Green debt sales hit record levels despite climate backlash

Group 1: Market Overview - Global green bond and loan issuance has reached a record $947 billion in 2023, with stock market gauges for renewables set for their first annual gains since 2020, outperforming the S&P 500 significantly [1][17] - Asia-Pacific companies and government-linked issuers raised $261 billion from green debt, marking a 20% increase from the previous year, with China leading with a record $138 billion in green bond issuance [7][18] - The amount of outstanding green bonds has grown at a 30% compound annual rate over the past five years, now accounting for about 4.3% of the global total [9][18] Group 2: Investment Trends - Green investments are increasingly viewed as core infrastructure and industrial plays, with capital flowing towards areas with clear revenue visibility and policy backing, such as grid upgrades and renewables tied to electrification [3][18] - Easing US interest rates and refinancing needs may boost global green bond sales to as much as $1.6 trillion next year [10][18] - Clean-energy indexes from S&P Dow Jones Indices and WilderShares have surged 45% and 60% respectively, although both remain below their 2021 peaks [10][18] Group 3: Regional Insights - US green debt issuance fell 7% to $163 billion this year, while fundraising in Germany remained steady at approximately $79 billion [13][18] - India has emerged as a hotspot for renewable-energy IPOs, with 11 listings raising over $1 billion and another six companies seeking more than $3 billion [11][18] - Strong interest from foreign banks in India has intensified competition, squeezing financing margins by 5% to 10% on renewable energy projects [13][18] Group 4: Challenges and Future Outlook - Sales of sustainability-linked debt have slumped about 50% this year to $165 billion amid greenwashing concerns, while transition bond issuance has more than halved to $10.9 billion [14][18] - Global sustainable debt volumes stood at about $1.6 trillion this year, down more than 8% from 2024 [16][18] - Changes to European fund rules may allow asset managers to define what qualifies as a sustainable investment, potentially reversing current trends over the next two years [15][18]