Trinidad and Tobago launches GSS+ Issuance Guidelines to accelerate sustainable finance market. Published: 08 Sept 2026 New market-ready framework aims to unlock greater flows of private and public capital towards climate and social priorities. Key highlights * The Caribbean thematic bond market has reached approximately USD1.5bn, with Trinidad and Tobago among four countries in the region to have issued thematic instruments. * Trinidad and Tobago has already demonstrated the viability of labelled debt, with two local-currency social bond transactions since 2022 totalling TTD550m (approximately USD81m). * New Guidelines provide a practical framework for Green, Social, Sustainability and Sustainability-Linked instruments (GSS+) in Trinidad and Tobago, covering the full issuance lifecycle from framework development and project eligibility to external review, reporting and post-issuance verification. * The Guidelines were developed by Climate Bonds Initiative in partnership with the IDB Invest and The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE), through a co-creation process involving stakeholders across the local capital market, financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and corporates. * The framework aims to lower barriers for first-time issuers, strengthen investor confidence and build a pipeline of credible GSS+ transactions aligned with internationally recognised standards and Trinidad and Tobago's financial infrastructure. Port of Spain, 8 September 2026, 10am - The 'Guidelines for the Issuance of Green, Social, Sustainability, and Sustainability-Linked (GSS+) Instruments in Trinidad and Tobago' were launched today at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, establishing a practical framework designed to accelerate the development of the country's sustainable finance market and support a consistent pipeline of credible labelled transactions. The Guidelines provide issuers, investors, regulators and market intermediaries with practical tools, definitions and clear step-by-step processes for issuing labelled debt instruments in the country. As Trinidad and Tobago has strengthened its climate commitments through its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2025-2035 and its National Climate Change Policy, early social bond transactions have demonstrated that labelled instruments can be successfully deployed within the domestic capital market. The new framework aims to translate these foundations into greater market activity by aligning domestic practices with internationally recognised standards while remaining grounded in Trinidad and Tobago's financial infrastructure. From pioneering transactions to a broader GSS+ market. Trinidad and Tobago is now one of four Caribbean countries to have issued thematic instruments, alongside the Dominican Republic, Bermuda and Barbados. Together, these markets represent approximately USD1.5bn in thematic bond issuance. Trinidad and Tobago has already played a pioneering role in the Caribbean's emerging labelled debt market. In November 2022, Home Mortgage Bank issued the country's first thematic bond: a TTD300m (USD44m) five-year senior secured social bond, fully subscribed by IDB Invest, to support mortgage financing for low- and middle-income families. The issuance included a Second-Party Opinion from S&P Global Ratings. In 2025, Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Bank Limited built on this precedent with a further TTD250m (USD37m) social bond, supported by IDB Invest and Republic Bank Limited. The transaction focused on affordable housing finance for middle- and lower-middle-income households, particularly women and women-led families. Together, the transactions demonstrate the potential for local-currency labelled instruments to mobilise capital towards national priorities while incorporating eligibility criteria, external review and reporting commitments to support market integrity. A practical roadmap for issuers. The Guidelines respond to recommendations identified by the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC) and the IDB Invest for the development of a green finance securities framework, including clear project eligibility criteria, Use-of-Proceeds and reporting requirements, independent third-party verification and alignment with internationally recognised frameworks such as the ICMA Green Bond Principles and the Climate Bonds Standard. They cover the full issuance lifecycle, including framework development, project eligibility assessment, external review, reporting and post-issuance verification, with guidance for both use-of-proceeds and sustainability-linked instruments. The framework is intended for corporate issuers, financial institutions, public-sector entities, investors, regulators, external reviewers and market intermediaries. By providing a common language and clear processes, the Guidelines aim to reduce uncertainty for first-time issuers while strengthening transparency, credibility and investor confidence. They also provide guidance on the types of projects that can be financed through green instruments, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, sustainable water and wastewater management, climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, green buildings and circular economy activities. Andrés Felipe Sánchez, Global Head of Regional Overview, Climate Bonds Initiative, said: "Trinidad and Tobago has already shown that labelled finance can work. The next step is to turn pioneering transactions into a credible and consistent market. These Guidelines give issuers and investors a common language to do that, helping build the pipeline needed to mobilise more capital towards the country's climate and development priorities." For interviews and more information, please contact: Notes for journalists: About IDB Invest: IDB Invest, a member of the IDB Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social, and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of $22 billion in assets under management and more than 440 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients in a variety of industries. Visit its website: www.idbinvest.org/en. About Climate Bonds Initiative: Climate Bonds is the leading international non-governmental organisation mobilising global capital for climate action. Climate Bonds drive the growth of the green and sustainable debt market through science-aligned frameworks including its taxonomies and standards, its Certification, its data and insights, and its provision of expert policy and technical advice. More information on its website here. Spotlight: Climate Bonds' Equivalence Methodology - Climate Mitigation Climate Bonds is proposing an expansion of the Climate Bonds Taxonomy and the Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme through the recognition of credible criteria from external taxonomies, starting with the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy as a pilot. 09 Jul 2026

Climate Bonds approves CASA Colombia as a new Certification pathway for low carbon residential buildings. Published: 31 Jul 2026 New proxy criteria under the Climate Bonds Standard expand Certification opportunities for Colombia's sustainable buildings. Key highlights * Climate Bonds has approved CASA Colombia as a new Certification pathway for eligible low carbon residential buildings and social housing under the Climate Bonds Standard. * The new proxy criteria provide a science-based, locally relevant route to Certification, supporting Colombian issuers in accessing sustainable finance while strengthening investor confidence. * The eligibility pathway applies to CASA Colombia v3 and v3.1 certified residential buildings that meet additional requirements for electrification, whole life carbon assessment and enhanced energy performance. Bogota, 31 July 2026, 9am - Climate Bonds has approved a new Certification pathway for residential buildings in Colombia, recognising projects certified under the CASA Colombia's rating scheme as eligible for Certification under the Climate Bonds Standard, subject to additional climate performance requirements. The proxy was launched yesterday at the CONSTRUVERDE 2026, which presented the Alianza Internacional de CASA. This project was supported by the IDB Invest and Climate Bonds Initiative. The new proxy applies to new residential buildings certified under CASA Colombia v3 and v3.1, developed by the Consejo Colombiano de Construcción Sostenible (CCCS). The update provides a locally relevant, science-based route to Certification, helping issuers demonstrate alignment with international best practice while supporting the growth of Colombia's sustainable finance market. The approval is expected to facilitate greater access to Climate Bonds Certification for residential developments across Colombia, giving investors increased confidence that projects financed through green debt instruments meet robust climate criteria. To qualify for Certification, eligible projects must satisfy CASA Colombia certification requirements alongside additional Climate Bonds Sector Criteria, including building electrification, sustainable mobility, whole life carbon assessment covering both embodied and operational emissions, and enhanced energy performance requirements based on internationally recognised methodologies. Projects may demonstrate compliance through either a prescriptive pathway, meeting enhanced performance requirements across key building systems, or a performance pathway, achieving at least a 30% improvement in energy performance compared with the applicable baseline. In addition, residential property upgrades remain eligible under the existing Buildings Criteria of the Climate Bonds Standard, requiring operational energy emissions reductions of at least 30% for shorter-term financing, increasing to 50% for 30-year bonds. The approval reflects Climate Bonds' continued commitment to recognising credible national green building frameworks that align with science-based climate objectives while reducing barriers for issuers seeking Certification. Andrés Felipe Sánchez, Global Head of Regional Oversight & Head of LAC, Climate Bonds, said: "Colombia has proven itself to be at the forefront of sustainable construction through the CASA Colombia certification system. By recognising CASA Colombia as a Certification pathway under the Climate Bonds Standard, we are creating a practical bridge between a trusted national framework and international capital markets. This will help issuers access sustainable finance while giving investors' confidence that certified buildings meet robust, science-based climate requirements." Angélica Ospina, CEO of CCCS, states: "This recognition confirms that it is possible to develop a certification designed to respond to the local climate, regulatory, and social context while remaining fully aligned with the highest international standards. It also strengthens CASA as a tool that enables developers to demonstrate the environmental performance of their projects while facilitating compliance with the sustainability requirements increasingly expected by financial market and banking institutions to create investment into sustainable housing projects." The Consejo Colombiano de Construcción Sostenible (CCCS) is the Colombian member of the World Green Building Council and promotes sustainable construction through technical leadership, policy engagement and market development. CASA Colombia is the organisation's flagship certification programme for sustainable buildings. Social Housing residential buildings are also eligible under the SOCIAL HOUSING BUILDINGS COLOMBIA proxy criteria. The new eligibility pathway is effective immediately and applies to both CASA Colombia v3 and CASA Colombia v3.1 certified residential buildings that meet the additional Climate Bonds requirements. For full eligibility requirements and technical guidance, read the proxy in English. For interviews and more information, please contact: Leticia Braga, Communications Specialist, Climate Bonds Initiative Notes for journalists: About Climate Bonds Initiative: Climate Bonds is the leading international non-governmental organisation mobilising global capital for climate action. Climate Bonds drive the growth of the green and sustainable debt market through science-aligned frameworks including its taxonomies and standards, its Certification, its data and insights, and its provision of expert policy and technical advice. More information on its website