Climate Bonds reaches 1,000th Certified issuances

Climate change is ultimately a financing challenge as much as it is a technological one. The solutions needed to decarbonise the global economy already exist across many sectors but delivering them at the required pace will depend on mobilising unprecedented levels of investment. Every Climate Bonds Certified instrument represents capital directed towards assets that support this transition, helping investors identify opportunities that are aligned with robust, science-based criteria.

The latest A$400 million asset-backed securities (ABS) issuance from FleetPartners Group Limited (FleetPartners) marks the 1,000th Climate Bonds Certified issuance, a significant milestone that reflects the growing adoption of Certification globally and its role in directing capital towards climate action. Certified under the Low Carbon Transport Criteria, the transaction will finance a portfolio of eligible automotive leases backed by new and used low-carbon motor vehicles. By directing capital towards cleaner road transport, the transaction supports one of the key sectors in the transition to a net-zero economy while demonstrating how ABS can mobilise private investment at scale.

The 1000th Certification mark represents the collective efforts of issuers, investors, verifiers, policymakers and market participants who have helped establish Certification as a trusted framework for directing capital towards climate-aligned investments.

A milestone for a maturing market

When the first Climate Bonds Certified bond was issued in 2014, Certification demonstrated that investors were looking for greater assurance that labelled debt was genuinely financing climate solutions.

Since then, the market has grown significantly. More than USD360bn has now been Certified through the Climate Bonds Standard across 1,000 Certified issuances from more than 50 countries, spanning sovereign, municipal, financial and corporate issuers.

Marina Strovolidou, Head of Certifications, Climate Bonds Initiative:
"Climate change won't be solved by pledges. It will be solved by investment. Reaching 1,000 Certified issuances means that capital has been channelled into at least one thousand projects that are consistent with a net-zero future. That's exactly what the Climate Bonds Standard was created to do: give investors confidence that their money is financing infrastructure capable of reducing emissions and building resilience where it's needed most."

FleetPartners' issuance reflects the evolution of the market

Verified by DNV Australia, the programmatic issuance was successfully placed with institutional investors, demonstrating continued demand for high-quality, climate-aligned securitised assets.

As a repeat Climate Bonds issuer, FleetPartners has previously achieved Certification for programmatic issuances in 2024 and 2025. Rather than representing a one-off transaction, the latest issuance demonstrates how science-based Certification can become embedded within long-term funding programmes, providing consistency for issuers and confidence for investors across multiple issuances.

Kam Dyall, Senior Treasury Manager, FleetPartners:

"FleetPartners is pleased to play a part in this significant milestone for sustainable finance. Within our sphere of influence, we are working to address the challenges presented by climate change, and one of our key strategies involves assisting investors with decarbonisation-focused mandates to prioritise investments in climate solutions, reflecting our ongoing commitment to responsible investing. To this end, we have developed a Green Bond Framework, which will serve as a guideline for future ABS issuances in both Australia and New Zealand, enabling those investors to include identifiable and qualifiable "green" tranches under the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) Green Bond Principles.

FleetPartners was among the first fleet management organisations in Australia to issue a green ABS tranche under the ICMA Green Bond Principles in 2024. We look forward to continuing our work with Climate Bonds as we build on this milestone."

The next thousand

Reaching 1,000 Certified issuances marks not an endpoint but the beginning of the next phase of Climate Bonds Certification.

As sustainable debt markets continue to expand, Certification will evolve to meet the needs of issuers and investors while maintaining the scientific credibility that has underpinned the scheme since its inception.

FleetPartners' latest issuance, the 1,000th to achieve Climate Bonds Certification, is both a reflection of how far the market has come and a signal of where science-based sustainable finance is heading next.

An Australian milestone at an important moment

It is fitting that the 1,000th Certified issuance comes from Australia. Alongside this milestone, Australia is also helping shape the next evolution of Climate Bonds Certification. Climate Bonds is currently consulting on the proposed introduction of the  Equivalence Methodology, with the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy serving as the first pilot.

The proposed Equivalence Methodology will enable Climate Bonds Certification to recognise equivalent criteria from external taxonomies where they achieve comparable levels of scientific ambition, environmental integrity and governance. 

The consultation is now open until the 4th of September, and Climate Bonds is inviting feedback from issuers, investors, policymakers, verifiers and other market participants to review the proposals and submit their feedback. 

Read the consultation documents and submit your feedback here.

'Till next time,

Climate Bonds