Environmental Impact Bonds on Leading Edge of ESG Bond Market Evolution

The share of new municipal bond issuances in the United States that were labeled green, social, or sustainable increased an average of 51% annually from 2014 through 2020, to reach a total of $27.6 billion last year. Yet not all ESG bond issuances are created equal. In many cases, the ESG-labeled bond disclosures center on intended use of proceeds rather than actual project outcomes. Enter the Environmental Impact Bond (EIB)—a tool for municipalities seeking to better serve citizens, build community resilience, attract new sources of capital, and secure the best possible rate for their bond.

Novel financing for a historic city plagued by flooding: the Hampton Environmental Impact Bond

On December 2, the $12 million Environmental Impact Bond (EIB) we’ve been designing with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the City of Hampton officially closed. By issuing the bond, the City matched financial innovation to the creativity found in its nature-based projects: a drainage ditch turned into a bioswale with native plants; a holding pond revamped for stormwater and water quality; a major transportation corridor elevated and protected against flooding.

Urban & CoastalQuantified VenturesDecember 10, 2020Environmental Impact Bond, environmental finance, water

Sharing Risk, Rewarding Outcomes: The Environmental Impact Bond

What is an Environmental Impact Bond? An Environmental Impact Bond (EIB) is an innovative financing tool that uses a Pay for Success approach to provide up-front capital from private investors for environmental projects, either to pilot a new approach whose performance is viewed as uncertain or to scale up a solution that has been tested in a pilot program.

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