Green Bond Awards 2018

Just 12 months after its launch, the Lombard Odier Global Climate Bond Fund - managed by Affirmative Investment Management (AIM) - has much to celebrate.

Obvion has scooped the award for best asset-backed bond for the second year in a row.

Barclays' €500 million ($616 million) green bond was the first issued by a UK bank to finance UK assets.

French bank BNP Paribas had a stellar year, as lead manager or bookrunner for 18 corporate deals worth a combined total of more than $2.5 billion.

Like last year, New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was again the biggest US municipal issuer.

The City of Cape Town has since 2015 experienced a severe drought, which has left its stores of potable water running almost empty.

When Malaysian solar company Tadau Energy issued the first ever green sukuk in 2017, it was an important moment for green bonds, as the phrase entered the lexicon of Islamic financing.

Luxembourg Stock Exchange cemented its position as a leader in sustainable finance in 2017.

September's $4 billion two-tranche bond from the Mexico City Airport Trust was the biggest corporate green bond to come to market and double the size of the company's inaugural green issue in 2016.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's (ICBC) inaugural green issue won the approval of Western investors for its plans to finance projects that form part of China's vaunted Belt and Road initiative.

It has been another busy year for JP Morgan, which was recognised for its influential role in the sub-sovereign, supranational and agency (SSA) market as well as in deals from local authorities and municipalities.

With total issuance of about $627 million in 2017, public sector body MuniFin was the biggest issuer of local authority green bonds.

The Bloomberg Barclays MSCI Green Bond Index was again voted best index, with one investor judge praising its role in helping "maintain the integrity of the market".

Since winning last year's Green Bond Award for 'Best law firm', White & Case has advised Johannesburg Stock Exchange on the implementation of its dedicated green bond segment.

Canadian Solar's JPY5.4 billion ($47 million) project bond placement with Goldman Sachs Japan was the first of its kind when it was issued in April 2017.

Two big deals from the Bank of Beijing made it the biggest bank issuer of green bonds last year.

Ørsted's inaugural green bonds, both issued on the same day in November, demonstrated the company's aim of becoming a pure green player in the energy sector.

France issued a record-breaking €7 billion ($8.65 billion) green bond in January 2017, which was tapped twice since, bringing the outstanding size to €9.7 billion.

SNCF Reseau has set a high standard for others to follow in the field of impact reporting.

Nederlandse WaterschapsBank (NWB) issued the largest ever social bond, with a €2 billion ($2.3 billion) 'affordable housing' issue.

The final report of the European Commission's High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (HLEG) made some influential recommendations for the green bond market.

The City of Paris has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development by returning to the sustainability bond market in 2017.

Fannie Mae has emerged as a major player in the green bond market.

Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank (CACIB) has seized the title of leading underwriter in the green bond market for 2017.

ABN Amro's consistent commitment to the green bond market helped it secure this year's award for lead manager of the year for bonds issued by banks, according to one judge.

Tadau Energy's RM250 million ($59 million) sukuk was the first to be labelled green.

Romani has been passionate about the green bond market, ever since he was involved in the issuance of the first ever green bond, labelled a 'Climate Awareness Bond', from the EIB in 2007.