Stockholm (NordSIP) – Robeco launched a new green bond fund on April 21st according to media reports. This is one of the first bond funds that formally seeks to invest in a manner consistent with the EU’s green bond standard, among other features
The RobecoSAM Global Green Bonds fund is an actively managed fund that aims to provide long-term capital growth by investing in green bonds issued by governments, government-related agencies and corporates, according to the Dutch asset manager. Investments are selected through fundamental analysis and are eligible based on an internally developed framework that incorporates insights from the ICMA Green Bond Principles, the Climate Bond Initiative and the EU Green Bond Standard.
According to an article by Rikkert Scholten, Portfolio manager at Robeco, the green bond fund, “the opportunities presented by green bonds remain attractive, in spite of the recent global financial market turmoil. Green bond issuance has reached a healthy momentum over recent years, and the market now provides an effective tool for investors to meet a range of objectives, including impact, diversification and financial return.”
The framework requires green bonds to fulfil any of the six objectives, without significantly harming the other five: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, the transition to a circular economy, waste prevention and recycling, pollution prevention and control and the protection of healthy ecosystems. Bond issuers to report on the use of proceeds and respect international norms including international labour rights, human rights and the UN Global Compact.
At the end of March 2020, Robeco’s managed approximately €1.7 billion in green bonds.
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