Green bonds are coming of age
BUILDING NEW MARKETS

Green bonds are coming of age 

Pioneer of green bonds looks to propel the market it helped to create through a number of key strategic partnerships.

Key takeaways:

Partnering with global organisations is crucial to tackle climate change

Equally important is communication and keeping everyone involved updated on progresses and challenges

Practise what you preach. There’s a reason why they call it ‘climate action’

Amundi, frontrunner in the sustainable investment space, moves in lockstep with the green transition. And like its former campaigns the asset manager’s current approach is simple as it is compelling: to make its voice heard and affect change.

In this approach, Amundi partners with global organisations such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC). As a member of the World Bank Group, the IFC gives Amundi access to a range of tools and capabilities that enable the firm to deliver the best outcomes for its clients.

By developing green bond policies, providing training sessions for bankers and facilitating the adoption of the Green Bond Principles, Amundi and the IFC have paved the way for a shift toward climate-conscious investing in emerging markets.

‘It’s one thing to convince a CEO or CFO of the benefits of sustainable business practices, but it’s even more important to get a company’s entire workforce on board,’ said Jean-Marie Dumas, head of fixed income solutions and securitisation at Amundi [1].

‘To change things for the better, we need to coordinate/need to act together,’ he continued. ‘That’s why it’s so important to make sure that we’re all on the same page, be it via training sessions, constant dialogues or regular meetings [1].’

All our green bond endeavours are a result of teamwork. It’s impossible for one person to be up to date on everything in the market - you need experts for specific areas.

JEAN-MARIE DUMAS,
Head of Fixed Income Solutions and Securitisation at Amundi

The power of partnerships

Amundi also uses public-private partnerships (PPPs) to achieve its sustainable finance goals and drive positive change. As Dumas pointed out, implementing change can be a lot easier with the right partner by your side.

‘We have partnerships with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the European Investment Bank that focus on less developed markets in Asia and Europe, including high yield securitisation and mid-cap issuers,’ he said. ‘We want to establish a dialogue between issuers and investors to drive engagement and make the most of sustainable investment opportunities1.’

Amundi’s ESG department plays a crucial role in that regard. The team covers everything from conducting market research and drafting reports to establishing investment policies. ‘All our green bond endeavours are a result of teamwork. It’s impossible to be up to date on everything in the market - you need experts for specific areas,’ Dumas explained.

At the end of the day, he added, it’s a question of dedication: ‘You can’t approach green bonds half-heartedly. They are a valuable tool to direct money toward projects that aim to reduce global warming and, put simply, make this world a better place. If that’s not a good reason to invest, I don’t know what is [1].

Sources:

[1] Interview with Jean-Marie Dumas, Head of Fixed Income Solutions & Securitisation at Amundi, 15 May 2021.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Unless otherwise stated, all information contained in this document is from Amundi Asset Management S.A.S. and is as of 30 May 2022. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. The views expressed regarding market and economic trends are those of the author and not necessarily Amundi Asset Management S.A.S. and are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance that countries, markets or sectors will perform as expected. These views should not be relied upon as investment advice, a security recommendation, or as an indication of trading for any Amundi product. This material does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security, fund units or services. Investment involves risks, including market, political, liquidity and currency risks. Past performance is not a guarantee or indicative of future results. All investors should seek professional advice prior to any investment decision, in order to determine the risks associated with the investment and its suitability.

Date of first use: 30 May 2022

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