Imagine if you could make sustainable living interesting and fun, and more importantly, ensure that efforts to go green are truly tangible.

For Alibaba Group’s Ant Financial (renamed as “Ant Group" in 2020), its corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, Ant Forest, is the real deal.

So how did a China fintech company pave the way in gamifying green behaviour?

“Green economy” and “green finance” are common buzzwords these days as the world faces a deluge of environmental crises. But what exactly is a green economy, and how do we navigate the web of ESG impact measurement?

Last Update: 12 June, 2023

Rising environmental problems and concurrent increase in public awareness have influenced the uptake of responsible investments in sustainable organisations. Referred to as impact investing, it generates a financial return, more specifically when accompanied by a disclosed intention to draw and measure social and environmental benefits. Taking into consideration the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors of investment products, investors may work towards achieving a portfolio that aligns with their goals and values.

The pandemic has made it clear that we need to be more adaptive. From the way our lifestyles are changing with the continuation of home-based work and learning, to long-term effects on the economy and expectations on accountability and personal autonomy, we must all learn how to adapt for us humans (and other living creatures) to survive into the future generations.

Last Update: 06 June, 2024

At the 27th Future of Asia conference in Tokyo in May 2022, conversations emerged about Southeast Asia’s role and capacity to contribute to global crises.

In 2021, the top ten most expensive environmental disasters cost over US$1.5 billion each. Hurricane Ida in the United States tops the list at US$65 billion in damages (Christian Aid Report, 2021). With climate change being a key driver behind such frightening figures, it is no surprise that the principle of accountability is being widely incorporated across industries, including the finance sector.

What does the future hold for cities? On 2 August 2022, SMU President Professor Lily Kong, was joined by a diverse group of leaders to discuss how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the evolving role of cities. Each speaker shared examples from their home country, with a special focus on Asia.