27 September 2019: The World Bank launched a three-year Canadian dollar Sustainable Development Bond as part of a campaign to protect and sustain ocean and water resources, in line with SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 14 (life below water). World Bank bonds contribute to the financing of programmes that support the SDGs and aim to raise awareness of the role of the private sector in financing sustainable development.

The World Bank issued the Sustainable Development Bond as part of an initiative to engage investors on the SDGs and to support efforts to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in investment decisions. These most recent SDG 6- and SDG 14-related Bond aims to ensure the sustainable use of ocean and marine resources, including through better waste management to keep pollution from reaching waterways.

Fiera Capita was the sole investor and purchased the CAD$15,000,000 Sustainable Development Bond for the Fiera Multi-Strategy Income Fund. JP Morgan was the sole underwriter and distributor of the bond. The World Bank’s Investor Relations and New Products Head, Heike Reichelt, welcomed the collaboration with Fiera Capital to “communicate the urgency and focus needed to protect water and ocean resources to sustain health, provide food and energy, manage the environment, and create jobs.” Fiera Capital, Global CIO, François Bourdon, underscored the critical role of water in supporting human life and highlighted oceans as “the planet’s life support system.”

The World Bank issues US$50 to US$60 billion annually in bonds for sustainable development. [World Bank Press Release] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on SDG 6 and SDG 14 Sustainable Development Bonds] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on SDGs 2, 5, 13 and 16 Sustainable Development Bonds] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on Sustainable Development Bond to Address Ocean Plastic] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on World Bank Launch of Sustainable Development Bonds]