Anglian Water funds 850 capital investment projects through Green Bonds
Since it announced its first Green Bond in 2017, Anglian Water has funded a remarkable 850 capital investment projects through financing from Green Bonds totalling £811 million.
The water company is leading the way in green financing with five Green Bonds now in operation and a sixth ready to draw down in 2020.
Anglian became the first European utility company to issue a sterling Green Bond in 2017. The investments made through the Green Bonds issued to date are expected to save or avoid 160,736 tonnes of carbon – a 61% reduction from the company’s 2010 capital carbon baseline.
Projects funded by the Green Bonds must contribute to five environmental objectives:
- Climate change mitigation
- Climate change adaptation
- Natural resource conservation
- Biodiversity conservation
- Pollution prevention and control
Uniquely for a utility company, the sustainability focus at the heart of its business means all Anglian Water’s capital expenditure qualifies for the Green Bond. Anglian Water has committed to a range of ambitious environmental goals, including pledging to reach net zero carbon by 2030. The goal is just one part of the water industry’s recently pledged Public Interest Commitment.
Earlier this year, Anglian became the first water company to change its Articles of Association to enshrine its long-term commitment to deliver wider public interest outcomes for society and the environment by altering the core documents that govern the overall management of the business.
Embedding public interest objectives in this way means the company’s Board must take account of the wider impact Anglian Water has on customers, communities and