Sustainable finance taxonomies: defining green investments to drive global climate action
Climate Bonds pioneered the concept of sustainable taxonomy in 2012, creating the first science-based framework to define Paris-aligned projects and assets: the Climate Bonds Taxonomy.
Since then, we have supported over 30 national and corporate taxonomy projects worldwide, providing technical expertise to align finance with climate goals. Sustainable finance taxonomies bring clarity and consistency for identifying sustainable investments, guiding capital towards low-carbon solutions and helping high-emitting sectors transition. They build trust in green finance and support the rapid growth of sustainable bonds, which reached USD 6 trillion in 2025.
Today, over 50 national or regional taxonomies are in place or under development. When based on shared principles – a concept known as “interoperability” – they help scale markets, attract cross-border investment, and accelerate the global transition to a sustainable economy.
