Election time is coming up in Sweden and sustainability is at the top of the agenda. In light of this, we are thrilled to announce that Nasdaq Nordic Sustainable Bond Market now lists more than one hundred green and sustainable bonds, a testament to the widespread integration of ESG-practices amongst Nordic companies.
2018 marks yet another milestone for Nasdaq’s sustainable bond markets, following a strong history of Nordic Leadership within this area:
2008: SEB pioneers the market when developing the green bond concept with the World Bank
2013: Vasakronan issues the first green corporate bond
2013: The city of Gothenburg becomes the first city to issue a green bond
2015: Nasdaq Nordic launches the Sustainable Bond Market
2016: Fabege launches the world’s first green MTN program, developed with the Swedish advisors Handelsbanken and Mannheimer Swartling
2018: Landshypotek works with Danske Bank, Nordea and Handelsbanken to issue the first ever green covered bond financing sustainable forestry
2018: Nasdaq launches sustainable segments for retail investors
2018: Nasdaq lists its 100th green bond
The Nordic bond markets are small in monetary terms but stand out in terms of leadership in sustainable finance. We are proud to facilitate an infrastructure that highlights the great work Nordic companies are doing to transition into a more sustainable economy.
Impressive growth of sustainable bonds
It has been 3 years since the launch of our first Sustainable Bond Market in Stockholm. Since then, the share of bonds labeled green or sustainable has grown at an impressive pace. The sustainable bond market in Stockholm listed 40% more green bonds during the first half of 2018 than the full year of 2017. The steady influx of new issuers, coupled with Nasdaq’s new segments for retail traded corporate and structured bonds, are set to provide continued growth in the years to come.
Currently, close to 10 % of all corporate and municipal bonds listed on the main market of Stockholm are either green or sustainable, an extraordinary figure in a global comparison and a development we are eager to see replicated in our other markets.
The Nordics cannot solve the world’s climate challenges. However, the thought leadership shown by the Nordic ecosystem of advisers, issuers and investors can have a real impact on the sustainability of the global financial markets. At Nasdaq we will continue our work to make it easier for investors to invest in a more sustainable future.
Contact us for more information
Axel Holm Account Manager, Nordic Fixed Income
+46 8 405 6812
Issuer Surveillance Stockholm
+ 46 8 405 7050
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
