New Approved Verifiers for Climate Bonds Standard: Access to certification services grows for green bond & loan issuers

Providers from Australia, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand amongst latest to gain Approved Verifier status 

The list of Approved Verifiers to the Climate Bonds Standard in 2019 has grown to extensive global coverage, with organisations from Germany to New Zealand the latest to gain Approved Verifier status from the Climate Bonds Standards Board. 

Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Framework uses a Verification process to ensure that Climate Bonds Standard and science-based Sector Criteria are followed in the use of proceeds by the issuer. 

Verification under the Climate Bonds Standard is carried out pre and post-issuance of the bond/loan by the independent Approved Verifier, contributing to the reporting & disclosure requirements of the Climate Bonds Standard.  

 

New Approved Verifiers 

SinoCarbon

SinoCarbon Innovation & Investment Co., Ltd. (SinoCarbon) is an innovative think tank, state-authorised certification body focusing on energy, climate change, environmental protection, green development and other fields. One of a growing number of China based Approved Verifiers, SinoCarbon is committed to developing into a leading green and low-carbon comprehensive service to promote green development. 

 

Japan Credit Rating Agency

Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCRbecame an Approved Verifier in August this year. Founded in 1985, Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (JCR) is one of the major credit rating agencies in Japan. JCR is the only Japanese credit rating agency registered in the United States and is a certified CRA in EU. JCR provides an independent evaluation (Rating/Scoring) and verification with its long experience in Japanese debt capital markets, together with the Japanese environmental engineering firm, E&E Solutions.

 

DQS CFS GmbH

DQS CFS GmbH is registered in Germany and together with its parent company, DQS Group GmbH, operates in 80 offices across 60 countries. DQS CFS’s business includes certification audits, verification of ESG indicators, external assurance on sustainability reports, environmental audits as well as training. 

Within the Group, DQS CFS is the branch that focuses on audit and assessment services related to sustainability and consumer safety. DQS Group offers assessments and certifications in various industries, to more than 200 different standards.

 

Deloitte

Deloitte’s Italian, German and China member firms recently joined the Approved Verifiers ranks, alongside the other member firms from France, Luxembourg and Spain. Globally, Deloitte is a founding member of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and is also a member of the steering council of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) and a member of the “World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)”.

Deloitte Italy, one of the largest professional services networks in Italy, first started its activity in this country in 1923 and boasts century old roots, combining a tradition of quality with avant garde methods and technological expertise. 

Deloitte GmbH Germany is registered in Germany and currently operates in Germany. It provides audit, risk advisory, tax, financial advisory and consulting services.  Deloitte Germany is a member of Econsense – a forum for sustainable development of German business.

Deloitte China is registered in Shanghai and currently operates in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Mongolia.  Its primary business is audit and assurance and other related professional services. This application is submitted by the Sustainability Services team.

 

Golden Credit

Golden Credit Service Co. is a leading credit consulting company in China. The company is committed to providing objective and independent verification & certification services related to green bond, green enterprise, and environmental protection. In addition, it provides consulting services of ESG risk management and sustainable & responsible development.

Golden Credit Service is entitled to qualified credit investigation institution of the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), a credit system cooperative institution of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), as well as member of National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors (NAFMII)

 

KPMG

KPMG Australia has a long tradition of professionalism and integrity, combined with their dynamic approach to advising clients in a digital-driven world. Service areas are Audit, Assurance & Risk Consulting; Deals, Tax & Legal; Management Consulting; and Innovation & Digital Solutions. 

KPMG New Zealand has a nationwide team of 1,000+ professionals work with private businesses, publicly listed companies, Government and public sector organisations, and not-for-profits providing professional services across Audit, Tax and Advisory. 

Their people are based in all the major centres, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton. 

 

 

Global Reach of Verification Services 

The organisations under the Approved Verifiers list span the globe, some focusing on specific regions and others with a worldwide cover. These organisations have longstanding presence in the market and their experience on a vast range of areas of assessment, reporting and assurance provides support to the green bond and loan Issuers who are considering Certification for their debt.

Verifier

Geographic Scope

Climate Bonds Criteria

SinoCarbon

China

All sectors

JCR

Japan

All sectors

Bureau Veritas

Worldwide

Solar, Wind, Water, Buildings, Transport, Marine Renewables

DNV-GL

 

Worldwide

All sectors

 

EPIC Sustainability

 

Worldwide

All sectors

 

EY

 

Individual member firms are the Verifier. Subject to issuer’s location, the issuer may be referred to the appropriate individual firm. 

