Climate Bonds approves CASA Guatemala as a new Certification pathway for low carbon residential buildings

New proxy criteria under the Climate Bonds Standard buildings criteria expand Certification opportunities for Guatemala's sustainable buildings

Key highlights 

• Climate Bonds has approved CASA Guatemala v3 as a new Certification pathway for eligible low carbon residential buildings under the Climate Bonds Standard. 
• The new proxy criteria recognise new residential buildings certified by the Guatemala Green Building Council under the CASA Guatemala v3 rating scheme, subject to additional climate performance requirements. 
• Eligible buildings must achieve Gold or Platinum certification and meet additional requirements covering electrification, electric mobility, whole life carbon assessment and enhanced energy performance. 

Guatemala City, 04 September 2026, 9am – Climate Bonds has approved a new Certification pathway for residential buildings in Guatemala, recognising eligible projects certified under the soon-to-be-launched CASA Guatemala v3 rating scheme as eligible for Certification under the Climate Bonds Standard, subject to additional climate performance requirements. 

The new proxy applies to new residential buildings certified by the Guatemala Green Building Council under CASA Guatemala v3. To qualify, projects must have achieved a Gold or Platinum certification level and meet the additional requirements established under the Climate Bonds Standard. 

The new pathway provides eligible residential developments in Guatemala with a route to Climate Bonds Certification based on the locally applicable CASA Guatemala rating scheme, alongside additional requirements designed to ensure alignment with the Climate Bonds Standard. 

What buildings are eligible?

To qualify for Certification, eligible projects must meet CASA Guatemala v3 requirements alongside additional Climate Bonds requirements. 

Buildings must be electrified, with the main source of energy used for building operations not coming directly from fossil fuels, such as diesel-powered power stations. Emergency power stations and auxiliary generators remain permitted in the event of a national energy crisis. 

In addition, buildings must account for their full life-cycle carbon footprint, covering both embodied and operational carbon. 

Enhanced energy performance

Eligible buildings must demonstrate a minimum energy efficiency improvement of 30% relative to the reference value used in the applicable assessment method. 

Projects can demonstrate compliance through one of two pathways: 

• Path A – Building Energy Simulation: Projects must meet Prerequisites Ep1 and Ep2 and demonstrate a minimum 30% efficiency improvement relative to the reference value.  
• Path B – Energy Performance using the Prescriptive Method: Projects must meet Prerequisites Ep1 and Ep2 and demonstrate a minimum 30% efficiency improvement relative to the reference value used to determine projected energy consumption and efficiency. Projects must use the prescriptive calculators provided by the CASA Guatemala certification system. 

Residential property upgrades

Residential property upgrades can also be eligible through the existing building upgrades criteria of the Climate Bonds Standard. 

Eligible properties must achieve a minimum operating energy emissions reduction of 30% for a five-year bond, increasing to a minimum 50% reduction for a 30-year bond. 

Andrés Felipe Sánchez, Global Head of Regional Oversight & Head of LAC de Climate Bonds, said: “Guatemala already has a local framework for identifying better-performing residential buildings. By recognising CASA Guatemala within the Climate Bonds Standard, we can build on that local expertise while maintaining the climate ambition investors expect from Certification. This creates a practical connection between Guatemala’s sustainable building market and international climate finance, helping eligible projects demonstrate their credentials to investors and access capital for low-carbon development.” 

The new eligibility pathway applies to CASA Guatemala v3-certified new residential buildings that achieve Gold or Platinum certification and meet the additional Climate Bonds requirements. 

For full eligibility requirements and technical guidance, read the CASA Guatemala proxy here.  

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For interviews and more information, please contact: 

Leticia Braga 

Communications Specialist 

Climate Bonds Initiative 

leticia.braga@climatebonds.net 

Notes for journalists:  
 
About Climate Bonds Initiative: Climate Bonds is the leading international non-governmental organisation mobilising global capital for climate action. We drive the growth of the green and sustainable debt market through science-aligned frameworks including our taxonomies and standards, our Certification, our data and insights, and our provision of expert policy and technical advice. More information on our website here.  

About Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme: The Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme is a multi-sector, science-based framework that allows investors and intermediaries to assess the climate credentials and environmental integrity of bonds and other sustainable finance products. Version 4.3 covers Use of Proceeds, Asset, Entity, and Sustainability-Linked Debt Certification products. More information here. 

About CASA Guatemala: CASA Guatemala is the national adaptation of the international CASA certification system, establishing itself as the benchmark standard for the construction of resilient, sustainable, and healthy homes in the country. 

Led by the Guatemala Green Building Council, Its objective is to guide developers, architects, and builders in the design and construction of resilient, sustainable, and healthy homes, centered on the final user. CASA Guatemala is a multi-attribute, performance-based system with quantitative indicators and independent verification. It is a strategic tool for homeowners, developers, and companies in the sector to achieve and highlight sustainability and resilience goals in their projects. 

About Guatemala Green Building Council: The Guatemalan Sustainable Construction Council (GGBC) is a non-profit organization that promotes sustainability strategies to transform the construction sector market toward environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and economically viable practices that do not compromise the needs of future generations. One of the council's main objectives is to educate and promote innovative sustainability-related topics that generate global market demand. The council's goal is for sustainable and resilient construction to become the only way to build in Guatemala.