EDITORIAL
ASrIA strengthens its team in Hong Kong with a new Executive Director and Development Director. The effects of the global financial crisis on sustainable finance and how Asian countries may spend their expected stimulus packages are investigated. The World Bank President provides a concise overview of the global carbon markets.
ASrIA NEWS
ASrIA strengthens Hong Kong team
ASrIA has appointed Claire McLetchie as Executive Director and Wai-Shin Chan as Development Director. ‘Asian Investor’ has a write-up about the recent appointments here.
ASrIA Executive Director addresses CSR summit
Claire discusses the increasing inclusion of ESG criteria in investment screening in Asian
ASrIA’s Carbon Disclosure Report discusses response rates, risk of weather effects and wait-and-see attitude
Sponsored by Merrill Lynch, the 2008 report launch had speakers from CDP, ASrIA and Merrill Lynch
Taiwan launch of ASrIA’s Carbon Disclosure Report highlights leadership of Taiwan’s electronic sector
Sponsored by Acer and supported by the Taipei Computer Association and the British Trade and Cultural Office, Taiwan, the event was co-organised by BCSD Taiwan and ASrIA
Korea Launch of the Carbon Disclosure Project
A Korean CDP report, primarily authored by ASrIA, was launched in Seoul at an event sponsored by Eco-Frontier
Joint ASrIA, HKVCPEA and HKICPA Seminar: Sustainable Investment Strategies for Private Equity in China
The seminar discussed criteria, methods to address issues, and case studies on sustainable investments
SUSTAINABLE FINANCE NEWS
Sustainable finance is not a manifesto for saving the planet, it’s a tool for better assessing risk
The most hard-headed commercially-minded asset managers are talking about a new form of investment process, including a checklist more usually associated with Greenpeace or Oxfam
Looking for scapegoats leads nowhere, and that’s exactly what is happening
Jon Entine, adjunct fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, cautions that calls for socially responsible investing to lead us out of the financial crisis needs to be critically analyzed
How can trust be restored in markets generally?
UN Global Compact publishes an open letter to draw commentary on the future direction of the business community
Analysts surprised at the size of China’s stimulus package
China announces RMB 4 trillion (US$ 586 billion) stimulus package. But the central government only to fund a quarter of that amount, as the WSJ reports
‘New Green Deal’ secures backing of George Soros
George Soros argues that the best possible response to the unprecedented size and scope of the current economic crisis is to invest heavily in green technologies. (Includes video excerpt)
Do you know how to avoid a ‘U-shaped’ recession?
Deutsche Asset Management Research calls for more ‘Green’ infrastructure. ‘Investing in Climate Change 2009 — Necessity and Opportunity in Turbulent Times’ details how to turn lemons into lemonade
Can renewable energy now have a seat at the table?
Renewable energies receive support as countries team-up to establish the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
FTSE Group expands Environmental Opportunities Index Series
ASrIA member FTSE adds nine new indices, covering renewable energy, water tech, energy efficiency and waste
Despite market volatility, China’s growing demand for energy continues to draw investors
Several green-tech companies announce plans to fund renewable energy projects to meet growing demand
Responsible investing to be mainstream by 2015, say it ain’t so…
Booz, Allen, Hamilton and Robeco predict Responsible Investing will become mainstream by 2015, accounting for 15-20% of total global assets under management
M&A deals turn a bit green with envy
Deloitte examines the importance of the role of sustainability in mergers and acquisitions, and how greater consideration of sustainability related issues can help improve deal success
Always wanted a basic understanding of the global carbon markets but never had the time?
World Bank President Robert Zoellick provides an overview of the global carbon markets for the busy financier and the challenges moving forward at a meeting in Bali last month
Our company wants to be a CSR leader; but how to develop an effective strategy?
ASrIA member, IFC and AccountAbility plan to assist companies in emerging markets to become CSR leaders. The new system will enable firms to build corporate-level strategies that support business development
Implementing the UN Principles for Responsible Investment just got easier
ASrIA member EIRIS launches a new toolkit for UN Principle for Responsible Investment (PRI) signatories designed to help asset owners and asset managers implement the PRI
Expect more extra-financial issues research in 2009
As environmental, social and governance (ESG) research slips in Asia, Enhanced Analytics Initiative (EAI) and PRI are establishing a research firm that will bring extra-financial issues to a wider audience of investors
ESG reporting for the financial services sector
Industry analysts have clamored for sector-specific ESG reporting. In that vein, GRI and UNEP-FI recently published the Financial Services Sector Supplement
It’s time for the SEC to update its regulations to account for ESG risks
Fourteen of the largest U.S. institutional investors called on the SEC to require improved corporate climate risk disclosure and—for the first time—address a broader range of ESG risks in disclosure requirements
High-level report calls on Chinese banks to promote sustainable development
WWF and the People’s Bank of China, China’s central bank, publish a high-level report, calling on Chinese commercial banks to establish environmental reporting, assessment, management, and risk evaluation systems