ESG-Branded Muni Sales Set to Hit Record High in 2021, S&P Says

America’s state and local governments are likely to sell a record amount of debt this year that’s marketed to investors focused on doing well by doing good.

S&P Global Ratings analysts are forecasting that sales of municipal bonds labeled as “green,” “social,” or “sustainable” may rise to more than $30 billion in 2021, the company said in a report Tuesday. Such sales totaled $27.6 billion last year, more than twice as much as was issued in 2019.

“We expect the municipal sustainable debt market to grow in 2021, building on momentum and substantial growth in social and sustainability linked bonds,” ...