On 9 March 2020, the Technical Expert Group (TEG) published the final version of its report on EU Taxonomy and the Usability Guide for the EU Green Bond Standards.
The EU Taxonomy report contains recommendations relating to the overarching design of the Taxonomy, as well as guidance on how companies and financial institutions can make disclosures using the taxonomy. The report is supplemented by a technical annex containing an updated list of technical screening criteria for economic activities that can substantially contribute to climate change mitigation or adaptation, including an assessment of significant harm to other environmental objectives.
The Usability Guide for the EU Green Bond Standards offers market actors guidance on the use of the proposed standard and the set-up of a market-based registration scheme for external verifiers. The European Commission will explore the possibility of a legislative initiative for an EU Green Bond Standard in the context of the public consultation on the renewed sustainable finance strategy, taking place from March to May 2020.