Luxembourg — As the European Green Bond Standard (EuGBS) takes shape, Luxembourg is emerging at the forefront of sustainable bond finance in Europe—and perhaps the world.
EuGBS Hits the Ground Running
Since December 2024, the EuGBS has enforced a legal framework that elevates investor trust and transparency in green finance, integral to Brussels’ broader European Green Deal push for climate neutrality by 2050.
Only months into its implementation, at least six European Green Bonds have been issued. Among the earliest, Italian utility A2A launched a €500 million bond in January 2025—dual-listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange—drawing investor demand over four times the amount offered. The European Investment Bank followed suit in April with a €3 billion, 12-year bond, boasting 13-fold oversubscription.
Luxembourg: The Green Bond Capital
Luxembourg’s role extends far beyond listing these bonds. Its financial ecosystem—rooted in advanced infrastructure, seasoned legal expertise, and proactive regulatory policies—creates a favorable environment for issuers to navigate the EuGBS framework.
The Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX), launched in 2016, stands as the world’s first platform dedicated entirely to sustainable financial instruments. LGX has grown into a market leader, commanding a majority share of global green bond listings and offering investors transparency and rigorous standards.
Luxembourg’s pioneering Sustainability Bond Framework, introduced in 2020, further underscores its green finance credentials. Aligned with ICMA principles and EU taxonomy recommendations, this framework facilitated Europe’s first sovereign sustainability bond—€1.5 billion issued days after the framework’s launch.
A Global Green Finance Beacon
Industry leaders continue to acknowledge Luxembourg’s green finance dominance. In October 2024, the European Investment Bank celebrated surpassing €100 billion in Climate and Sustainability Awareness Bond issuances at the Luxembourg Stock Exchange—highlighting the country as a reference hub for sustainable finance.
Beyond Europe, the EuGBS carries growing global weight: China reportedly issued a sovereign green bond structured along EuGBS lines in London, while India is set to align its sovereign green-bond framework with EU standards—further solidifying Luxembourg’s global relevance.
Luxembourg doesn’t just sit at the crossroads of European Green Bond issuance—it actively builds and sustains the roads. From crafting early frameworks and hosting pioneering stock exchange platforms to facilitating high-profile bond issuances, Luxembourg exemplifies how ambition and infrastructure can combine to drive global green finance.
Read More : How Luxembourg is leading the way on European Green Bonds - Funds Europe
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