Buildings 2.1

 

​Status: Now Open for Public Consultation the New Buildings Criteria 2.1., expanding the scope of the Criteria to New Buildings and a complete alignment with the EU Taxonomy. 

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The Low-Carbon Buildings Criteria pertain to eligible assets and projects related to building investments, encompassing both commercial and residential properties with the potential to meet the stringent standards set forth in the Climate Bonds Criteria. It is important to note that, presently, certification for entities is exclusively available for commercial buildings.

To attain this certification, building owners must exhibit that the buildings financed by a bond are operating in alignment with a linear zero-carbon trajectory. This trajectory is established from a baseline target year emission intensity target, which represents the top 15% of building performance within a given typology in a city at the time of baselining. These building trajectories are systematically being introduced to cities across the globe through the Climate Bonds 'Extrapolation methodology.'

The introduction of a set of criteria for New Buildings marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Climate Bonds Initiative's building criteria. This development brings several noteworthy advantages:

1. Enhanced Clarity: It offers increased clarity regarding the utilization of the criteria for new buildings, making it easier for stakeholders to understand and adhere to the standards.

2. Technological Advancements: By including new buildings, these criteria leverage the latest technological capabilities available in the construction industry, promoting innovation and sustainability.

3. Expanded Typology Coverage: Recognizing that not all building typologies are currently addressed in the Climate Bonds Criteria, this initiative aims to bridge gaps and ensure that a broader spectrum of building projects can meet these essential sustainability benchmarks.

 

The Criteria are developed through a consultative process with Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and Industry Working Groups (IWGs), and through public consultation. The TWGs comprise academic and research institutions, civil society organisations, multilateral banks, and specialist consultancies where as IWGs are represented by industry experts including potential bond issuers and investors. A period of public consultation offers the opportunity to any member of the public to comment on the Criteria.​

 

TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP - Members

Flux Consultants (Technical Lead Specialist ) Ché Wall Director	Climate Bonds Initiative (Criteria development analyst) Aishwarya Sankar  Buildings Sustainability Analyst	UCL - London's Global University (Technical advisor & content direction) Kell Jones Faculty Built Environment, University College London
Investor Confidence Project (Environmental Defense Fund) Panama Bartholomy Director	European Investment Bank (EIB) Tatiana Bosteels Senior Economist	Green Building Council Australia Jorge Chapa Head of Market Transformation	Verco Robert Cohen Technical Director
International Energy Agency John Dulac Buildings Sector Lead - Energy Technology & Policy	European Bank for Reconstruction  and Development Alexander Hadzhiivanov Associate Director, Sustainable Resource Investments	International Finance Corporation Prashant Kapoor Principal Industry Specialist	Climate Strategy & Partners Peter Sweatman Chief Executive

 

​Biographies of current members of the Technical Working Group are available here.