Focus on “Blue Economy” projects and investments
Acea has today published its first “Green & Blue Financing Framework”, confirming the Company’s commitment to the use of sustainable finance tools for carrying out investments in its reference businesses, starting with integrated water services. This is the first “Green & Blue Financing Framework” in Italy and one of the first in the world to be implemented by corporate issuers.
The said document, in addition to revising the “Green” activities already present in the earlier edition and covered by the green bonds previously issued by Acea for the amount of 1.6 billion Euro, includes a specific focus on the “Blue Economy” initiatives associated with water sector projects and therefore eligible for the issuance of “Blue Bonds", supporting investment plans in a business area of strategic importance to the Group, which is Italy’s leading operator and the second largest in Europe.
The consistency of the “Green & Blue Financing Framework”’ with benchmark international principles and guidelines has been confirmed by the evaluation (Second Party Opinion) performed by “DNV Business Assurance Italy”, independent international provider of ESG (Environment Social Governance) services.
Acea has thus defined a list of suitable project categories to be financed based on precise environmental and sustainability criteria. For each activity a set of indicators has been identified with a view to monitoring the benefits associated with individual initiatives. In particular, the investment categories according to the new document are:
Linked to each of these categories are explicit environmental objectives also in keeping with the “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) defined by the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
The sustainable management of water, environmental and energy infrastructures is a strategic factor for Acea, an integral part of the Green Diligent Growth business plan set out in the 2024-2028 Sustainability Plan, which envisages investments totalling 5.5 billion Euro for the protection of the environment and water resources, for the circular economy and the creation of shared value for people and communities. Acea's commitment to business management driven by sustainability criteria is also acknowledged by the market and by sustainable finance operators, as evidenced by the opinions expressed for example by “Standard Ethics” (very strong evaluation), ISS ESG (PRIME status), Sustainalytics (low risk ESG rating) and by the share’s inclusion in the “MIB ESG Index”, dedicated to the Italian blue-chips that demonstrate the best ESG practices.
The “Green & Blue Financing Framework” and the related Second Party Opinion are available on Acea’s website at the following link.
Acea was advised by Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, acting as Sustainability Structuring Agent.
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