INSIGHT by the Climate Bonds Initiative
ISS Corporate Solutions(link sends e-mail) (ICS), a leading provider of compensation, governance, cyber risk monitoring, and sustainability offerings to help companies improve shareholder value and reduce risk, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first-ever Approved Verifier to provide Entity Level Verification and Sustainability Linked Debt certifications for Corporates seeking Certified Green Entity status under the established Climate Bonds Standard or seeking certification of their general purpose debt. This marks a major step forward services in sustainable finance, allowing Companies to legitimise their green entity status under the rigorous Climate Bonds Standard.
Under the Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme, ICS will play a pivotal role in assessing and verifying corporates’ alignment with the science-based criteria set forth by the Climate Bonds Standard. This new certification offering allows Corporates providing goods and services in the real economy to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and contribute to a low-carbon future.
To attain Certified Green Entity status, corporates must showcase alignment with 1.5-degree pathways or demonstrate their plan to achieve alignment by 2030. This certification opportunity is open to all corporates, whether their emissions are already near-zero or require further progress. The key requirement is the establishment of Ambitious Performance Targets and Credible Transition Plans, ensuring that the corporates are actively engaged in an ambitious and credible transition towards a sustainable future.
ICS’ appointment as the first Approved Verifier for Entity Level Certification reflects their extensive expertise and competence across all the aspects of the Climate Bonds Standard. These include good knowledge of the debt capital markets, an understanding of the technical characteristics of low-carbon projects and assets, and experience in the provision of assurance services and in the evaluation of performance targets, business models, governance and transition plans.
“A significant milestone that allows for third-party assessment of companies to become Certified Green Entities. The Climate Bonds framework for Entity Level and Sustainability-Linked instrument certification signals to investors the green and transition alignment not just of the debt issued by these entities, but of their range of activities. This significant advancement brings transparency to the financial market and reinforces the importance of credible, science-based green investments. By enabling corporates to become Certified Green Entities, we extend the benefits beyond the debt market, creating opportunities for sustainability and responsible investment practices extend beyond the fixed income markets to the equity market.”
-Sean Kidney, CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative
“ISS Corporate Solutions is proud to be recognized as the first Approved Verifier for Entity Level Verification and Sustainability Linked Debt certifications for Corporates under the Climate Bonds Standard. Climate Bonds Initiaitive is a recognized thought leader in the sustainable finance space, and the update of their Standard to reflect the most recent market innovations is a testament to their commitment. As a leading SPO provider with significant experience with hard-to-abate and transitioning sectors, ICS contributed to the development of the new methodology with our feedback during the stakeholder engagement process, and we are confident that the Standard represents another best-in-class benchmark for the market.”
-Federico Pezzolato, Global Business Manager, Sustainable Finance at ICS
The Climate Bonds Initiative, through ICS’ participation as the pioneer Approved Verifier, aims to accelerate the adoption of green finance and foster science-based standards and best practices worldwide. As investors increasingly commit capital to green finance, ICS’ global presence and reputation, , will play a crucial role in promoting the growth of the green market while upholding rigorous verification standards.
The appointment of ICS as the first Approved Verifier for Entity Level Certification signifies a significant milestone in the sustainable finance landscape. By providing a robust and credible verification process, ICS is driving the transition to a low-carbon, resilient, and resource-efficient economy while ensuring transparency and accountability in the green finance market.
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Climate Bonds Initiative: An investor-focused not-for-profit, promoting large-scale investment in the low-carbon economy, Climate Bonds Initiative carries out market analysis, policy research, market development; advises governments and regulators; and administers a global Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme. To learn more about the Climate Bonds Taxonomy, Certification Scheme, and its alignment with the EU Taxonomy, visit website.
Climate Bonds Standard and Certification is an overarching science-based, multi-sector certification scheme for investments – and now entities – that address the challenge of climate change and are consistent with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
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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.
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