ISS Reconfirmed as Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme Verifier

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Joint Release

 

ISS Reconfirmed as Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme Verifier

 

ROCKVILLE, Md./LONDON (January 10, 2018) -- ISS ESG, the responsible investment arm of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) – the world’s leading provider of environmental, social, and governance solutions – today announced its reconfirmation as a Verifier under the Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme. The reconfirmation underscores the successful integration of the three branches of ISS ESG, including ISS-oekom which has held Approved Verifier status since 2014.

In its role as a Verifier, ISS ESG assesses eligible assets and projects under the Climate Bonds Standard to determine their compliance with the published criteria. The Approved Verifiers’ role is key to the Climate Bonds Certification process. ISS ESG will verify projects under the Solar, Wind, Marine Renewable Energy, Geothermal, Low Carbon Buildings, Low Carbon Transport and Water Criteria.

As an Approved Verifier, ISS ESG has demonstrated competence in the following areas required by the Climate Bonds Standard:

  • Issuance of debt instruments in the capital markets and management of funds within issuing organisations;
  • Technical characteristics and performance of low carbon projects and assets in the areas covered by the specific criteria available under the Climate Bonds Standard;
  • Provision of Assurance Services in line with the International Standards on Assurance Engagements ISAE 3000;
  • Geographic coverage of approval is aligned with the coverage provided by the Verifier’s insurance policies for professional indemnity / professional liability; and
  • Technical scope of the approval is determined by the Verifier’s levels of experience and expertise in the different technical sectors covered by the Climate Bonds Standard.

 

“Confidence in the green credentials of green bonds is essential to a sustainable market with the Climate Bonds Standard providing clear, sector-specific eligibility criteria for assets and projects that can be used for Climate Bonds and Green Bonds, said Dr. Maximilian Horster, Head of ISS-climate. “We are proud of the reconfirmation of our Approved Verifier status and look forward to the continued contribution of our knowledge and expertise to the quality assurance of these bonds.“

ISS ESG offers a broad range of Green Bond Services delivered by its ISS-climate and ISS-oekom units.

“We are proud to welcome ISS ESG to our Verifiers network, expanding the Certification of green bonds beyond Europe, where oekom has been active for years. Climate Bonds expects an acceleration of green issuance towards 2020 as investors increase their capital commitments towards green finance, and ISS ESG’s strong global presence worldwide and high profile in the US will contribute to ensuring that green market growth is accompanied by science based standards and best practice,” Rob Fowler, Climate Bonds Initiative Head of Certifications, adds.

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Media Contact ISS-ESG:

Media Contact Climate Bonds Initiative:

Dieter Niewierra

Louise Patzdorf

Media & Communications Lead ISS-ESG

Senior Communications & Digital Media Officer

+49 89 5441 8457

+44 (0) 7506 270 943

dieter.niewierra@iss-esg.com

louise.patzdorf@climatebonds.net

 

 

Notes for journalists

 

About ISS ESG

ISS ESG is the responsible investment arm of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc., the world’s leading provider of environmental, social, and governance solutions for asset owners, asset managers, hedge funds, and asset servicing providers. Under the ISS ESG umbrella are three discrete units that draw on deep historical and industry expertise, including: ISS-ethix, which enables investors to develop and integrate responsible investing policies and practices, engage on responsible investment issues, and monitor portfolio company practices through screening solutions; ISS-climate, which provides data, analytics and advisory services to help financial market participants understand, measure, and act on climate-related risks across all asset classes; and ISS-oekom, which provides corporate and country ESG research and ratings and enables its clients to identify material social and environmental risks and opportunities including through advisory services. ISS ESG clients rely on the expertise of all three to help them integrate responsible investing policies and practices into their strategy and shareholder voting decisions. For more information, visit issgovernance.com/esg.

 

About the Climate Bonds Initiative

Climate Bonds Initiative is an investor-focused not-for-profit, promoting large-scale investment in the low carbon economy. Climate Bonds undertakes advocacy and outreach to inform and stimulate the market, provides policy models and government advice, market data and analysis, and administers an international Standard & Certification Scheme for best practice in green bonds issuance. For more information, please visit www.climatebonds.net.

 

About the Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme

The Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme is a FairTrade-like labelling scheme for bonds. Rigorous scientific criteria ensure that it is consistent with the 2 degrees Celsius warming limit in the Paris Agreement. The Scheme is used globally by bond issuers, governments, investors and the financial markets to prioritise investments which genuinely contribute to addressing climate change.

 

About Verification

Verification is an analysis-based process carried out by a Climate Bond Standard Advisory Board, approved independent organisation to assure that a climate bond issuance, the nature of the associated low carbon projects or activities and the associated financial accounting systems are in conformance with the Climate Bond Standard and can gain Certification.

 

 

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this communication does not constitute investment advice in any form and the Climate Bonds Initiative is not an investment adviser. Any reference to a financial organisation or debt instrument or investment product is for information purposes only. Links to external websites are for information purposes only. The Climate Bonds Initiative accepts no responsibility for content on external websites.

The Climate Bonds Initiative is not endorsing, recommending or advising on the financial merits or otherwise of any debt instrument or investment product and no information within this communication should be taken as such, nor should any information in this communication be relied upon in making any investment decision.

Certification under the Climate Bond Standard only reflects the climate attributes of the use of proceeds of a designated debt instrument. It does not reflect the credit worthiness of the designated debt instrument, nor its compliance with national or international laws.
A decision to invest in anything is solely yours. The Climate Bonds Initiative accepts no liability of any kind, for any investment an individual or organisation makes, nor for any investment made by third parties on behalf of an individual or organisation, based in whole or in part on any information contained within this, or any other Climate Bonds Initiative public communication.