1. Capacity building for the next generation: Nurturing talent in the specific field of green finance

While financial capital is an obvious driver for achieving sustainability goals, human capital is as essential an asset for upholding long-term ESG principles. Developing a strong human capital model with the know-how to align environmental, business, societal and financial objectives will be in high demand to ensure that Asia is able to meet the requirements for becoming an epicentre for sustainable investing.

The SGFC is poised to develop various talent development opportunities for both professionals in the current workforce and undergraduates—providing capacity building in the next generation, beginning with SMU students. Whether at the undergraduate, postgraduate or executive level, upskilling of current capabilities is necessary for the progression of society.

Adds Prof Fernandez: “This will allow the workforce to shift their attention to greener activities and more sustainable decisions which are beneficial in the long term.” A key objective is to equip employees with skill sets required to navigate international standards and government policies, such as UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, the SG Green Plan 2030, and the Paris Climate Agreement—a legally binding international treaty on climate change.

Meeting these goals requires continued support and contribution from all parties. Financial industries, as important participants in the market, play a crucial role in providing the investment and helping shape a low-carbon economy.

2. An Asian epicentre of green finance

Going by the fast-paced growth in demand for ESG and sustainable investment products—as demonstrated by the US$50 billion Asian dollar-denominated green-bond market—the region is well-placed as a hotspot for green finance.

And SGFC is focused on leading the green finance conversation in the Asian region—in part led by multi-disciplinary research that will enable financial institutions, corporates, and policymakers to improve the management of environmental risks, develop financial solutions to promote environmental sustainability, and design policies for a sustainable future.

As Susan Soh, Co-Head of Asia Pacific and CEO Singapore for Schroder Investment Management, said at the panel session of “Endowus Insights 2021: Paving a New Way Forward” webinar: “We want to bring our industry insights to do co-research with the centre–by identifying climate risk and problem statements that our investment community is struggling with.

And hopefully, we will publish white papers from there. I hope to tie up our graduate trainee programme with the SGFCs courses and eventually giving employment opportunities to your graduates.”

SGFC led the sessions on Green Finance for Module 2 of SMU’s Growing Infrastructure Executive Programme. The programme is targeted at senior and mid-level decision-makers and policymakers in the infrastructure sector from South and South East Asia, and the course is developed as a tripartite collaboration between SMU’s Sim Kee Boon Institute, Infrastructure Asia and the World Bank Group.

Aimed at supporting regional infrastructure development and raising participants’ awareness of solutions from Singapore-based companies, the programme allows Singapore to lead conversations in this area, while pulling the rest of developing Asia along with it.

Armed with scientific analysis and data, SGFC will conduct independent research in evaluating the ESG performance in Asia. With this Asian perspective in mind, the research outputs will likely be more well-suited for developing Asia. The SGFC will also roll out online courses and Asian-focused case studies that will better equip and educate the sector.

“There is a view of ‘doing well by doing good’,” says Prof Fernandez. “Companies that focus on ESG issues can perform better if unexpected events occur.”

3. Build a transparent measurement framework

With sustainability gaining momentum as a key business driver in Asia—seeing how multiple nations in the region are upholding (albeit not increasing) their climate pledges to the Paris Agreement, an effective and consistent quantitative system of measurement is critical for setting and meeting goals, as well as spurring innovation.

One of the key tasks spearheaded by SGFC is the development of a system for measuring ESG performance and setting benchmarks. For example, it will be producing a white paper to develop a sound system of measuring ESG performance, setting reasonable benchmarks and disclosure standards.

“A sustainability bottom line, captured by direct and non-direct impact, is harder to measure consistently over time,” says Prof Fernandez.

“The lack of regulatory frameworks such as the universal definition of green and sustainable activities also pose a challenge to those in the journey towards sustainable finance.”

It is also a challenge in academic research that these ESG measurements show inconsistencies due to rating agencies’ preferences and rating methodology. Setting consistent measurements and standards will also help to spot anomalies in the capital market.

The centre will seek input from its nine founding partners from the banking and asset management sector to ensure that the system meets industry needs and engage other academic institutions through the Global Research Alliance for Sustainable Finance and Investment—a network of research universities founded to promote multi-disciplinary academic research on sustainable finance and investment.

Additionally, this system of measurement should be transparent across companies to ensure there exist universal benchmarks, pertaining to matters such as accounting or legal issues. ESG-related metrics should also be integrated into various aspects of a company’s reporting or stages of investment, which will allow shareholders and stakeholders to look at the company as a whole rather than just looking at the firm’s financial performance.

“This is a huge topic and a global conversation, and one where Asia has yet to find its voice,” explains Prof Fernandez.

"Our ambition is that Singapore, via the SGFC, will lead the region in this area."