EN 
PT_BR 
The issuance of green bonds, which began in 2007, reached the mark of US$ 1 trillion, according to a survey by the research company BNEF (BloombergNEF).
In the first nine months of this year alone, more than US$ 200 billion were issued. Among the main projects that raised these resources – used to finance environmental projects and activities – are wind farms and wastewater management.
According to BNEF, this volume of resources represents an increase of 12% compared to the same period in 2019. Together, corporate, government, municipal and mortgage green bond issuances in 2020 lagged 2019 volumes through August.
However, this changed in September when green bonds saw more than US$50 billion brought to the market.
“For much of this year, green bond issuance has lagged behind 2019. But the bumper month of September, with more than US$50 billion issued, offers hope for a possible boom in the final quarter of the year,” said Mallory Rutigliano, financial analyst at BNEF.
One of the biggest boosters in September came from Germany. The federal government issued a €6.5 billion (US$7.7 billion) sovereign bond earlier this month, making it the largest single new green bond this year.
Likewise, the Swedish government and EDF (Électricité de France) helped boost the month, with over US$5 billion combined.
BNEF further highlighted that green bonds have also boosted the broader sustainable debt market – which includes social bonds, sustainability-linked loans, green loans and others.
According to the report, in the first nine months of 2020, green bonds accounted for 47% of sustainable debt issued worldwide.
“The integration of environmental, social and governance criteria has never been more important to investors than in 2020. We have already seen this reflected in the debt market, and it is not only likely that these varieties of financing will grow in volume in the coming years, but we will see more innovation. A driver is likely to be increased pressure to standardize rules around green bonds, especially in Europe,” pointed out Maia Godemer, sustainable finance associate at BNEF.
