New initiative launched to help financial sector be more sustainable

Sue-Ann Tan Straits Times 21 Jan 19;

SINGAPORE - Financial institutions, non-governmental organisations and academics will work together under a new initiative to help businesses be more sustainable.

The Asia Sustainable Finance Initiative (ASFI), which was launched on Monday (Jan 21) at the Parkroyal on Pickering hotel, aims to help shift the region's financial flows towards sustainable outcomes.

It will bring together the finance industry, academia and science-based organisations to help Singapore-based financial institutions operating in the region to deepen their expertise in sustainable finance.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is the secretariat and knowledge partner. Other knowledge partners include the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change and the National University of Singapore.

The Association of Banks in Singapore, the Life Insurance Association, Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore and the Singapore Exchange Regulation are among the finance sector partners.

An ASFI spokesman said: "The financial sector is crucial in creating resilient and sustainable economic growth through its ability to influence companies to adopt best practices and to direct financial flows towards sustainable development.


"As a key global financial hub, Singapore is an important conduit for capital flows into the Asia region, and as such its financial institutions have significant potential to shape resilient regional economies."

Sustainable finance is also key to addressing the region's increasing vulnerability to climate change, the degradation of land and ocean ecosystems, labour and human rights and water risk, she added.

The initiative will focus on helping financial institutions better understand and incorporate environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities into decision making.

It will assist partners in devising standards and certification schemes and help institutions understand material, environmental and social issues so they can price risk and value companies.

The ASFI will also bring research and innovative tools so finance institutions can develop viable green solutions to create an actual impact on the environment and society.

Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Education, told the launch: "Financial institutions play an important role in influencing how capital is allocated to economic activities with sustainable development outcomes.

" This will facilitate decision-making ... that delivers financial performance as well as positive impacts on society."

She added that as a financial centre, institutions here have significant potential to catalyse sustainable finance in the region.

"While we are still at the early stages ... we have seen some success in encouraging the use of debt capital market financing towards sustainable projects."

In 2017, developer City Developments Limited issued the first green bond in Singapore and DBS Bank partnered Impact Investment Exchange to list the world's first listed social bond, an US$8 million Women's Livelihood Bond.

"Over the years, we have also built a strong ecosystem of investment managers who possess significant expertise in investing into Asia, many of whom are actively exploring the integration of ESG considerations with Asian investment strategies," Ms Indranee added.

She said that Singapore can advance deeper ESG integration within financial institutions and implement credible standards. There should also be deepened research and development in ESG products by building capabilities.

The Ministry of Environmental and Water Resources and the Monetary Authority Singapore welcomed the initiative: "Partnerships and collective action are essential to achieving sustainable development."

Ms Jeanne Stampe, the head of WWF's Asia Sustainable Finance team and founder of ASFI, said: "Today's pressing environmental and social challenges threaten the ... stability of Asian economies.

"By working ... alongside other science-based knowledge partners, we can facilitate an orderly transition to economies that deliver well-being to all people whilst protecting the natural capital on which all businesses and societies depend."