Climate Bonds Green Bond Dataset Methodology

The Climate Bonds Initiative's Green Bond Dataset (GBD) methodology provides a science-based framework for screening labelled green bonds to determine their alignment with a low-carbon economy. By utilizing a modular ecosystem of core principles and a dynamic internal screening library, the GBD moves beyond issuer labels to provide diagnostic insights into environmental credibility, specifically targeting climate change mitigation and ecosystem protection while actively excluding activities that cause carbon lock-in.

• The Green Bond Dataset (GBD) is a diagnostic tool designed to assess whether labelled green bonds are compatible with a low-carbon economy by applying consistent, science-based screening to their use-of-proceeds (UoP). It treats non-alignment, exclusions, and data gaps as "analytical signals" to identify where market practice or disclosure falls short of climate ambition.
• The GBD operates within a three-layer data methodology ecosystem to balance stability with technical agility: the Core Methodology (cross-dataset principles), Dataset-level methodologies (public narratives on scope and objectives), and an internal screening library (detailed alignment conditions and thresholds updated ongoingly).
• To be included in the GBD, instruments must be explicitly labelled as green or under related environmental labels (such as blue, transition, or resilience), follow a UoP structure for specific assets or projects, and have sufficient public documentation for assessment. Bonds with broader labels like ESG or sustainability are only included if environmental activities are central and material to the UoP.

APA

Michetti, C. (2026). Climate Bonds Green Bond Dataset Methodology. Climate Bonds Initiative. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/Methodology/Climate-Bonds_Green-Bond-Dataset-Methodology_01B_April-2026.pdf

Chicago

Michetti, Carlotta. Climate Bonds Green Bond Dataset Methodology. Climate Bonds Initiative, 2026. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/Methodology/Climate-Bonds_Green-Bond-Dataset-Methodology_01B_April-2026.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Michetti |first1=Carlotta |title=Climate Bonds Green Bond Dataset Methodology |publisher=Climate Bonds Initiative |date=March 2026 |url=https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/Methodology/Climate-Bonds_Green-Bond-Dataset-Methodology_01B_April-2026.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{michetti2026climate, author = {Michetti, Carlotta}, title = {{Climate Bonds Green Bond Dataset Methodology}}, institution = {Climate Bonds Initiative}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/Methodology/Climate-Bonds_Green-Bond-Dataset-Methodology_01B_April-2026.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }