Rachel Kelly presents a sustainable finance 101 to provide listeners with a better insight and understanding of green finance products on the market and why they are relevant. Eco Money looks at the performance of ESG funds, listing regulations, global regulations for funds and corporates, as well as loans, bonds etc.

ECO MONEY: Budget Sustainability Highlights

Security and sustainability go hand in hand for business and the nation.

This was highlighted in two key sustainability areas of this year’s Singapore National Budget which rolls out the first instalment of the Forward Singapore programmes.

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered his third annual Budget speech in Parliament on February 16th - he highlighted that for firms to be competitive, they also need to embrace sustainability.

Rachel Kelly takes a closer look at the sustainability elements of Budget 2024.

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ECO MONEY: Dyeing to make fashion sustainable

Colour analysis to produce a palette that best compliaments your skin and hair tone may have become the latest trend, but have you given any thought to how the dyes for your clothes are produced?

Colorifix is on a mission to tackle toxic dye pollution caused by the industry and reduce water consumption.

Rachel Kelly speaks to Orr Yarkoni, Founder and CEO of Colorifix to find out more.

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ECO MONEY: The secret is out.. green hushing is the new norm

South Pole’s latest Net Zero Report has shown that 44% of surveyed companies say external communication on climate targets has become more difficult in just the past year, and 58% are decreasing communications as a result.

A sign that green hushing is the new norm?

Host Rachel Kelly, takes a closer look at the report in this episode of Eco Money.

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ECO MONEY: Building a greener future

Buildings alone account for close to 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions.

And with many of the buildings around today expected to still be standing by net zero target date of 2050  - Rachel Kelly speaks to Adrien Pierson, Vice President of Strategy, iviva to find out if the industry is progressing fast enough.

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ECO MONEY: ESG trends to watch in 2024

2023 may have seen a spotlight cast on controversy around ESG investing.

Greenwashing and confusing terminology may have punched a dent in ESG’s credibility.

Could this give way to greater clarity around language, goals and intentions in the year ahead?

MSCI ESG Research’s Sustainability and Climate Trends for 2024 is hot off the press.  Rachel Kelly speaks to Yu Ishihara, Executive Director, MSCI ESG & Climate Research to get the details.

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ECO MONEY: 2023 the HOTTEST year on record

It’s official, 2023 was the hottest year on record.

That’s according to the latest findings from the Copernicus  2023 Global Climate Highlights report.

And not only was 2023 the hottest, 2023 was the first year on record where all days were in excess of 1°C above pre industrial leves, with two days exceeding 2°C for the first time.

Rachel Kelly has the details in this episode of Eco Money.

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ECO MONEY: What to expect in the year ahead

What do you need to look out for in the year ahead when it comes to sustainable business and investing? And, now that the dust has settled on COP28, which key dates do you need to highlight in your diary?

Eco Money's Rachel Kelly takes a look at reports from Allianz Global investors and MUFG Research for key themes and what to watch in the year ahead.

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ECO MONEY: NETworking to untangle the ocean

Every year - over 430 million tonnes of plastic is produced globally.

According to the UN - two-thirds of that are short-lived products that soon become waste.

In fact, abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear is the deadliest form of marine plastic, threatening 66 per cent of marine animals.

Earlier this year, Gopaal  Jeyaram Founder of Big Fins & Underwater Zombie - came face to face with ghost nets 60 meters underwater in Bali.

Rachel Kelly speaks to Gopaal in this week's Eco Money to find out more.

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ECO MONEY: Are net zero targets running out of road?

National climate action plans remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

That's according to the latest report from the UN.

Even with increased efforts by some countries, the report shows much more action is needed now to bend the world’s emissions trajectory further downward and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Timely that in the same week - KPMG released its 2023 Net Zero Readiness Report.

The report highlighted that Governments and industry must deliver transformative change on net zero but are currently hamstrung by significant barriers, including global public debt, domestic tensions, increased opposition to decarbonization plans, and the need to guarantee energy supply.

Rachel Kelly speaks with Sharad Somani, Head of Infrastructure for KPMG Asia Pacific and Head of KPMG ESG at KPMG in Singapore.

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ECO MONEY: How to bridge the $4trillion energy transition gap

Developing countries face an investment gap of $2 trillion annually for the energy transition, out of a $4 trillion annual funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals. That’s according to the United Nations.

Earlier this year it called for urgent support to developing countries to enable them to attract significantly more investment for their transition to clean energy.

But barriers remain, policy, politics, and perhaps technology.

So how do we bridge this financing gap? Rachel Kelly speaks to Kelvin Wong, Managing Director and Deputy Head of Energy, Renewables and Infrastructure, DBS to find out.

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ECO MONEY: Balancing ESG Backlash and Boards

Over 60 percent of US companies expect ESG backlash to continue or increase over the next two years.

That’s according to a recent report by The Conference Board.

As anti-ESG backlash and confusion around ratings muddies the waters - how can corporates best navigate?

Rachel Kelly speaks to Tim Mohin,  a global Partner and Director with Boston Consulting Group or B-C-G. He is the former CEO of carbon accounting startup Persefoni, and former CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the world’s largest sustainability reporting standard.

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ECO MONEY: Ringing in a new era of hope for climate action

Ringing in a new era of hope for climate action.

That is the weight that hangs above this year’s conference of parties or COP28.

COP28 President-Designate, Dr Sultan Al Jaber literally did that in New York as the first COP president to ring the New York Stock Exchange bell to help raise awareness of climate finance in the US business community.

Rachel Kelly has the latest in this week's Eco Money.
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ECO MONEY: How to arrange a net zero event

The dust has settled on this year's F1 weekend in Singapore, a massive global event that attracts spectators from across the globe.  And like many large scale events it has announced energy goals, the Singapore Grand Prix has  pledged to reduce 50% of their energy emissions by 2028. How will this be achieved? And what do businesses need to know about net zero events?

In this week's Eco Money, Rachel Kelly speaks to Vinod Kesava, Council Member, Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) and Co-Founder / MD & CEO, Climate Resources Exchange International to find out.

SEAS will be holding a FULLY carbon neutral event in October - Asia Clean Energy Summit. 

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ECO MONEY: 50 Shades of Hydrogen

Blue, Grey, Pink, and even Turquoise - its the colour that counts when it comes to sustainable hydrogen.

And as conversations of the gas as an eco energy alternative heat up - Rachel Kelly speaks to Dr Thomas Koller APAC Hydrogen Lead at DNV to find out what you need to know when it comes to Green Hydrogen.

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ECO MONEY: Going with the VFlow

In sunny singapore solar is an important component of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

But as we know, the sun doesn’t shine 24 hours a day, so for those looking to implement solar panels - how can they store that energy?

VFlowTech is a Singapore-based long duration energy storage solutions provider manufacturing low-cost and efficient modular vanadium redox flow batteries.

Sounds technical doesn’t it?

Rachel Kelly speaks to Dr. Arjun Bhattarai is the Co-Founder and CTO at VFlowTech to find out more.

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Eco Money: COP28 - What you need to know

You may have heard, COP28 is taking place in Dubai this year.
But what is COP, and why does it matter?
Here’s an explainer and what you need to know!
In this episode of Eco Money you'll hear from industry players on what they hope from this year's COP.
Comments from:
Anita Neville, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Sustainability Relations, Golden Agri-Resources
Dale Hardcastle, Global Head of Carbon Markets and Director of Global Sustainability Innovation Center, Bain & Company
Kavita Gandhi, Executive Director, Sustainable Energy Association Singapore

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Eco Money: How Malaysia and Singapore can work together to reach renewable power goals

Earlier this it was announced that Malaysia will lift a ban on exports of renewable energy.
Rachel Kelly speaks with  J Y Chew, Head of Asia Renewables & Power Research, Rystad Energy, to find out what this might mean for Singapore when it comes to the energy sector and your power bills.

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Eco Money: Is it time to talk sustainable healthcare?

The healthcare industry is responsible for 4.4% of global CO2 emissions.
That may not sound like a lot, but to put things in perspective, if it were a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter on the planet.
According to a report released by Health Care Without Harm and independent sustainability consultancy, Arup, the  top three emitters, the United States, China, and collectively the countries of the European Union, comprise more than half the world’s total health care climate footprint (56%)- with hospitals and health facilities being major resource and energy consumers.
In this episode of Eco Money, Rachel Kelly speaks with Simarna Singh, Regional Sustainability Manager, Business Unit Healthcare for APAC at DKSH, a healthcare services and distribution company, to find out more.

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Eco Money: Singapore’s first carbon-neutral certified paint company

Singapore-based Alora paints claims to be the country’s first carbon neutral certified paint.
But what does that mean for consumers?
And what do you need to know when it comes to sustainable paints?
In this episode of Eco Money, Rachel Kelly speaks with Alora Paints Chief Executive Officer, Adrian Kok.

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Eco Money: Are you travelling sustainably?

Sustainable travel is a key trend for the business and leisure industry.
According to a report by our Expedia Group Media Solutions team highlighted that 90% of consumers look for sustainable options when traveling, though 70% feel overwhelmed navigating available options and on starting the process of becoming a more sustainable traveler.
To find out more, Rachel Kelly spoke to Aditi Mohapatra, VP of Global Social Impact and Sustainability at Expedia on eco travel trends,  and Timothy Go on his sustainable hotel entrepreneurial journey.

