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Sustainable financing in South-east Asia must consider SMEs, just transition

The region has committed to decarbonisation, with eight out of 10 Asean member states pledging at COP26 to achieve net-zero targets by 2050

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    • EV charging points in a multi-storey car park in Chai Chee. Sustainable financing is growing, thanks in part to the energy transition.
    • EV charging points in a multi-storey car park in Chai Chee. Sustainable financing is growing, thanks in part to the energy transition. PHOTO: BT FILE

    Lim Lay Wah

    Published Mon, Apr 22, 2024 · 05:00 AM

    SUSTAINABLE financing has been crucial in reshaping the financial landscape and helping the real economy transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient one.

    In South-east Asia, sustainable financing has been gaining traction. Yet, there are substantial gaps that need to be addressed to meet ambitious net-zero targets set for this region.

    The evolution of sustainable financing

    The concept of sustainable financing can be traced back to the emergence of responsible investing in the 1970s. These early initiatives sought to align investment decisions with ethical, social and environmental considerations.

    ESGsustainable financeAsean BusinessAsean

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