The Green Bond Pioneer Awards for 'Pioneers in Emerging Markets-India' were organised earlier this month by Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), an international investor-focused not-for-profit which focuses on mobilising the USD 100-trillion bond market for climate change solutions.
Yes Bank was recognised for its pioneering efforts in the Green Bonds market; including the highly successful issuance of India's first ever Green Infrastructure Bonds.
"We are extremely proud to receive this prestigious recognition by Climate Bonds Initiative. Yes Bank aims to be at the forefront of mainstreaming climate finance within the global financial sector and is striving continuously to set industry benchmarks towards creating a sustainable ecosystem," said Namita Vikas, the bank's Group President - Responsible Banking and Chief Sustainability Officer.
In 2015, Yes Bank had issued India's first-ever Green Infrastructure Bonds for Rs 1,000 crore (USD 160 million), which witnessed strong demand from leading global and domestic investors.
Recently, Yes Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) opened trading of the world's first Green Masala Bond worth Rs 3.15 billion issued by IFC and listed on the London Stock Exchange.
CBI has launched the Awards at its inaugural Conference on Global Leadership in the Green Bonds Sector to increase awareness on green bonds in the global investor and corporate community, and also to acknowledge global leadership in the sector.
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said: "I applaud the effort to raise the profile of green bonds and acknowledge leaders in the sector. This is exactly what we need as a follow up to last year's UN Climate Change Conference in Paris".