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Eco Money: CLI - Building a sustainable investment

Singapore-listed CapitaLand Investment’s portfolio spans the globe.
The real estate investment player has operations in more than 40 countries and more than 220 cities.
And with such a significant global footprint, it’s no surprise that its keeping an eye on a different footprint. carbon footprint.
CLI recently refreshed its sustainability master plan - integrating its 2050 net zero carbon emissions commitment.
To find out more, Rachel Kelly spoke with Mr Vinamra Srivastava, CLI’s Chief Sustainability Officer.

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Eco Money: What's the carbon footprint of your building?

As city dwellers, we spend about 90% of our time indoors. But, have you ever wondered about the sustainability of the building around you?

From the energy used to the carbon footprint - there are now tools available to help business calculate the sustainability of a building.

Corporate Facility Partners or CFP Green Buildings, a green real estate company from the Netherlands, has unveiled its innovative Green Buildings Tool in Singapore.

Rachel Kelly speaks to Olivier Noorduyn, Head of International Partnerships at CFP Building to find out more.

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Eco Money: How credit access is changing lives across Southeast Asia

How often do you conduct a financial transaction online or on your mobile phone?

This luxury isn't available to everyone.

In Southeast Asia for example, 225 million people lack access to a bank account, and 350 million do not have access to formal credit.

Micro, small and medium enterprises are also facing a significant funding gap as a result of being underbanked. In fact, 39 million micro, small, and medium enterprises face a funding gap of up to US$300 billion.

To get a better understanding of the unserved situation, Rachel Kelly speaks with Dawn Chan, she is the CEO of the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices.

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Eco Money: Opportunities for Private Banks in Asia to Deliver Impactful Change

Asia’s wealth management revenue is expected to reach $90 billion by 2025.

That’s as private banking in Asia is expected to display significant growth in the coming years as the number of ultra-high net worth individuals in the region increases.

This is according to the latest report by WWF-Singapore.

The nature group states that It is therefore more relevant than ever to stress the importance of sustainable practices in private banking and wealth management.

To dive deeper into how banks in Singapore are currently position, WWF conducted a pilot study of seven private banks.

Rachel Kelly speaks to Akshat Garg, Assistant Vice President, Asia Sustainable Finance, at WWF Singapore to get the details.

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Eco Money: Listed Companies climate goals may be on the rise but so are emissions

Listed companies are on a path to warm the planet by 2.7° above preindustrial levels this century.

That’s according to the latest MSCI Net-Zero Tracker.

The number is well above  limiting the rise in average global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius  above preindustrial levels.

And while climate goals by listcos may be on the rise, so are emissions.

Rachel Kelly speaks to Sylvain Vanston, Executive Director, Climate Change Investment Research, MSCI to find out why.

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Eco Money: Singapore must do more to achieve net zero targets

Singapore aims to reach net zero by 2050.

And, according to some industry players - more needs to be done to reach climate goals.

A survey of members of the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore revealed that more than two thirds (72%) of respondents believe that Singapore isn’t making fast enough progress on its net zero targets.

In this week's episode of Eco Money, Rachel Kelly speaks to Kavita Gandhi, Executive Director, SEAS to find out more.

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Eco Money: Sugar prices climb to decade plus high

The latest report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - showed that its Food Price Index rose by 0.6% month on month in April.

Now this might not sound like much, but -  this marks the first increase in the FFPI since March 2022, when prices rose by 13.1% on month  in the wake of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In terms of the constituent groupings, the increase was driven by a 1.3% m-o-m rise in meat prices and a 17.6% m-o-m rise in the price of sugar.

To help us understand what’s driving these costs and what this means for other commodity prices Rachel Kelly spoke with Matthew Biggin, Commodity Analyst at Fitch Solutions.

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Eco Money: ADB launches new program to accelerate billions in climate change financing

The Asian Development Bank has launched the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific or IF -CAP to tackle the impact of climate change.

This is believed to be the first time a leveraged guarantee mechanism for climate finance has been adopted by a multilateral development bank.

Up to $15 billion in new loans for much-needed climate projects across Asia and the Pacific could be created under IF-CAP.

Rachel Kelly takes a closer look in this episode of Eco Money.

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ECO MONEY: Is jackfruit the next trendy meat alternative?

When you think of alternative meats - jackfruit may not be the first thing that comes to mind.

BUT this humble fruit has been used in vegetarian dishes for years.

One Singapore based startup is betting big on this trend. KARANA has plans to take jackfruit global - starting from our little red dot.

Eco Money Host, Rachel Kelly speaks to BLAIR CRICHTON, Co-Founder, KARANA to find out more.

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Eco Money: The history of Earth Day

This Saturday the 22nd April marks Earth Day. This year’s theme “Invest in our planet”

But what is earth day and why does it matter? The answer may seem self-explanatory.

In this episode of Eco Money, Host, Rachel Kelly takes a look at the history and takes a closer look at the numbers.

