The ESG debt universe topped $6.5 trillion in H1 2024, up from $5.4 trillion a year ago. ESG debt issuance was over $700 billion in H1 2024, broadly stable vs. H1 2023.

2024 is poised for strong growth in clean energy investment, with continued support from the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the EU Green Deal, and similar incentive schemes around the world.

The ESG debt universe topped $6.3 trillion in Q1, up from $5.1 trillion a year ago and is expected to surpass $6.5 trillion by mid-2024. While early Q2 has been slower, the first three months of 2024 saw a sharp rebound in ESG debt issuance, coming in at over $350 billion—the majority in green bonds.

Global debt rose by some $1.3 trillion to a new record high of $315 trillion in Q1 2024. Moreover, after three consecutive quarters of decline, the global debt-to-GDP resumed its upward trajectory in Q1 2024.

In 2023, frontier market (FM) accumulated some $20 billion of new debt, bringing the total to $3.5 trillion. For the first time since 2020, the FM debt-to-GDP ratio increased, as growth and inflation subsided.

Global climate flows surpassed $2 trillion in 2023—up from $1.4 trillion in 2022. While still well short of the estimated $8.1 trillion annual pace needed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the pickup reflects the strong growth in climate finance commitments in recent years.​

Over $15 trillion was added to the global debt mountain last year, bringing the total to a new record high of $313 trillion. The global debt-to-GDP ratio declined for a third consecutive year, largely driven by mature markets.

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.

Global climate flows are on track to surpass $2 trillion in 2023—up from $1.4 trillion in 2022. While still well short of the estimated $8.6 trillion annual pace needed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the pickup reflects the strong growth in climate finance commitments in recent years.