Climate Bonds Social and Sustainability Bond Dataset Methodology

The Climate Bonds Initiative's methodology for the Social and Sustainability Bond Dataset (SSBD) establishes a rigorous screening process to identify credible social and sustainability bonds. To be included, instruments must be self-labelled debt, provide adequate public disclosure, and allocate 100% of net proceeds to social or environmental projects, with at least 90% meeting specific eligibility criteria. The framework emphasizes ex-ante impact confirmation for target populations and employs a strict list of absolute exclusions, including fossil fuel exploration and weapons production. Bonds are classified as aligned, non-aligned, or pending based on their adherence to these standards, with a two-year lookback period used for complex assessments.

• To qualify for the Social and Sustainability Bond Dataset (SSBD), a financial instrument must meet three pre-requisites: it must be a debt instrument (excluding short-term debt like commercial paper), it must be self-labelled by the issuer as a social or sustainability bond, and it must have sufficient public disclosure regarding its use of proceeds (UoP) and basic debt information.
• The methodology requires that 100% of a bond's net proceeds be allocated to social or environmental projects, with a minimum of 90% specifically directed to activities that are clearly eligible under the screening criteria. A 10% margin of flexibility is permitted for complex outcomes, particularly in less-developed economies, but cannot be used for fossil fuels or other absolute exclusions.
• Climate Bonds maintains a list of absolute exclusions (minimum safeguards) that disqualify a bond from alignment. These include fossil fuel exploration, production, and refining; solid fossil fuel-based heat, cool, and electricity generation; transportation of fossil fuels; production or trade in weapons and munitions; activities involving harmful forced or child labour; violations of indigenous land rights; and airport infrastructure.

APA

Climate Bonds Initiative (2025). Climate Bonds Social and Sustainability Bond Dataset Methodology. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/Methodology/Climate-Bonds_Social-and-Sustainability-Bond-Dataset-Methodology_SnS-Meth_EN_2025.pdf

Chicago

Climate Bonds Initiative. Climate Bonds Social and Sustainability Bond Dataset Methodology. 2025. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/Methodology/Climate-Bonds_Social-and-Sustainability-Bond-Dataset-Methodology_SnS-Meth_EN_2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Bonds Initiative |title=Climate Bonds Social and Sustainability Bond Dataset Methodology |date=2025 |url=https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/Methodology/Climate-Bonds_Social-and-Sustainability-Bond-Dataset-Methodology_SnS-Meth_EN_2025.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatebondsinitiative2025climate, author = {{Climate Bonds Initiative}}, title = {{Climate Bonds Social and Sustainability Bond Dataset Methodology}}, institution = {Climate Bonds Initiative}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.climatebonds.net/files/documents/Methodology/Climate-Bonds_Social-and-Sustainability-Bond-Dataset-Methodology_SnS-Meth_EN_2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }