{"id":6407,"date":"2017-07-16T06:59:27","date_gmt":"2017-07-16T10:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=6407"},"modified":"2017-07-16T06:59:27","modified_gmt":"2017-07-16T10:59:27","slug":"investing-in-green-bonds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=6407","title":{"rendered":"Investing in \u2018Green Bonds"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Traditionally,\u00a0socially-responsible investing<\/a>\u00a0meant buying stocks of companies that weren\u2019t in the alcohol, gambling, gun or tobacco business or that helped the environment, as well as mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that owned them. But lately, the idea has spread to bonds \u2014 specifically \u201cgreen\u201d bonds used by companies and municipalities for projects with eco-friendly or climate benefits such as initiatives for clean water, renewable energy, energy efficiency or habitat restoration.<\/p>\n

In other words: Invest in green bonds and you can do good while earning a little income, too. That\u2019s the theory; the reality isn\u2019t entirely there yet, as I\u2019ll soon explain.<\/p>\n

What Green Bonds Are<\/h3>\n

The world of green bonds is sprouting. Two weeks ago, Apple issued a $1 billion green bond to, among other things, finance renewable energy and energy efficiency at its facilities and in its supply chain. The company said the bond was meant to show that businesses are still committed to the goals of the Paris climate change accord,\u00a0Reuters wrote<\/a>.\u00a0 A year earlier, the company issued its first green bond ($1.5 billion), the largest issued by a U.S. corporation. One of the projects it funded: a robotic system to dismantle ditched iPhones and salvage recyclable materials, such as silver and tungsten.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeadership from the business community is essential to address the threat of climate change and protect our shared planet,\u201d Lisa Jackson, Apple\u2019s vice president of environment, policy and social initiative, told Reuters reporter Valerie Volcovici.<\/p>\n

In addition to Apple, an array of other private and government organizations have issued green bonds including Toyota and New York\u2019s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. About $81 billion of green bonds were issued altogether last year, according to the\u00a0Climate Bonds Initiative<\/a>. This not-for-profit organization expects that $150 billion of green bonds will be issued this year, compared with just $3 billion in 2012.<\/p>\n

Read on Forbes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Problem With Green Bonds<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s the problem: It\u2019s unlikely that you will be able to buy, say, an Apple green bond (or would that be a green Apple bond?), since these bonds tend to be scooped up by institutional investors that can buy large blocks.<\/p>\n

Eventually, though, these big operators may pass along smaller lots to small retail investors like you and me.<\/p>\n

How Small Investors Can Buy Green Bonds<\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t be discouraged, though. There are ways small investors can buy green bonds \u2014 through ETFs and mutual funds that purchase them. Just don\u2019t count on enormous yields right now.<\/p>\n

The first U.S.-listed ETF focused on green bonds \u2014 the\u00a0VanEck Vectors Green Bond<\/a>\u00a0ETF launched in\u00a0March<\/a>. It tracks the S&P Green Bond Select Index, which had an annualized return of 8.54 percent over the past five years. This ETF\u2019s recent 30-day yield: 0.93 percent.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the\u00a0Mirova Global Green Bond<\/a>\u00a0fund (minimum investment: $2,500; $1,000 for an IRA). Mirova is a subsidiary of Natixis Asset Management, which focuses on sustainable investment.<\/p>\n

Calvert Green Bond fund<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(minimum investment: $2,000; $1,000 for an IRA), has been around since 2013 and is from one of the first sustainable-investing firms. The fund\u2019s year-to-date yield is 2.45 percent.<\/p>\n

One potential drawback of funds and ETFs focused on green bonds is that they have a relatively narrow universe to choose from, Jon Hale, head of sustainability research at fund tracker Morningstar Inc. told The\u00a0Wall Street Journal<\/a>. A broader approach would be a fund like\u00a0TIAA-CREF Social Choice Bond Fund<\/a>\u00a0($2,500; $2,000 for an IRA), which buys bonds that meet certain environmental and sustainability criteria, in areas from affordable housing to renewable energy. Yield to date: 2.73 percent.<\/p>\n

2 More Green Bond Caveats<\/h3>\n

Two more caveats:<\/p>\n

1) Green bonds are issued under voluntary standards. So there\u2019s no way to guarantee compliance with either the Green Bonds Principles or Climate Bonds Standards, the two main frameworks.<\/p>\n

2) This is still a small market, so the bonds are not extremely liquid (meaning you can\u2019t necessarily sell them whenever you want). For now, if you are able to buy a green bond, it\u2019s best to plan to hold it to maturity.<\/p>\n

Fees Can Be Challenging<\/h3>\n

Before investing in a green bond fund, take a hard look at its fees and expenses. The funds\u2019 charges are often a bit higher than comparable alternatives. For example, the expense ratio for Calvert Green Bond Fund is 0.88 percent, far above the 0.45 percent of the Fidelity Total Bond Fund, another intermediate-term bond fund that has a broader investment focus.<\/p>\n

The Bottom Line on Green Bonds<\/p>\n

In the end, whether you choose to be kind to the environment by earmarking some of your savings for green bonds comes down to your own comfort level with low yields and lofty expenses. To make a more direct impact with less angst, you might opt to simply donate to nonprofits whose mission is to help the planet. They\u2019d welcome the support.<\/p>\n

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By\u00a0Kerry Hannon<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Kerry Hannon has covered personal finance for Forbes, Money, U.S. News & World Report and USA Today for nearly three decades. She is the author of \u00a0Getting the Job You Want After 50,\u00a0<\/a>Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness<\/a><\/em>;\u00a0What’s Next? Follow Your Passion and Find Your Dream Job<\/a>;\u00a0Great Jobs for Everyone 50+<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Suddenly Single: Money Skills for Divorcees and Widows<\/em><\/a>. Her website is\u00a0kerryhannon.com<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@kerryhannon<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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