What's Happening in Sustainable Finance: Rhino Bonds Support Conservation, Spotlight on Social Bonds, and More

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Episode Summary

Hosts

• Nicholas Gandolfo, Director, Corporate Solutions
• Aditi Bhatia, Regional Sales Manager, Corporate Solutions

In our latest episode, we have a round-up of recent developments in the global sustainable finance market. From innovative instruments for financing conservation efforts to growing ESG activity in the private equity space, to a new taxonomy for social bonds, our hosts Nick and Aditi have you covered. Check out the highlights below or listen to the full episode wherever you stream your podcasts.

Social Bonds in the Spotlight

There have been some key developments in the social bond market in recent months. The Platform on Sustainable Finance published its report on the EU’s Social Taxonomy providing clarification on the types of investments that would be considered socially sustainable and proposing a structure for a social taxonomy. Overall activity in social bonds issuance appears to be declining compared to recent years. This is partly due to market stabilization following a surge of issuance during the height of the pandemic and social use of proceeds frequently being included in sustainability bonds frameworks which cover both green and social projects. However, there is growing diversity in the types of social factors being addressed as more issuances come to market related to matters around gender, race, and LGBTQ issues.

Rhino Bonds: Market Innovation to Support Conservation

This new form of social impact bond was recently issued by the World Bank. The US$150 million “Rhino Bond” or Wildlife Conservation Bond will help to fund conservation efforts for the black rhino population in South Africa. The Rhino Bond channels investments to achieve specific conservation outcomes with proceeds being used to help staff in national parks battle poachers and improve conditions for the animals. This bond offers a new model to finance conservation efforts by directly linking the outcome of rhino conservation to investor payouts, and investment success. You can read more about the bond issuance here. 

Recommended Reading

Nick once again provides a list of his recommendations for reports on ESG, sustainable finance, climate change, and transition issues. 

• ACT Transition Methodologies
• Climate Bonds Initiative – Green Bond Pricing in the Primary Market
• Climate Bonds Initiative – Global Green Taxonomy Development, Alignment, and Implementation
• Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures – TNFD Nature-Related Risk & Opportunity Management and Disclosure Framework – beta v0.1
• GRI – Sector Standard for Coal
• IPCC – Sixth Assessment Report
• Environmental Finance – Sustainability-Linked Bonds and Loans KPIs
• Luxembourg Stock Exchange – Trends and Characteristics of the Sustainability-Linked Bond Market
• Science-Based Targets initiative – Guidance for Financial Institutions
• Platform on Sustainable Finance – Final Report on Social Taxonomy 

• International Monetary Funds – Sustainable Finance in Emerging Markets is Enjoying Rapid Growth, But May Bring Risks
• Funds Europe – Stronger Ranked ESG Companies Receive Market Premium
• PitchBook – On the podcast: The ABCs of ESG for PE Firms
• Global Capital – EBA’s Sustainable Securitization Ideas ‘Level the playing field’, says Afme
• International Banker – The Role of Banking in a Just Energy Transition
• Impact Alpha – Social Bonds Direct Proceeds to Racial Equity as the “S” Gains Prominence in ESG
• Science-Based Targets – Guidance for Financial Institutions
• Platform on Sustainable Finance – Final Report on Social Taxonomy
• Sustainalytics SPOs:
  • Government of Chile Sustainability-Linked Bond Framework Second Party Opinion
  • L’Oréal Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework Second Party Opinion
  • Government of Canada Green Bond Framework Second Party Opinion
  • Pepper Money Limited Green Bond Framework Second-Party Opinion
  • TAG Immobilien AG Sustainable Finance Framework Second-Party Opinion
  • Mosaic Solar Green Use of Proceeds Securitized Bond
  • New York Power Authority Green Bond Pre-Issuance Review
  • Marui Group Social Bond Framework Second-Party Opinion