here. About Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme: The Climate Bonds Standard & Certification Scheme is a multi-sector, science-based framework that allows investors and intermediaries to assess the climate credentials and environmental integrity of bonds and other sustainable finance products. Version 4.3 covers Use of Proceeds, Asset, Entity, and Sustainability-Linked Debt Certification products. More information here. About CASA Colombia: CASA Colombia, led by the Colombian Green Building Council (CCCS), is the national certification standard for resilient, sustainable, and healthy housing, specifically adapted to the country's climate and regulatory contexts. This multi-attribute, performance-based system serves as a strategic tool for developers and architects to design user-centered new residential projects, including both social (VIS) and non-social housing. By integrating goals for decarbonization, social equity, and third-party verification, it establishes itself as the technical benchmark for transforming the housing sector toward more efficient and responsible models in Colombia. About Consejo Colombiano de Construcción Sostenible: For 18 years, the CCCS has served as the network coordinating the entire construction and operation value chain, leading the transformation of present and future built environments toward holistic sustainability, resilience, and regeneration. Spotlight: Climate Bonds APAC Connect: Hong Kong 09 Sept 2026

Climate Bonds updates taxonomy. Finding climate-aligned activities, assets, and measures has just become significantly easier. Users can now search climate criteria through a single interactive platform, making science-based guidance faster, clearer and more practical than ever before. Climate Bonds pioneered the concept of a climate finance taxonomy in 2013. More than a decade later, its science-based framework is used worldwide by investors, financial institutions, issuers, corporates and governments to identify activities aligned with the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. Today, Climate Bonds unveiled the most significant update to its Taxonomy in years, expanding new sectors, incorporating selected resilience-related investments and an interactive platform that transforms how investors, issuers, corporates and governments explore climate-aligned opportunities. What's new in the Climate Bonds Taxonomy? The updated Taxonomy includes expanded mitigation coverage across key transition sectors, including cement, steel, chemicals and agriculture. It also introduces new areas of coverage, including methane abatement measures for existing oil and gas assets, aviation and alternative proteins. For the first time, selected resilience-related investments have been incorporated into the Taxonomy, allowing users to explore both mitigation and Adaptation & Resilience opportunities within a single framework. The update also marks the first incorporation of selected criteria drawn from credible local taxonomies, strengthening alignment with international frameworks and supporting greater interoperability across markets. From activities to assets and measures The Climate Bonds Taxonomy recognises that climate-aligned investment can be assessed at different levels. Users can now move from question to answer in seconds, filtering activities by sector, sub-sector and climate theme, identify activities that may be eligible for green finance and see which activities can currently be Certified under the Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme. An eligible activity refers to the economic activity being undertaken. An eligible asset is the physical asset being financed, while an eligible measure refers to a specific intervention that contributes to climate mitigation or resilience. This approach provides greater flexibility for investors, issuers, corporates and policymakers seeking to identify climate-aligned opportunities across different parts of the economy. A new way to explore climate criteria Alongside the Taxonomy update, Climate Bonds has launched a new interactive platform that enables users to search, filter and navigate climate criteria more easily. The platform brings together information that was previously spread across multiple documents and datasets, creating a single location where users can explore mitigation and resilience criteria side by side. For investors, banks and issuers, this provides a more practical way to assess climate-aligned investments and understand the criteria that apply to them. For governments and institutions developing taxonomies, it offers greater visibility of how climate criteria are evolving internationally and where alignment is emerging across markets. Looking ahead As sustainable finance markets continue to evolve, the Climate Bonds Taxonomy is evolving with them - bringing together science, market practice and practical usability in one place. The launch of the updated Taxonomy and interactive platform is part of a broader programme of work to expand and strengthen climate taxonomy guidance globally. Future development will focus on incorporating additional screened, science-based criteria from credible local taxonomies, positioning the Climate Bonds Taxonomy as a comprehensive resource for evaluating climate action and investment while recognising local market circumstances. Climate Bonds And receive exclusive articles on securities markets The 2026 Global Markets Choice Awards are here! Nominations are officially OPEN for the celebration of excellence in global capital markets trading & technology. Nominate below: https://www.jotform.com/form/260086385121150 Delaware Life Insurance Company is becoming the first insurance carrier to offer an index that contains cryptocurrency, adding the BlackRock U.S. Equity Bitcoin Balanced Risk 12% Index to its fixed index annuity (FIA) portfolio. As the digital assets industry pushes toward Franklin Templeton is expanding its tokenized fund suite, signaling growing institutional demand for blockchain-based fund infrastructure and regulated investment products moving onchain. Read the full article below: $50 billion in active ETF inflows helped fuel a record year for @BlackRock 's iShares business, as investors continue to lean into active strategies.