Guidance Handbook
The Executive Committee of the Principles with the support of ICMA has published in June 2026 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 2026 edition contains some references to the Climate Transition Bonds new label, inducing some adaptations to questions 1.10, 1.11 and 1.13. Additional illustrative examples of target populations for issuance of Social Bonds have also been included in this new edition.
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.
Guidance Handbook (2026)
Following the publication of the Climate Transition Bond Guidelines (CTBG) in November 2025, a dedicated Q&A document has been released to further guide market participants. The Guidance Handbook will be updated accordingly in due course.
Download 'Climate Transition Bond Guidelines FAQs'
Translation of the Guidance Handbook
 Chinese 中文 (June 2021 edition) |
