Buildings

Green investments in the building sector

Buildings account for 40% of global emissions, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns the sector is not on track to limit global warming to 1.5°C. 

Rapid investment in green building solutions is essential. Fortunately, existing technologies can quickly decarbonise both new and renovated buildings. 

What are the Buildings Criteria?

The Buildings Criteria define what qualifies as a green building investment under Climate Bonds Certification. They cover three key areas:

• Commercial Buildings
• Residential Buildings
• Upgrade Projects

To achieve Certification, building owners must demonstrate that the financed buildings follow a zero-carbon trajectory. This is determined using a baseline emission intensity target, representing the top 15% of building performance in a given city or typology. We apply our Extrapolation Methodology to establish these trajectories globally.

Key milestones

In 2023, the Criteria were expanded to include New Buildings, bringing significant advancements:

• Greater clarity for investors.
• Integration of technological innovations.
• Coverage of a broader range of building types.
• Alignment with the EU Taxonomy for sustainable finance.

Learn more

Contact us to discover how these Criteria can support your sustainability goals.