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This report uses network analysis to examine 75 policy and finance instruments and 22 barriers to achieving net zero carbon buildings in cities. It identifies financial barriers as the most critical, particularly for residential buildings, and emphasizes that mandates (such as building codes) are central to the transition. The authors argue that capacity development and fiscal instruments must act as systemic enablers to make mandates and financial mechanisms effective.

The Buildings Criteria, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative on December 7, 2023, establishes the eligibility requirements for buildings and built environment projects to achieve Climate Bonds Certification. The criteria focus on climate change mitigation, providing pathways for Use-of-Proceeds instruments, Assets, Sustainability-Linked Debt (SLD), and Entities to demonstrate climate integrity through absolute or relative emissions performance improvements.

The Buildings Criteria - Background Paper provides the technical rationale and methodology for the Climate Bonds Standard's eligibility criteria for low-carbon buildings. It establishes a framework to align building investments with a 1.5-degree Celsius warming scenario by focusing on emissions intensity trajectories, the electrification of heating and cooling, and the mandatory reporting of Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCA) for new constructions to address embodied carbon.

This briefing by RMI outlines a phased framework for building decarbonization in the United States and argues that financial institutions can accelerate the shift to zero-carbon technologies by using targeted interventions to make green options the cheapest, default choice.

This report outlines a whole-system approach to decarbonize India's buildings sector, which currently accounts for roughly 40% of the country's energy use. It argues that without intervention, energy consumption will triple by 2050, but a strategy focusing on low-carbon design and clean energy supply could reduce emissions by a factor of four compared to business-as-usual.

This briefing by RMI outlines a demand-side strategy to decarbonize the buildings sector, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of global carbon dioxide pollution. The document advocates for a combination of full electrification, holistic energy efficiency retrofits, the reduction of embodied carbon in construction materials, and a commitment to equitable delivery for underserved communities.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative serves as a foundational guide for the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance to analyze challenges and priorities for decarbonizing the buildings sector. It outlines the global investment needs, the role of different financial instruments, and the specific regulatory and environmental contexts of Nigeria and Indonesia.

The National Cooling Action Plan (NCAP) provides analyses on space cooling mitigation in buildings to support Grenada's commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

A fact sheet detailing a KRW 11.5bn (USD 98.5m) green loan issued by M&G Real Estate Asia to refinance a LEED Gold certified office building in Seoul.

The Maryland Stadium Authority issued a USD 34 million green bond on July 21, 2020, to finance the construction of Northwood Elementary PK-5 School, targeting at least LEED Silver certification.

This fact sheet details a USD 122 million green bond issued by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency on June 25, 2020, to fund affordable rental housing developments with specific energy efficiency standards.

A Green Bond Fact Sheet for a USD 8 million municipal bond issued by the City of Berkeley on April 16, 2020, intended to refinance the 'Neighborhood Branch Library Improvements Project'.

This fact sheet details a JPY 10 billion green bond issued by Kajima Corporation on February 28, 2020, to refinance the construction of two specific buildings in Japan.

This fact sheet details a EUR 20 million green bond issued by Ghelamco Invest (Ghelamco Group) on January 21, 2020, to finance or refinance sustainable and energy-efficient real estate projects.

The River Green Finance 2020 DAC is a EUR196m green bond issued on February 6, 2020, to refinance the River Ouest office building in Bezons, Greater Paris. The building is BREEAM Very Good certified. This marks the first ABS issuance from France since 2017.

This fact sheet details a EUR 240 million green bond issued by Nexity on December 20, 2019, to finance the development and construction of residential properties in metropolitan France that meet specific energy performance and sustainability standards.

Daiwa House Industry issued a JPY6bn (USD55m) senior unsecured green bond on November 25, 2019, to fund certified buildings, including Project Machida, Project Hachioji, and Project Urayasu II. The bond features a 10-year tenor, a 0.530% coupon, and a 'Green1' rating, with a second party opinion provided by Sustainalytics. Reporting on CO2 emissions, energy, and water consumption will be managed by DHR and reviewed by the Japan Credit Rating Agency.

The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York issued a USD73m green bond on November 26, 2019, to fund three buildings aimed at LEED Gold or Silver certification. This issuance brings the total New York Muni issuance to USD9.9bn.

This fact sheet details a JPY 3.3 billion green bond issued by AEON REIT Investment Corp on October 21, 2019, to fund environmentally certified buildings and efficiency renovations.

Mapletree Commercial Trust Management issued a SGD670 million (USD491 million) green term loan on 21 October 2019 to partially finance the acquisition of Mapletree Business City, a certified green building. This represents the first Singaporean REIT to enter the Green Bond market.