Guidance Handbook
The Executive Committee of the Principles with the support of ICMA has published in November 2024 an updated edition of the Guidance Handbook.
Since the original publication of the Green Bond Principles (GBP) in 2014, and the subsequent releases of the Social Bond Principles (SBP) and Sustainability Bond Guidelines (SBG) in 2017, followed by the release of the Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles (SLBP) in 2020 (together, “the Principles”) as well as the Climate Transition Finance Handbook (CTFH) in 2020, market participants have sought additional information on how to interpret this guidance especially for its practical application for transactions, as well as in the context of market developments and complementary initiatives.
The November 2024 edition includes three new questions in relation with the Sustainability-Linked Bonds. More particularly, how to treat SLBs in the context of sustainable finance disclosure and labelling regimes (4.1.6) and whether an SLB should match updated corporate-level sustainability strategy targets and disclosures (4.1.7). It also provides guidance on KPIs selection to be able to claim SLBP alignment (4.2.8).
The objective is that this publication be widely circulated and used by the GSSS Bond market. It is designed to support market development and to underpin market integrity.
Translation of the Guidance Handbook
 Chinese 中文 (June 2021 edition) |
