Ahren Lester

Sustainable bond issuance stages comeback in first quarter 2023

Sustainable bond issuance hit volumes in the first quarter of 2023 not seen since the record-breaking quarters in early 2021, with green and sustainability-linked bonds both getting off to a good start.

GAM: Bank, insurer green bond focus 'amplifies' investment impact

The Swiss asset manager has been "positively surprised" by the financial institution response to engagement by its ground-breaking green bond fund, Ahren Lester reports

CBI climate resilience taxonomy expected in 'next few weeks'

The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) is expecting to publish the first framework paper for its climate resilience taxonomy in the next few weeks, according to its chief executive.

Australia plans sovereign green bond and taxonomy financing

The Australian government has announced it plans to issue a debut sovereign green bond and will co-fund the development of a sustainable finance taxonomy...

Collaborative sovereign engagement could become 'key' after Australia pilot

A ground-breaking collaborative fixed income investor engagement initiative for sovereign issuers could become a "key" part of the climate change engagement landscape in the next couple of years, after early success from a pilot focused on Australia.

Transition finance requires 'fundamental shift' in investor approach

Transition finance requires a "bigger leap of faith" than green bonds, as it requires a "fundamental shift" in approach from sustainable investors, according to MetLife Investment Management (MIM).

Poland: Sovereign SLBs are 'incredibly difficult' due to impact attribution

Structuring sovereign sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) is "incredibly difficult" due to the challenges in predicting the impact of governmental actions on sustainability goals, according to a senior Polish official.

Loan round-up: Air France-KLM, MISC, Hera ... and more

Bond round-up: TAQA, UAE issuance spotlight, Austria, Hera ... and more

Austria raises €3bn from shorter-dated green bond

Austria has raised €3 billion ($3.3 billion) from its second green bond as the country looks to build out the yield curve for its green bond programme...