Green Bonds hit record in 2014 and could reach $100bn in 2015
Green Bonds reached a record US$36.6 billion in 2014, more than triple the previous year, and the market could hit $100bn this year, according to reports
Green Bonds reached a record US$36.6 billion in 2014, more than triple the previous year, and the market could hit $100bn this year, according to reports.
The Climate Bonds Initiative released new data on Wednesday that illustrates how 73 different issuers made up the market in 2014.
Development banks have provided the bulk of financing for green bonds to date but they have been joined by corporate and municipal bond issuers.
Private sector issuers made up 33 per cent of the market share in 2014 whereas no corporate green bonds were issued the previous year until November.
Climate Bonds Initiative said the $12bn of corporate issuances brought a range of currencies to the market, which improved liquidity.
GDF Suez's $3.4bn green bond was the largest corporate deal of the year and was, divided between renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
The World Bank issued several retail investor-focused green bonds, as well as green bonds across six different currencies.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) continued to be a leading issuer of green bonds and ended the year as the top issuer with $5.6bn of what it calls Climate Awareness bonds issued in 2014.
German development bank KfW was second largest issuer with $3.5bn, with the other top five made up of GDF Suez, the World Bank, and Toyota.