Lianhe Equator becomes first Approved Verifier in China for Entity and SLD Certifications
London, 12 March, 2025: Lianhe Equator Environmental Impact Assessment Co., Ltd. (Lianhe EIA) has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Approved Verifier in China authorised to conduct verification for Entity and Sustainability-Linked Debt (SLD) Certification under the Climate Bonds Standard. This groundbreaking development underscores China's dedication to advancing sustainable finance and opens new opportunities for Chinese investors, entities, and issuers to engage in credible, transparent, and internationally recognised green financing.
By securing Climate Bonds Certification through a local verifier, entities and issuers enhance credibility, attract environmentally conscious investors, and streamline the Certification process, fostering market growth and investor confidence through local support.
Understanding Entity and Sustainability-Linked Debt Certification
Under the Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme, Lianhe EIA has previously conducted verifications for Use of Proceeds (UoP) and Asset Certification. With this latest approval, they are now also authorised to undertake verification engagements for Entity and SLD Certification.
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Entity Certification: Available to legal entities that provide non-financial goods and services, or specific segregated segments thereof. To qualify, entities must establish ambitious Climate Mitigation Performance Targets aligned with the Climate Bonds Sector Criteria at the time of Certification. This alignment demonstrates a company's comprehensive commitment to sustainability across its operations.
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Sustainability-Linked Debt (SLD) Certification: SLDs are general-purpose debt instruments whose financial or structural characteristics vary depending on the issuer's achievement of predefined performance targets. For Certification, the Climate Mitigation Performance Targets associated with these instruments must align with the Climate Bonds Sector Criteria and be supported by robust, science-based methodologies. This structure incentivises issuers to meet specific environmental goals, linking financial outcomes to sustainability performance.
Wenhong Xie, Head of China Programme, Climate Bonds Initiative:
"The approval of Lianhe EIA as the first verifier for Entity and Sustainability-Linked Debt Certifications in China marks a pivotal moment for the country’s sustainable finance market. This milestone strengthens investor confidence and empowers Chinese issuers with a credible, science-based pathway to align their financing with global climate goals. We are excited to witness the growing market participation this will inspire, driving the acceleration of capital towards low-carbon and climate-resilient investments in China."
Jingyun Liu, Executive President of Lianhe Equator:
“Lianhe Equator takes great pride in being recognised as the first institution in China to be permitted by Climate Bonds Initiative to conduct verification work for the Certifications of Entity and Sustainability-Linked Debt. This achievement not only presents valuable opportunities for us to expand our certification business of sustainability-linked products both within the domestic market and on the international stage but also plays a significant role in promoting the in-depth development of the sustainability-linked products market, enhancing its maturity and standardisation.”
Since 2019, Lianhe has worked with Climate Bonds conducting verification for the Certification of prominent financial institutions and organisations across China, including major banks and investment groups. With a cumulative Certified amount of RMB 113.1 billion (USD 17.3 billion), Lianhe’s expertise spans key sectors such as Low Carbon Transport, Solar, Wind, Waste, Water, and Buildings, solidifying its role as a leader in sustainable finance Certification.
By facilitating these Certifications within China, it ensures that Chinese entities and issuers can effectively demonstrate their environmental commitments, thereby attracting investment and contributing to global climate objectives.
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For more information please contact:
Leticia Braga
Communications Specialist, Climate Bonds Initiative
+55 61 99248-7070
Notes for journalists:
About Climate Bonds Initiative: Climate Bonds Initiative is a global not-for-profit organisation working to mobilise global capital for climate action. Climate Bonds Standard and Certification is a science-based, multi-sector certification scheme for investments, and now companies/entities, that addresses the challenge of climate change. For more information, please visit www.climatebonds.net
About Climate Bonds Standard: The Climate Bonds Standard is an overarching science-based, multi-sector standard overseen by the Climate Bonds Standards Board that allows investors and intermediaries to easily assess the climate credentials and environmental integrity of bonds and other green debt products.
About Lianhe Equator: China Lianhe Equator Environmental Impact Assessment Co., LTD. (Lianhe Equator) was established in 2015, which primarily engaged in green bond third-party certification, green financial advisory and environmental impact assessment business. It is a green bond assessment and certification institution registered by the Green Bond Standard Committee for market-based assessment and the verification institution recognized by Climate Bonds Initiative. The core technical force includes a significant number of senior environmental protection experts at the provincial and ministerial level, a good number of registered consultants and more than sixty registered environmental impact assessors, who has leading green financial advisory service capabilities in the industry. Lianhe Equator has innovatively created numerous first-in-the-nation certification cases of innovative bonds in various fields and has ranked first in terms of the market share of domestic green bond certification for several consecutive years.