Global issuance of sustainability-related bonds in the first half of the year reached US$568 billion, surpassing issuance in the same period last year. The bulk of issuance was in green bonds, with US$351 billion, the highest figure on record for issuance in a six-month period and putting 2023 on track to be a record year for issuance in 2023. The bulk of issuance was in green bonds, with US$351 billion, the highest figure ever for issuance in a six-month period and putting 2023 on track to be a record year for this type of instrument, according to an analysis by the law firm Linklaters. Most of these issues corresponded to banking entities, which use the funds raised to finance green projects.

By geography, Asia Pacific saw a significant increase in issuance, but Europe remains the leading market for green bonds, with US$190 billion of issuance in the first half of the year. Europe remains the leading market for green bonds, with US$190 billion of issuance in the first half of the year. The market growth comes against a constantly evolving regulatory backdrop in Europe, where it is expected that The new EU Green Bond Standard is expected to be adopted later this year. This agreement will allow investors to more easily assess, compare and trust that their investments are sustainable, thereby reducing the risks of greenwashing.

The only issues that showed a decline compared to the first half of last year were sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), whose financial characteristics vary depending on whether the issuer achieves predefined environmental, social or governance (ESG) targets, measured through a predefined Key Performance Indicator over a predefined time horizon.whose financial characteristics vary depending on whether the issuer achieves predefined environmental, social or governance (ESG) objectives, as measured by a predefined Key Performance Indicator over a given time frame, and which are aligned with the five core components of the Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles.

Chile has issued several SLB bonds. At the end of June, the Ministry of Finance issued a US$2.25 billion bond, which included an indicator associated with gender equality and women's empowerment, becoming the first country in the world to include it. On July 19, meanwhile, the Treasury issued its first SLB bond in pesos in the international market, for the equivalent of US$2.2 billion.