Ahren Lester

ICMA sustainable commercial paper guidance expected in 2024

The International Capital Market Association (ICMA) is expecting to publish long-awaited guidance on issuing sustainable commercial paper (CP) by the end of 2024 as interest in the instrument grows.

Costa Rican sustainable finance taxonomy launched

The major financial regulators of Costa Rica have vowed to "promote and integrate" the national sustainable finance taxonomy into their activities after the Latin American country published the landmark 'green' list.

World Bank issues landmark Amazon reforestation-linked bond

The World Bank has raised $225 million from its biggest ever outcomes-based bond that links its coupon payments to verified carbon removal credits generated by reforestation projects in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

Thai power firm PEA readies debut sustainability bond

State-owned Provincial Electric Authority (PEA) is raising THB1 billion ($28 million) from its debut sustainability bond.

Asian sustainable bond crosses $1trn milestone

Cumulative sustainable bond issuance from Asian issuance has crossed $1 trillion, but 2024 could be the first year the region doesn't report new annual record issuance.

DFCC Bank preparing first green bond in Sri Lanka

Climate adaptation: a 'missed opportunity' in sustainable bonds

Climate adaptation is finding its feet in the sustainable bond market, but Craig Davies says opportunities are being missed to turn risk into investment. Ahren Lester reports

US, Australia become 'SLB deserts' in 2024

The significant slowdown in sustainability-linked bond (SLB) issuance has resulted in some countries which were previously active markets for the performance-based instrument not seeing a single deal in 2024 to date, including the US.

BasisBank issues 'landmark' sustainability bond in Georgia

BasisBank has become the first commercial bank in Georgia to issue a sustainability bond, with the Tbilisi-based lender raising an initial $20 million from the deal.

Sustainable bonds getting 'more explicit' and focused on usage plans

Sustainable bond issuers are getting more comfortable with being increasingly focused and explicit around their use-of-proceeds intentions as investor expectations evolve, according to NatWest.