Certified Climate Bonds, through the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI)’s Standard and Certification Scheme, have reached 300 billion dollars by the close of year 2023.

The Climate Bonds Standard, with certifications in 52 countries from 294 issuers, extends over 16 sector (largest issuance volume coming from transport, energy, and buildings sectors) and covers 20 types of climate-focused debt instruments (including bonds, project bonds, securitization bonds, loans, green deposits, green repos, commercial paper, CRA, RMBS, sukuk, revolving credit facilities, convertible bonds, covered bonds, private placement, among others).

Top issuers include transport sector leaders such as Société des Grand Paris, Japan Rail Construction Transportation and Technology (JRTT), New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NY MTA), SNCF, and Volkswagen AG, alongside major financial institutions like China Development Bank and sovereign issuers including the Netherlands and Chile.

Year 2023 also marked the release of Standard Version 4.0, broadening the scope far beyond traditional debt instruments such as green bonds and sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs); enabling certification of companies as a whole; and extending reach to hard-to-abate sectors like cement, chemicals, hydrogen, and steel.