This benchmark series tracks the progress of institutional investors across Asia in integrating climate considerations into governance, investment, engagement, disclosure and policy advocacy. It provides a consistent and structured assessment framework to evaluate investor alignment with net zero pathways and climate-related financial risks and opportunities.

Wealthy private investors increasingly align their portfolios with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), seeking both measurable impact and financial returns. Investors favour SDGs linked to higher expected profits, leading to underinvestment in less profitable goals. Findings are based on portfolio data, surveys, and interviews with 60 high-net-worth individuals.

The report examines the engagement strategies of ESG funds in Asia, highlighting the unique challenges posed by regulatory constraints, concentrated ownership, and political influences. Using a structured engagement pyramid, the study categorises ESG fund strategies, ranging from investment screening to direct corporate control. Despite obstacles, notable regional features can support ESG initiatives, such as shareholder voting mechanisms and strategic collaborations. The report provides insights into how ESG funds navigate these challenges to influence corporate governance and sustainability outcomes in Asia.

This report provides guidance for corporate boards on effectively engaging stakeholders to uphold human rights. It outlines strategies for meaningful engagement, addressing stakeholder concerns, and integrating human rights considerations into corporate governance and decision-making processes.

This report compares national sustainable finance taxonomies in Asia, highlighting the variability in standards and approaches. It underscores the need for greater alignment with international frameworks to reduce inconsistencies, enhance clarity, and promote sustainable investments. Differences in fossil fuel treatment and transition finance provisions pose challenges to harmonisation and investor confidence.

The report examines the relationship between corporate climate disclosures, cheap talk, and actual climate initiatives. It highlights how voluntary disclosures often suffer from superficiality, while targeted climate actions reduce cheap talk. Findings suggest cheap talk correlates with higher emissions and reputation risks, offering insights into the credibility of climate commitments.

This report investigates how the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative (ITSCI) allegedly launders conflict minerals from mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It highlights serious failings in the traceability system, enabling smuggling, militia involvement, and child labour in the mineral trade. Recommendations include structural reforms and stricter enforcement by governments and companies.

The report examines the investment needs for a green transition in emerging markets (EMs), the current state of green investment flows, and the risks to capital flows. The report underscores the need for increased private investment and addresses the barriers and structural issues limiting green finance in EMs.

This benchmark report assesses the vulnerability of 2,134 assets across 20 APAC REITs to climate risks. By 2050, nearly 10% of properties face high risk, particularly from coastal inundation and flooding, highlighting significant financial implications for investors and the urgent need for adaptation strategies.

This report explores the importance of stakeholder engagement for tech sector investors. It shows how engaging with affected stakeholders helps identify, assess, and mitigate human rights risks. It provides recommendations for investors to fund more rights-respecting companies.

This report outlines the risks financial institutions face due to land conversion and related financial crimes. It emphasises the convergence of land conversion with crimes like money laundering and corruption, highlighting the need for robust due diligence and risk assessment. It introduces an Environmental Crimes Financial Toolkit to aid institutions in mitigating these risks.

Explore the diverse offerings of BNP Paribas Group, a global leader in banking and financial services. From retail banking to corporate and institutional banking, their expertise spans various sectors. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, they provide tailored solutions to meet the needs of clients worldwide.

This report outlines eight key features of effective global climate policies. It analyses how different approaches to policy design shape capital markets' responses. The report also calls on governments to create policies with clear short, medium, and long-term targets that provide the right incentives and ensure a just transition.

The CFA Institute and Principles for Responsible Investment commissioned a survey on ESG integration, revealing that 56% of investors integrate governance into their equity analysis. Analysts may engage in ESG in fixed-income analysis to evaluate the risks and value of assets. ESG issues help investors arrive at estimates of fair stock value.

This report provides an overview of contemporary evidence that climate change presents foreseeable, and in many cases material, financial and systemic risks that affect corporations and their investors. It discusses general climate obligations, directors' duties, disclosure obligations, and advice to directors, emphasising the importance of embedding climate change in financial risk management, disclosure, and supervisory practices.

This is a comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the measures adopted and implemented to address the issue of forced labour in Xinjiang, China. Based on open-source data and expert analysis, the report highlights key themes and outlines a set of recommendations designed to improve the effectiveness of current trade and financial measures.