S&P Global Ratings Announces New Green Evaluation Service

NEW YORK, April 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global Ratings today announced the launch of its Green Evaluation service, a comprehensive approach to measuring sustainability at the asset level. Green Evaluations, which are separate from traditional credit ratings, can be used to assess the green impact of a variety of securities and are independent of credit characteristics. A full description of the analytical approach to Green Evaluations is available here: "Green Evaluation Analytical Approach." Also see "Beyond Green Bonds: Sustainable Finance Comes Of Age" and "Guest Opinion: We Won't Solve For Green Finance Unless We Solve For Infrastructure," published today.

"We wanted to respond to the robust market demand for rankings that consistently measure climate risk and environmental impact, and research that delivers actionable insights," said Michael Wilkins, Managing Director and Head of Environmental and Climate Risk Research at S&P Global Ratings. "We developed this approach after consultation with investors, issuers, and other constituents, and we're confident that it sets a new standard in the green finance market."

Green Evaluations are currently available for projects or initiatives focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, green transportation, environmentally compliant buildings, fossil fuel projects, nuclear, and water. The evaluations can be applied to all or part of an eligible financial instrument.

The Green Evaluations are aligned with the International Capital Market Association's widely accepted Green Bond Principles, and also provide a benchmark on environmental impact or climate resilience.

In determining a Green Evaluation, S&P Global Ratings first evaluates the governance and transparency of financings from an environmental perspective. Depending on the project, analysts will then either estimate an asset's expected lifetime environmental impact in its region or its likely level of resilience to natural catastrophes. Evaluations will be delivered as a digital or printable report that will be available through the S&P Global Market Intelligence platform, as well as the upcoming Ratings360 platform.

S&P Global Ratings has long incorporated climate and environmental risks into its credit rating process. In May 2016, the organization expressed support for the U.N. Principles for Responsible Investment initiative to bring greater clarity on how environmental, social, and governance factors are considered in credit analysis. We also participate in the Financial Stability Board's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, an industry-led body that is developing voluntary climate-related financial disclosure standards.

WEBCAST DETAILS

S&P Global Ratings will host complimentary webcasts to discuss our Green Evaluation methodology and the sustainable finance market on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. Hong Kong Time, 4.00 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time. It will be repeated on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 3:00 p.m. British Summer Time.

Registration link:

http://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1409176/3835F69DD2237A5A4969FD1813EE25BC

S&P Global Ratings' webcasts deliver audio in a streamlined console. You will need computer speakers or headphones to listen to the audio stream. You may submit your questions for the presenters in real-time via the red Q&A icon located at the bottom of the screen.

A replays of the webcast will be made available shortly afterwards and will be accessible for 90 days. The link is the same as the registration link.

The reports are available to subscribers of RatingsDirect at www.globalcreditportal.com and at www.spcapitaliq.com. If you are not a RatingsDirect subscriber, you may purchase copies of these reports by calling (1) 212-438-7280 or sending an e-mail to research_request@spglobal.com. Ratings information can also be found on the S&P Global Ratings' public website by using the Ratings search box located in the left column at www.standardandpoors.com. Members of the media may request copies of these reports by contacting the media representative provided.

Media Contact:

Ola Fadahunsi, New York (212) 438-5095

olayinka.fadahunsi@spglobal.com

Analyst Contacts:

Michael Wilkins, London (44) 20-7176-3528

Miroslav Petkov, London (44) 20-7176-7043

Jessica Williams, London (44) 20-7176-3884

Nicole D Martin, Toronto (1) 416-507-2560

Kurt E Forsgren, Boston (1) 617-530-8308

Michael T Ferguson, CFA, CPA, New York (1) 212-438-7670

Key Contacts:

Americas Media Relations: (1) 212-438-6667

media_relations@spglobal.com

Americas Customer Service: (1) 212-438-7280

research_request@spglobal.com  

S&P Global Ratings is the world's leading provider of independent credit ratings. Our ratings are essential to driving growth, providing transparency and helping educate market participants so they can make decisions with confidence. We have more than 1 million credit ratings outstanding on government, corporate, financial sector and structured finance entities and securities. We offer an independent view of the market built on a unique combination of broad perspective and local insight. We provide our opinions and research about relative credit risk; market participants gain independent information to help support the growth of transparent, liquid debt markets worldwide.

S&P Global Ratings is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/ratings.

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