Pollution Control & Remediation

Source Metadata

CBI Sector Criteria

CBI addresses pollution control and remediation within its broader waste and land use criteria. Eligibility is conditional on demonstrating clear climate benefits — pollution control investments that primarily address local environmental quality without measurable GHG reductions may not qualify. However, remediation of contaminated sites that restores ecosystem carbon sequestration, brownfield redevelopment enabling compact urban form, and industrial pollution control reducing process emissions are eligible pathways.

Eligible Activities & Assets

Eligible assets include: contaminated land remediation restoring carbon-sequestering ecosystems; brownfield redevelopment reducing urban sprawl and associated transport emissions; industrial emissions control systems reducing GHG co-pollutants; mercury and persistent organic pollutant (POP) elimination from industrial processes; mine remediation and acid drainage treatment; air pollution control equipment with GHG co-benefits; and soil decontamination enabling productive reuse for carbon-positive land uses.

Certification Process

Verifiers assess the climate relevance of pollution control investments. Pre-issuance review requires demonstration of GHG reduction co-benefits, contamination baseline assessments, and remediation plans with measurable environmental targets. Post-issuance monitoring includes contaminant reduction measurements, ecosystem recovery indicators, and verification that remediated land is being used for climate-positive purposes.

LATAM Market Context

Pollution control and remediation represent an emerging green bond category in LATAM. Legacy mining contamination in Peru, Chile, and Colombia requires significant remediation investment. Brazil's industrial pollution legacy and Mexico's contaminated urban sites create brownfield redevelopment opportunities. Green bond financing for pollution remediation is typically bundled with broader environmental improvement portfolios rather than standalone issuance.

Colombia Green Finance Taxonomy Alignment

The TVC includes pollution prevention and control as eligible when linked to climate objectives. Colombia's mining sector remediation needs (particularly illegal mining contamination in Chocó and Antioquia) and industrial site cleanup programs could qualify under both CBI and TVC criteria when climate co-benefits are documented. The national mercury elimination program (Ley 1658 de 2013) creates a regulatory framework for remediation investment.

Cleantech Taxonomy Crosswalk

Maps to Cleantech Taxonomy sector WA (Waste) — specifically WA-PC (Pollution Control) and WA-RM (Remediation). Cross-references to IN (Industry) for industrial process improvements, AF (AFOLU) for ecosystem restoration on remediated land, and WW (Water) for water pollution remediation.