France: Green bond market - driving green finance development

The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) has published its first full report on the green bond market France, which in 2017 ranked third globally behind the US and China.

The full report is here: https://www.climatebonds.net/resources/reports/france-green-bond-market-overview-opportunities

FRENCH MARKET LEADERSHIP

France boasts one of the earliest domestic green bond markets. Issuance commenced in 2012 when three local government bodies issued the first green bonds to fund projects that included green buildings and eco-materials, low carbon transport and transit systems, cycleways, renewable energy, wastewater management and biodiversity (including forest management).

French issuers are supporting market transparency with an excellent track record in the use of external reviews, global best practice with over EUR 3 billion of Certified Climate Bonds and a high standards of disclosure in annual green bond reports.

The country’s green bond market has been fuelled by corporate and government-backed issuers since 2013, with a recent push from the state via the landmark Sovereign Green Bond of January 2017.

On April 9, 2018, Agence France Trésor (AFT) renewed its commitment by tapping its sovereign Green OAT for a third time for EUR 1.1 billion as part of the EUR 8 billion of eligible spending for 2018.

Table: Top 10 French Issuers

GOVERNMENT POLICIES ARE SUPPORTIVE OF CLIMATE ACTION

On a policy level, Article 173 of the Energy Transition for Green Growth Law, a ground-breaking piece of legislation introduced in August 2015, has had a resounding impact in Europe. In December 2016, the European Parliament adopted the IORP II Directive, a new regulation that will require pension funds in the EU to account for climate-related risks in their investment strategies.

Furthermore, the French government has embarked on a Big Investment Plan worth EUR 57 billion, to be implemented during the current five-year term. It includes EUR 20 billion for the energy transition. Numerous initiatives have been created to drive market momentum, including asset labelling to increase visibility and Paris EUROPLACE’s Finance for Tomorrow, originally launched in May 2016 as Paris Green & Sustainable Finance Initiative.

Banque de France has started assessing banking risks related to climate change. It's one of the founding members of the Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), which held its inaugural meeting in Paris in January 2018. French banks have proposed, through the French Banking Federation, a green supporting factor for climate related finance and the concept has been put forward to the European Commission's Expert Group on Green Finance (HLEG).

From the investor side, French institutions have largely integrated the sustainability agenda in their investment strategies, and French asset managers have embraced green bonds with dedicated funds offered by Amundi, AXA, BNP Paribas, Crédit Mutuel and Natixis/Mirova, and a green bond ETF by Lyxor.

THE ROAD AHEAD

We believe there is significant potential for future growth across sectors and issuers. The report identifies 25 municipalities, departments and regions, nine government-backed entities and several non-financial corporates in a variety of sectors as prospective green bond issuers.

A Paris Green Exchange? Eleven stock exchanges have established dedicated green or sustainable bond segments, and the Luxembourg Green Exchange has been a success. Could Paris be next?

Facilitating market access for SMEs can provide a major boost to green bond issuance. Tax incentives for smaller companies and aggregation platforms for green securitisation are potential growth avenues.

THE LAST WORD

Global green bond issuance needs to double each year from the 2017 record of USD160.8 billion to reach the USD-1-trillion green finance milestone by end 2020.

The French Government has been a consistent world leader on climate action. President Macron is continuing on this path and it's having an impact.

French green bonds stakeholders are also at the forefront of green finance and we expect they will continue making big contributions.

This combination of political will and investor action has put France in the world's top 3 for green issuance.

Other G20 & OECD nations should take note.

Vive la France! Vive la Republique!

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