RAM Sustainability’s Climate Bonds Approved Verifier status strengthens Malaysia’s position as sustainable finance centre

Published on 18 Aug 2020.

Share Tweet Email

RAM Sustainability Sdn Bhd (RAM Sustainability), a wholly owned subsidiary of RAM Holdings Berhad (RAM or RAM Group), is now an Approved Verifier for the certification of Climate Bonds under the Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme (the Scheme) after having been awarded the status by the Climate Bonds Standards Board on 12 August 2020. This certification process under the Scheme will allow issuers to demonstrate to the market that their green bonds, sukuk or loans meet global best practice standards for climate integrity, management of proceeds and transparency.

“RAM Sustainability’s Climate Bonds Approved Verifier status is another key RAM Group strategic effort to boost Malaysia’s position as a Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) hub and support Securities Commission Malaysia’s SRI Roadmap for the Malaysian Capital Market,” highlights RAM Group CEO, Chris Lee Wai Kit. In 2019, issuances of green bonds and green loans in ASEAN doubled to USD8.1 billion, up from USD4.1 billion in the preceding year, indicating strong interest from issuers, bankers and investors, backed by a conducive regulatory environment for a more sustainable financial market.

“The green bonds and sukuk market is growing in ASEAN, but it needs support. That’s why we are so pleased to welcome RAM Sustainability as an Approved Verifier under the Climate Bonds Standard! We are excited to be working with them to improve access to sustainable finance for ASEAN issuers,” says London-based Climate Bonds Initiative CEO, Sean Kidney. The Scheme acts as a universal adapter across jurisdictions as it incorporates the Green Bond Principles (GBP) and Green Loan Principles and is aligned with the European Union Green Bond Standard and guidelines and regulatory requirements in China, ASEAN, Japan, India and other countries.

RAM Group is an active domestic, regional, and international sustainable finance catalyst. On 26 May 2016, RAM Rating Services Berhad joined the global line-up of six pioneer credit rating agency signatories to the Principles for Responsible Investment’s Statement on Environmental, Social and Governance in credit risk and ratings. RAM Sustainability is the first ASEAN-based provider of sustainability ratings and second opinions and has the distinction of being the first Registered Observer of the International Capital Market Associations’ GBP, Social Bond Principles and Sustainability Bond Guidelines in ASEAN. For further details, please refer to https://www.ram.com.my/sustainability and  https://www.climatebonds.net/.

 

For details on green and climate bonds/sukuk certification, contact:
Gladys Chua
(603) 3385 2611
gladys@ram.com.my

Media contact
Padthma Subbiah
(603) 3385 2577
padthma@ram.com.my

 

Published by RAM Sustainability Sdn Bhd

© Copyright 2020 by RAM Sustainability Sdn Bhd