Bioenergy Criteria Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme Final Criteria Document

The Bioenergy Criteria provide a framework for certifying use-of-proceeds instruments, physical assets, and bioenergy companies. Certification requires meeting specific life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission thresholds that decline over time toward a 'close to zero' target by 2050. It also mandates that biomass feedstocks meet sustainability requirements, often verified through pre-accepted certification schemes, and that facilities implement comprehensive adaptation and resilience plans to manage physical climate risks.

• The criteria establish a temporal trajectory for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity thresholds for various bioenergy products, requiring them to reach 'close to zero' by 2050. 'Close to zero' is defined as a reduction in GHG emissions of at least 95% compared to the applicable fossil fuel comparator.
• To be eligible, biomass feedstocks are classified into four categories: agricultural biomass (further split into food/feed and non-food crops), forestry biomass (limited to waste woody biomass), processing waste and residues biomass, and aquatic biomass.
• Agricultural biomass derived from food and feed crops must specifically address indirect land-use change (iLUC) risks and food security. Compliance can be demonstrated through explicit low-iLUC risk certification, macro-penalty integration, or recognized Productive Intensification Systems.
• The document mandates a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) for GHG emissions, covering feedstock production, processing, fuel production, storage, blending, transport, and use. It endorses five specific calculation tools: BIOGRACE II, RSB GHG Calculator, UK Solid and Gaseous Biomass Carbon Calculator, GREET, and RenovaCalc.
• For the biogas and biomethane value chain, the criteria introduce updated default emission factors to address the tendency of existing methodologies to underestimate methane emissions. Issuers can use actual measured values, default values, or a mix of both, provided that 'best practice' default values are linked to the implementation of specific operational measures.
• Facilities must satisfy a detailed Adaptation and Resilience checklist to ensure they can operate under future climate conditions. This includes identifying physical climate hazards such as temperature rise, extreme cold, extreme rainfall, sea level rise, and wildfires, and implementing corresponding risk management activities.
• Entity and Sustainability-Linked Debt (SLD) certification is available at two levels: 'Level 1-Aligned', where emissions intensity meets thresholds at the time of certification, and 'Level 2-Transition', where alignment is achieved by December 30, 2030.

APA

Climate Bonds Initiative (2019). Bioenergy Criteria Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme Final Criteria Document. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/publications/Bioenergy-Criteria.pdf

Chicago

Climate Bonds Initiative. Bioenergy Criteria Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme Final Criteria Document. 2019. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/publications/Bioenergy-Criteria.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Bonds Initiative |title=Bioenergy Criteria Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme Final Criteria Document |date=1 July 2019 |url=https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/publications/Bioenergy-Criteria.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatebondsinitiative2019bioenergy, author = {{Climate Bonds Initiative}}, title = {{Bioenergy Criteria Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme Final Criteria Document}}, institution = {Climate Bonds Initiative}, year = {2019}, month = jul, url = {https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/publications/Bioenergy-Criteria.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }