BY Fraser Tennant
In response to economic shocks caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, governments, supranationals and corporations have accelerated the issuance of social bonds, according to a report published this week by S&P Global Ratings.
Issuance of the bonds – defined as use-of-proceeds bonds that raise funds for new and existing projects that address or mitigate a specific social justice issue such as employment, education, housing and healthcare – has risen fourfold so far this year from the 2019 level to $71.9bn.
Furthermore, S&P projects social bond issuance could approach $100bn this year – potentially becoming the fastest-growing segment of the sustainable debt market. Additionally, S&P expects to see an increase in investor interest in social bonds growing across both the public and private sector.
“Economic shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic have widened existing inequities around the world,” said Lori Shapiro, credit ratings analyst at S&P Global Ratings and primary author of the report. “Poorer people, minorities, and women are suffering disproportionately from growing health, housing, income, and education gaps under measures to contain COVID-19 that could set them back for years to come. This has led to calls for greater social justice in dealing with the pandemic.”
Historically, interest in social bonds from investors, governments and companies has been limited, with social bond issuance comprising only 5 percent of all 2019 sustainable bond issuance. However, since the outbreak of COVID-19, structural inequalities have been placed under the spotlight and calls for social justice have intensified.
This increase in demand is likely to be met with greater supply from a wider range of issuers to fund a variety of projects, including access to safe and affordable housing, improvements to public health infrastructure, and employment or income generation.
Ms Shapiro concluded: “Sustainable finance debt, and particularly social bonds, will continue to serve as a tool in the economic fight against COVID-19 and the social inequalities and justice issues that have proliferated as a result.”
News: Sustainable Finance Addresses Social Justice As COVID-19 Raises The Stakes