Green Bond Issuance Breaks Records in 2025: A Practitioner's Primer
Sustainable finance regulation accelerates global issuance
Sterling & Ghold's team of experienced practitioners brings decades of specialized expertise to every matter, combining deep industry knowledge with practical commercial judgment. Our lawyers work seamlessly across offices and practice groups to deliver integrated advice that addresses the full scope of our clients' objectives.
The global green bond market crossed the $1 trillion annual issuance threshold in the first quarter of 2025, fueled by mandatory ESG disclosure regimes in the EU, alignment with the ICMA Green Bond Principles, and growing institutional demand for ESG-labeled instruments. Issuers from utilities to sovereigns are accessing this market to reduce their cost of capital while demonstrating sustainability commitments to stakeholders.
Sterling & Ghold's team of experienced practitioners brings decades of specialized expertise to every matter, combining deep industry knowledge with practical commercial judgment. Our lawyers work seamlessly across offices and practice groups to deliver integrated advice that addresses the full scope of our clients' objectives.
From a legal structuring perspective, the most important developments are the EU Green Bond Standard, which entered into force in late 2024, and the SEC's climate disclosure rules, which add complexity to cross-border offerings. Counsel must navigate both substantive requirements and the risk of greenwashing claims from regulators and investors.
