New Shades of Green Bonds Seen As Market Set to Double Again

摘要

Green bonds are starting to come in many different shades as the size of the market for securities designed to benefit the environment is on track to double again. Those are two of the conclusions that emerged from the industry's biggest annual gathering this week in London. Issuance may surge to $206 billion this year from $93 billion in 2016, according to Moody's Corp. As more bonds are issued by a wider variety of institution, investors are starting to track exactly how green those securities really are. So-called dark green bonds adhere to the strictest environmental criteria, while ones described as having a lighter shade can be used to back a broader array of projects. Financial innovation in creating new types of green bond will keep demand growing, said Michael Sheren, an adviser to the Bank of England.