Future Shapers: Rationalising Sustainable Finance – Asia’s Perspective amidst Rising Global Polarisation

Synopsis: 

The sustainability landscape is undergoing a significant shift over the past months. Globally, ESG progress is being overshadowed by geopolitical conflict and rising protectionism, sparking a re-rationalisation of transition finance strategies among global financial institutions as they navigate the shifting landscape.

In the United States, ESG faces political polarisation that is likely to continue for years following the country’s (re)withdrawal from the Paris Agreement; meanwhile, major European states are calling for a re-calibrated, more streamlined and coordinated approach to the rolling out of reporting systems to allay regulatory complexity in light of the new global competitive environment.

What do these developments entail for Asia, and how should Asian institutions respond to a seemingly bigger gap in the global sustainability roadmap left by American and European counterparts? This panel brings together top APAC minds to share their insights, including views on:

• The repercussions of the new US administration’s reversed stance on sustainability agenda
• The implications of EU’s dilemma on comprehensive ESG reporting roll-out
• Updated regional outlook for Asia’s sustainability agenda
• The role of Asian financial institutions in driving and continuing to drive the sustainable finance notion in the region
• Recalibrated strategies for achieving Asia’s net-zero targets to support its rapidly growing economies which are likely to be impacted by looming global trade tensions
• The potential for green technologies and infrastructure to drive economic growth and job creation for Asia despite the shifting paradigm and challenges