Issuance of ESG-labelled bonds – green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked – surged to a record high in Asia in 2021, underpinned by higher demand for investments to address climate change and various social issues, such as employment generation and support for small and medium-scale enterprises. Outside of Japan and Australasia, the total volume surged to US$82.50 billion, according to Refinitiv, a London Stock Exchange Group business, or more than double the 2020 amount of US$40.28 billion.