ESG Bonds refer to Green, Social and Sustainable Bonds. They are bonds in which the use of funds has a positive environmental, social or environmental and social impact, respectively.
In 2021, we participated in the placement of 9 issues of green bonds for investment in environmentally sustainable assets with a total volume of EUR 5,536 million. We also participated in the placement of 5 issues of sustainable bonds amounting to EUR 5,000 million.
It is important to note that, in July 2019, the CaixaBank Board of Directors approved the Framework for Issuing of Bonds linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, in line with the Sustainable, Green and Social Bond Principles.
In 2021, CaixaBank issued three green bonds, besides the inaugural green bond issued in 2020. The €2,582 million acquired through these three bonds issued in 2021 have been allocated to funding projects that promote two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy; and SDG 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
In 2021, CaixaBank also issued its third social bond for €1,000 million, and in January 2022 a fourth social bond was issued for another €1,000 million. The aim of these third and fourth social bonds is to finance activities and projects that aid in the fight against poverty, promote education and welfare and foster economic and social development in the most underprivileged areas of Spain.