Green Bonds Get Rubber-Stamped as Investors Question the Label

摘要

Global investor enthusiasm for saving the planet has helped spur record issuance of green bonds. It’s also driving a surge in third-party verification that proceeds from the debt sales are actually destined for environmentally friendly projects, as fears of “greenwashing” mount. There have been about 480 green bonds issued by companies and governments so far this year with some form of assurance, a record high, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s about 80% of all the green debt sold, and PepsiCo Inc. and Starbucks Corp. are among those paying independent reviewers for certification. “If we say something is sustainable, when our clients look under the hood it has to live up to that reputation,” said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Wealth Management, which buys green bonds. Asset managers are concerned about lack of definition of what’s truly green, Haefele -- whose firm manages $2.5 trillion in assets -- said in an interview.