds, with a new leaked version aligning with current market practice of the top 15% most energy efficient buildings, as originally recommended by the TEG, and other criteria also relaxed.
A leaked updated draft of the EU Taxonomy delegated act contains looser eligibility criteria that would be applicable to a wider range of buildings, but it could still exclude green bonds under several existing frameworks and has been deemed inconsistent and still overly restrictive.
Copyright © 2019 Newtype Media | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes