Selected Category- Sustainable Debt Monitor

The ESG-labelled debt universe grew by 25% in 2023, nearing $6 trillion. However, this is still less than 2% of the global debt universe—policy support, including from the G20 Brazil Presidency, could support substantial market expansion.

The ESG debt universe has expanded by $1.1 trillion over the past four quarters, surpassing $5.6 trillion in Q3 2023.

The ESG debt universe (bonds and loans) hit a fresh record high of $5.4 trillion in H1 2023, up 30% from H1 2022. However new ESG debt issuance slowed to some $630 billion in H1 2023—over 15% lower than in H1 2022.

The ESG debt universe hit $5.1 trillion in Q1 2023, up from $3.8 trillion a year ago and $2.3 trillion in Q1 2021. Amid the recent banking sector turmoil, ESG loan issuance fell sharply in Q1 2023, coming in at $40 billion—over 65% lower than in Q4 2022. In contrast, ESG bond issuance reached its highest level in five quarters.

The ESG debt universe is fast approaching the $5 trillion mark, up from $3.4 trillion in 2021. While rising global rates weighed on total issuance in 2022, issuance in emerging markets remained strong, reaching an all-time high of $260 billion—mostly driven by China.

The ESG debt universe has grown rapidly, to near $4.5tr in Q322, up from $3tr in Q321 and $1.5tr in Q320. However, overall ESG debt issuance has slowed sharply this year amid broader debt market disruption.

Global sustainable/ESG debt issuance exceeded $645 billion in H1 2022; while some 15% below year-ago levels, this was double the pace of H1 2020. Sustainability-linked bond and loan markets also saw robust issuance in H1 2022.

Amid rising global rates and market volatility, global issuance of sustainable debt fell to $285 billion in Q1 2022, nearly 20% lower than in Q1 2021. Some $55 billion of issuance came from EMs in Q1-up from $45 billion in Q1 2021.

Global sustainable debt issuance surpassed $1 trillion during the first three quarters of 2021 and is now on track to reach almost $1.5 trillion in 2021

Global sustainable debt issuance is on track to surpass $1 trillion in 2021 – up 30% from 2020’s totals. However, emerging markets still represent less than 15% of the sustainable debt universe, highlighting strong growth potential; China, Chile, Turkey, and Mexico are the top issuers. The outstanding green bond market is now over $1 trillion, as the non-financial corporate issuer base broadens. Updated voluntary market principles and guidelines are supportive for market growth and harmonization. 

The global sustainable debt market breached the $2tn mark in Q1 2021 and is fast approaching $3tn. Green bond issuance has surged as corporate net-zero emissions commitments accelerate. 

Global sustainable debt issuance hit an all-time record of over $655 billion in 2020, driven by rapid growth in ESG and sustainability-linked bonds. A more supportive global policy landscape could spur even more issuance in 2021

Global sustainable debt issuance surpassed $270bn during the first seven months of 2020, up 5% from 2019. The sustainable debt universe has now topped $1.5tn for the first time—80% in EUR, USD, and CNY 

In this special quarterly supplement to the Global Debt Monitor, we look at the impact of COVID-19 on sustainable debt markets (bond and loans), with comprehensive coverage of more than 150 countries across all sectors.