MILAN (ITALPRESS) – In only 2024 bond issues GSS (Green, Social & Sustainability) have grown to reach the record figure of a trillion dollars, equaling the level reached in 2021. Of these 58% (about $563 billion) was recorded only in the first quarter of 2024. Overall GSS bond total emissions from 2012 to today amounted to over 5.5 trillion dollars. At international level, Europe is a market leader, representing around 60% of global emissions. A theme that has been brought to attention also during the tenth edition of the Salone SRI, the reference event for the chain of finance on the ESG frontier, at the Milan Stock Exchange. According to Matteo Merlin, Head of Green and Sustainable Finance – Aggregate of Eurizon, “EU Green Bond Standard (EUGBS), i.e. the diamond tip of sustainable finance instruments, is an instrument that has been used in a growing way during 2025. We have seen its use for both senior and non-issue issues, but also the issue by a company of a tool with a hybrid format.” “This is an innovation from the point of view of the use of this tool that we think can lead in time to a growth not only dimensional, but also of the use of EUGBS by companies in the sectors that are defined hard-to-abate: for example, those of cement, chemical and steel – explained -. From our point of view, this is very important because the use of EUGBS must allow both a quality growth of the tool that is guaranteed by the format that is used both to help and support an inclusive transition that leaves no one back”. Despite being born within the European Union, Merlin is convinced that EUGBS are tools that can be used “even outside” of the European continent “in order to formulate a potential growth that is not limited only to Europe, but also to other states outside” from the Union. With regard to the trend of traditional green bonds, Merlin stressed that “the year 2025 is closing with an amount of emissions that demonstrates organic growth in the market compared to 2024. From our point of view we read it positively: Europe continues to be the star of sustainability and emissions. EUGBS emissions also show a good demand, but also a good offer from broadcasters.” “We expect 2026 to continue with this growth process, both on the EUGBS side and on the part of green bond issuers. We also saw this year the first government issue in EUGBS format by the Kingdom of Denmark, said Merlin stressing that next year “we could have news from the hard-to-abate industrial sector, but also outside the European area”.
– photo xh7/Italpress –(ITALPRESS).
