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In a year thrown into disarray by the coronavirus pandemic, Ahren Lester reports on how issuance of green, social and sustainability bonds has continued to power ahead, helped by a broadening range of issuers and more large issues.

As Climate Week draws to a close, here are some of the most important announcements from an event defined by the coronavirus pandemic.

Green bond funds reported sizeable assets growth in 2019, Ahren Lester explains, as the green bond market benefitted from rising market credibility and the arrival of ubiquitous corporate names.

NN Investment Partners has launched a corporate green bond fund amid significant growth in the level of issuance from companies in 2019.

The conference attracted 300 delegates this year, as the discussion broadened out to cover sustainability in the overall fixed income market. Michael Hurley and Peter Cripps report

Green telecom bonds would fall in the top half of S&P’s scoring range under its Green Evaluation analysis, indicating a positive environmental impact, according to a report by the ratings agency.

Heads were turned when it was recently revealed that just 17% of the market value of bonds contained in the Bloomberg Barclays MSCI Green Bond Index would meet the proposed EU Taxonomy criteria – and thus be eligible to be verified in line with the EU Green Bond Standard (GBS).

The fifth annual ESG in Fixed Income, featuring the Green Bonds Americas conference will take place in New York on 17 September.

Green bond issuance rocketed 40% in the first quarter of 2019, shrugging off a decline in the wider fixed income market, according to Moody's.

After pausing for breath in 2018, the market for green, social and sustainability bonds surged again in the first quarter of this year.