Storebrand Asset Management signs the Green Bond Principles

The market for green bonds is growing rapidly. Since the World Bank released its first green bond in 2008, more than 270 billion dollars have been issued to finance the transition to a more sustainable economy.

The Green Bond Principles (GBP) are voluntary guidelines that recommend transparency and disclosure and promote integrity in the development of the Green Bond market by clarifying the approach for issuance of a Green Bond.

­­­­-The principles contribute to the clarification of what makes a green bond green, says Jan Erik Saugestad, CEO Storebrand Asset Management and adds;

- The GBPs are carefully defined, which makes the follow-up process considerably easier. We as green bond investors, need to be able ensure that our investments deliver promised environmental benefits. Transparency and information is key in achieving that.

"Green investments need significant scaling up"
The GBPs are intended for broad use by the market providing issuers guidance on the key components involved in launching a credible Green Bond. They aid investors by ensuring availability of information necessary to evaluate the environmental impact of their Green Bond investments and assist underwriters by moving the market towards standard disclosures, which facilitates transactions.

- Green investments need significant scaling up in order to reach the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Our aim is to help the green bond market grow and stimulate the market for sustainable investments. We are convinced that companies that take the global challenges seriously will be the most profitable long term and represents a healthy credit exposure.Integrating sustainability in the investment processes improves the potential for return and help us avoid inherent sustainability risks, concludes Saugestad.