Ahren Lester

Sustainable sukuk market on 'promising upward trajectory'

The sustainable sukuk market is on track for another strong 2024 for issuance as the Islamic finance instrument increasingly attracts debut issuers, regulatory support, and international investors.

Sustainable bond impact report shortfalls trigger 'toxic mix of assumptions'

Sustainable bond issuer failure to publish post-issuance impact reports is a major problem in both emerging and developed markets, according to State Street Global Advisors (SSGA)...

Sustainability-linked bonds becoming 'endangered species' in 2024

Sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) are becoming an "endangered species" in 2024 after recording the weakest quarterly issuance volumes since the end of 2020 for the performance-based instrument.

EdenTree launches sustainable government bond fund

Specialist sustainable asset manager EdenTree Investment Management (IM) has launched a government debt fund focused on labelled sustainable bonds, such as green bonds.

Germany hires banks ahead of 2025 green bond framework update

ESMA opens sustainable bond prospectus technical advice consultation

The European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) has opened a consultation on proposed technical advice on sustainability disclosures updates to the EU bond prospectus regulation, including around post-issuance reporting requirements.

IDB Invest backs ground-breaking BBVA 'biodiversity bond' in Colombia

IDB Invest has invested in a landmark $70 million green bond from the Colombian arm of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) which is dedicated to biodiversity-related projects.

S&P: Green Asset Ratio is 'incredibly exciting' part of EU Taxonomy - in principle

The "most exciting" part of the EU Taxonomy regulation are the Green Asset Ratio (GAR) disclosures for banks as it provides investors with clear links between financial and sustainability reporting, according to S&P Global Ratings.

CBI publish 'game-changing' agriculture criteria

The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) has published its "game-changing" sustainability criteria for agricultural production projects, with the influential not-for-profit hoping it provides a "forward-thinking tool" for one of the more complex areas of sustainable finance.

Azerbaijan, IFC sustainable taxonomy 'roadmap' to launch at COP29

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan and International Finance Corporation (IFC) are set to publish a sustainable finance taxonomy "roadmap" to encourage interoperability between the rapidly growing number of national 'green lists' in development.