ESG in Public Finance
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing is driving conversation and questions in the public finance industry. What is socially responsible investing? What is the difference between labeled bonds and risk disclosure? What is impact investing? What do investors want? What can issuers provide?

Muni asset managers are seeking more data from issuers on ESG, yet no agreed-upon set of standards exists, complicating the industry’s relationship with the growing sector.

June 28
Other articles
Barranquitas, Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

Changing federal policies toward hurricane aid may change these events' credit impacts.

July 1

The state has led the way on environmental policies and spent billions on housing, but significant challenges mean its ESG scores aren't that great.

June 30
ESG

State Treasurer Riley Moore is among of a group of GOP state officials challenging ESG efforts he calls “coercive capitalism.”

June 29
ESG

Disclosure around ESG-related risk factors to credit as well as for ESG-labeled bonds remains a mixed landscape that reflects the heterogenous nature of the muni market itself.

June 28
Former Chicago Chief Financial Officer Jennie Bennett in her office on Sept. 16, 2019

From disclosure to issuance labels, the Chicago finance team is shaping ESG practices that are top of mind for municipal market.

June 28
Arizona is one of seven states that depend on the Colorado River to provide water for 40 million people.
Two retail-focused offerings have already raised more than $40 million from investors for renewable energy projects in Connecticut.

Join the MSRB’s Mark Kim and Harvard University’s Lourdes Germán as they discuss opportunities to leverage MSRB data to help contribute to better understanding in the evolving ESG area.

Sponsored by Assured Guaranty
How a two-way conversation on ESG can help boost demand for municipals.
Sponsored by Assured Guaranty
ESG: A view from the borrower and the investor

We believe our industry should coalesce around objective measures of ESG "risk" and leave the"impact" considerations to the investors and their proxies. Buy-side participants should welcome this as they structure impact strategies to match their clients' needs.

October 14
7 Min Read
Green bonds and traditional municipals price head-to-head in a recent deal. Barry Fick, Executive Director of the Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority, gives the rundown of how the deal fared. The Bond Buyer’s Caitlin Devitt hosts. (18 minutes)
Sponsored by Assured Guaranty
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