Green Bonds

'Next gen' EU GBS frameworks 'really need to go into the weeds,' says NatWest

The "next generation" of green bonds incorporating the EU Green Bond Standard (EU GBS) requirements will demand "significant effort" from issuers that could slow the progress in developing frameworks and then issuing bonds under the landmark standard, according to NatWest.

Jamaican sustainable bond listing framework on track for September

The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) expects to finalise its framework for issuers to list sustainable bonds by the end of September, as it continues it work by publishing a guide to issuing these labelled instruments.

Sustainable Debt Round-up: Japan, Masdar, First Abu Dhabi Bank ... and more

'Probably the most beautiful bond we have ever seen'

The Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute (AFII) has argued that sovereign issuers should develop a sustainability-linked bond (SLB) in twin-bond format, arguing this would "probably be the most beautiful bond we have ever seen".

NatWest: Investors 'increasingly' asking for blue and nature bond deals

Investors are increasingly asking NatWest to specifically bring nature-focused and 'blue' bond deals to market, but despite being "meaningful" themes in the sustainable bond market they are still not effectively being pointed out.

EU GBS: 58% of sustainable bond frameworks since 2023 meet standard

Nearly three-fifths of the green and sustainability bond frameworks published since the start of 2023 'could claim alignment' with the rigorous requirements under the EU Green Bond Standard (EU GBS), according to MainStreet Partners.

Rakbank raises $600m from 'milestone' social bond debut

United Arab Emirates (UAE) lender Rakbank has raised $600 million from its debut social bond, which is the first public social bond issued in the Middle East.

Japanese transition bonds likely to 'move closer to green'

The use of proceeds for the ground-breaking Japanese sovereign transition bond programme is likely to become more conventionally 'green' rather than move more into the more contested 'transition' projects, according to the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCRA).

CA-CIB issues debut 'Sustainability-linked Loan Bond'

French lender Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank (CA-CIB) has launched a JPY3 billion ($19 million) bond focused on financing a portfolio of sustainability-linked loans (SLLs) following a detailed set of 'best-in-class' practices.