All sectors

 

KPMG

 

Individual independent member firms are the Verifier. Subject to issuer’s location, the issuer may be referred to the appropriate individual firm. 

 

All sectors

 

Sustainalytics

 

Worldwide

 

All sectors

 

TÜV NORD

 

Worldwide

All sectors

First Environment

 

Worldwide

All sectors

SynTao Green Finance

China

Solar, Wind 

Vigeo Eiris

 

Worldwide

All sectors

BDO India

 

India

Solar Energy

Wind Energy

 

Beijing Zhongcai Green Financing Consultants Ltd

 

China

Solar, Wind, Buildings, Transport

Marine Renewables

Carbon Trust

Worldwide

Solar, Wind, Buildings, Transport

Water

Emergent Ventures India (EVI)

Worldwide except USA & Canada

Solar, Wind, Transport, Forestry

PwC

 

Individual network member firms are the Verifier. Subject to issuer’s location, the issuer may be referred to the appropriate individual firm. 

All sectors

 

Lianhe EIA

 

China

Solar, Wind, Buildings, Transport, Water

NSF Certification, LLC

 

Worldwide

Solar, Wind, Buildings, Transport, Water

Deloitte

Individual member firms are the Verifier. Subject to issuer’s location, the issuer may be referred to the appropriate individual firm. 

All sectors

Raising Clean-tech Investment Consulting Co., Ltd.

China

Solar, Wind, Buildings

China Chengxin Credit Management Co., Ltd. (CCX) (CCX)

 

China

Solar, Wind, Transport, Buildings,

Water

Kestrel Verifiers

 

Worldwide

Solar, Wind, Water, Buildings, Forestry

Carbon Care Asia Limited (CCA) 

 

Hong Kong, China, Singapore, ASEAN Member States

Buildings, Water

China Quality Certification Centre (CQC)

China

All sectors

Multiconsult ASA

 

Worldwide except USA

 

Solar, Wind, Buildings, Transport

ERM Certification and Verification Services

 

Worldwide 

 

Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Marine Renewable, Buildings, Transport, Water

Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) 

 

Worldwide except USA & Canada

 

Solar, Wind, Buildings, Water

HR Ratings

 

Mexico

 

Solar, Wind

CECEP Hundred Technical Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

 

China

Wind, Solar, Transport, Water

Indufor Oy 

Worldwide

Forestry

Greensolver

 

Worldwide

 

Wind, Solar

Build America Mutual (BAM) 

 

United States

 

Water, Buildings (Commercial)

Transport

ISS 

 

Worldwide

 

Solar, Wind, Marine Renewables, Geothermal, Buildings, Transport, Water

 iGreenBank 

 

China (not include Hong Kong, Macau)

 

Solar, Wind, Geothermal Energy

Marine Renewables, Buildings, Transport, Water

Golden Credit Service Co., Ltd.

 

China

Solar, Wind, Geothermal Energy

Marine Renewables, Buildings, Transport, Water

DQS CFS

 

Worldwide

 

All sectors

 

 

At a Glance - Certification & Approved Verifiers

Climate Bonds Certification requires the engagement of an Approved Verifier. 

 The Approved Verifier is an organisation that has expertise in the following three areas:

  1. Issuance of debt instruments in the capital markets and management of funds within issuing organisations.
  2. Technical characteristics and performance of low carbon projects and assets in the areas covered by the specific criteria available under the Climate Bonds Standard.
  3. Provision of Assurance Services in line with the International Standards on Assurance Engagements ISAE 3000.

An Approved Verifier follows our Assurance Framework and guidance to Certification. These guidelines provide with an assessment methodology and manage conflict of interest and impartiality of verifiers. Climate Bonds delivers training to the Verifiers and other support to verifiers. 

The EU GBS has selected the same fundamental international standards for providing assurance i.e. ISAE 3000 which are already mandated under the Climate Bonds’ procedures for verification. Our current approach to approving, training and monitoring verifiers is closely aligned with the EU’s proposed approach to qualifying verifiers. 

 

The Last Word

The Approved Verifiers list has grown rapidly as more issuers come to market and adopt best practice via Certification against the Climate Bond Standard and adopting best practice. 

So far in 2019, already a record year for green finance, 20% of the market volume is Certified. 

We’ve introduced a new Approved Verifier Directory to make the search and selection process easier for prospective issuers and look forward to working with verifiers as we develop the Standard and expand the reach of various Sector Criteria. 

More to come on this, 

 

‘Till next time,

Climate Bonds