International Public Finance Explained: Concepts and trends

International public finance for energy projects by G20 governments and multilateral development banks exceeds USD 100 billion annually. While funding for fossil fuels dropped from USD 151 billion in 2016 to USD 37 billion in 2024, clean energy finance has grown more slowly, reaching USD 47 billion in 2024. The Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) has significantly reduced fossil fuel finance among its members, though the redirection of these funds toward clean energy remains limited.

• International public finance for energy projects from G20 governments and major multilateral development banks (MDBs) exceeds USD 100 billion annually. This finance takes the form of loans, grants, equity stakes, or guarantees provided via MDBs, development finance institutions, and export credit agencies.
• There has been a significant decline in international public finance for fossil fuels by G20 and MDBs, falling from a peak of USD 151 billion in 2016 to USD 37 billion in 2024. Conversely, clean energy finance now exceeds fossil fuel finance, although it saw a slight decrease from USD 54 billion in 2023 to USD 47 billion in 2024.
• The Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) has been a primary driver in reducing financial flows to fossil fuels, with member finance for these projects dropping by up to 78% compared to 2019–2021 levels. However, the scale-up of clean energy finance is slower, with less than 20% of the funds from fossil fuels being redirected.
• The Public Finance for Energy Database, managed by Oil Change International, tracks transaction-level data from G20 export credit agencies, development finance institutions, and major MDBs. As of 2024, the database includes nearly 13,000 transactions totaling more than USD 1.5 trillion since 2013.

APA

Picciariello,, N. D. (2026). International Public Finance Explained: Concepts and trends. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/international-public-finance-explained-concepts-trends

Chicago

Picciariello,, Nhat Do,Angela. International Public Finance Explained: Concepts and trends. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/international-public-finance-explained-concepts-trends.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Picciariello, |first1=Nhat Do,Angela |title=International Public Finance Explained: Concepts and trends |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=16 April 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/international-public-finance-explained-concepts-trends |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{picciariello2026international, author = {Picciariello,, Nhat Do,Angela}, title = {{International Public Finance Explained: Concepts and trends}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/international-public-finance-explained-concepts-trends}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }