About us

Climate Bonds Initiative is an international organisation working to mobilise global capital for climate action

We promote investment in projects and assets necessary for a rapid transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy.

The strategy is to develop a large and liquid Green and Climate Bonds Market that will help drive down the cost of capital for climate projects in developed and emerging markets; to grow aggregation mechanisms for fragmented sectors; and to support governments seeking to tap debt capital markets. We empower our Partner organisations with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate, influence, and instigate change.

Climate Bonds Initiative is an investor-focused not-for-profit. Our work therefore is an open source public good and falls into three workstreams.

 

1. Market intelligence

• Reporting on green bond market evolution

We produce a Green bonds: State of the Market report, quarterly highlights reports, regional and country-specific reports and updates. We track post-issuance reporting and green bond pricing in the primary market, green bond underwriter league tables and stock exchanges with green/sustainability bond segments. We issue thematic reports, e.g. on sectors and structures used in the market. We also produce guides to facilitate issuance.

We maintain a bond library for new issuers since early 2018.

 

• Sizing the climate bonds universe

To overcome the perception of a niche market and demonstrate the opportunities available to investors, the Climate Bonds Initiative undertakes an annual survey of bonds outstanding globally related to climate change. Each year the report is presented in seminars in multiple countries and via briefings for banks and investors.

 

• Demonstrating green infrastructure pipelines

Green infrastructure presents a huge investment opportunity globally, with an estimated US$100tn worth of climate-compatible infrastructure required between now and 2030 in order to meet Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets. The Green Infrastructure Investment Opportunity (GIIO) programme aims to identify and demonstrate green infrastructure investment opportunities around the world. We have published GIIO reports on Indonesia and Australia & New Zealand.

...Read more on Markets

 

2. Developing a trusted standard 

The Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme is a labeling scheme for bonds. It is designed as an easy-to-use tool for investors and governments that assists them in prioritising investments that truly contribute to addressing climate change. The Standard is a public good resource for the market.

• Climate Bonds Taxonomy is the backbone of the standard work – it defines investments that are part of low carbon economy.

The Climate Bonds Standard is overseen by the Climate Bonds Standard Board.

...Read more on the Standard

 

3. Providing policy models and advice

Rapid change at very large scale will depend on a close working relationship between government, finance and industry. The Climate Bonds Initiative is developing policy proposals for all three sectors, including:

• How to boost bank lending to renewables by adapting the $3 trillion covered bonds market to create renewable energy covered bonds.

• Delivering on the promise of large-scale energy efficiency (e.g. getting to 85% of housing stock within 10 years).

• Policy risk insurance for renewable energy bonds, to be provided by a consortium of governments.

...Read more on Policy

 

>>> Read our 10-point case