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Eco Money: Preserving tradition and weaving sustainability into business

Trek through the jungle in the heart of Sarawak in Borneo and you may stumble upon a traditional long house with rattan and textile weavers.

If you caught this year’s Malaysia Budget coverage - the document folio that contained the Malaysia Budget 2023, carried by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Parliament to present his Budget speech was carried in a Songket bag.

Eco Money Host, Rachel Kelly, speaks to Curtis Chin, Chair, Milken Institute Asia Center, about his recent trip to Sarawak to visit traditional weavers and the business opportunities of preserving tradition and thinking sustainably.

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Eco Money: What investors need to know about the latest IPCC report

Urgent climate action can secure a liveable future for all - that's the message from the latest report by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Yet - according to the latest Global Climate Survey of 300 of the world’s largest institutional and wholesale investors in Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and South Africa, representing a total of around USD 27.4 trillion in assets under management - investors are concerned about are concerned about political pressure for failing to act on ESG and climate compared.

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Eco Money: Agrifoodtech investment trends

According to the latest AgFunder Global AgriFoodTech Investment Report 2023 - Global agrifoodtech funding in 2022 came in close to 50% (44%) lower than the year before.

To help us get a better understanding of what is moving in the industry Rachel Kelly spoke to John  Friedman, Asia Director of AgFunder and GROW Accelerator.

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Eco Money: Standard Chartered sees 12X investment potential in tackling climate change

Where are the lines drawn on what is and isn’t sustainable? AND what are big international banks doing about it?

More importantly where are the investment opportunities?

Eco Money Host, Rachel Kelly speaks to Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer of Standard Chartered Bank and Alex Manson, Member, SC Ventures to find out.

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Eco Money: How businesses can make the switch to become more sustainable

Is greenwashing here to stay? How can businesses better tackle issues related to adapting to become more sustainable?

These were some of the questions answered at the Inaugural Earth Hour Summit.

In this podcast, host, Rachel Kelly brings you highlights from the summit and speaks with WWF CEO, R Ragunathan, for his thoughts on the future of WWF Singapore.

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Eco Money: Investment opportunities in the greening of Asia’s transport industry

#67: Investment opportunities in the greening of Asia’s transport industry
As governments across the globe rollout incentives to green transportation, an abundance of organizations are looking to jump on the eco train. So how can investors tell where to look for the right opportunities?
Guest: Robert Carnell, Regional Head of Research, Asia-Pacific, ING

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Listen to more podcasts from Eco Money:

#1: Sustainable Waste Investment In China
Investing to improve waste management in China
Guest: Priscilla Lu, Head of Sustainable Investments, China, DWS Asset Management Sustainable Investments

Download the podcast.

#2: Sustainability Linked Financial Products
The world’s first sustainability linked capital call facility.
Guest: Martijn Hoogerwerf, Director of Sustainable Finance, ING Bank Asia Pacific

Download the podcast.

#3: Sustainability Linked Loans
Guest: Yulanda Chung, Head of Sustainability and Institutional Banking, DBS

Download the podcast.

#4: Financing Agricultural Development In SEA
Guest: Grahame Dixie, Executive Director, Grow Asia

Download the podcast.

#5: Sustainability Financing For SMEs
Sustainability for SMEs and debunking some of the myths
Guest: Frances Chen, Head of Corporate Sustainability, HSBC

Download the podcast.

#6: Greenland Ice Sheet Shrinks by Record Amount and Pushes Up Sea Levels
Guest: Marco Tedesco, Research Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University

Download the podcast.

#7: Going Beyond 'One-Off' Sustainability Initiatives
Guest: JD Kasamoto, General Manager, Ricoh Asia Pacific

Download the podcast.

#8: CEOs Prioritising Sustainability
Why CEOs are making sustainability a top priority.
Guest: Gerry Mattios, Expert Vice President, Bain & Company

Download the podcast.

#9: Sustainability Reporting
Sustainability reporting, listed companies and what investors need to know.
Guest: Professor Lawrence Loh, Director, Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO), NUS Business School, National University of Singapore

Download the podcast.

#10: Investing in Agri Tech
Agri-food tech investment
Guest: John Friedman, Director, Asia, AgFunder

Download the podcast.

#11: Capitaland’s 500 Million-Dollar Sustainability-Linked Bilateral Loan – The Largest In Singapore’s Real Estate Sector
Guest: Mr Andrew Lim, Group Chief Financial Officer, CapitaLand Group

Download the podcast.

#12: Impact of COVID-19 on ESG Funds
How ESG funds have been performing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guest: Nadia Humphreys, Business Manager for Sustainable Finance Solutions, Bloomberg

Download the podcast.

#13: What Does The Future Hold For Sustainable Supply Chain Finance?
We know Covid-19 has had a huge impact on supply chains, but what does it mean for Sustainable Supply Chain finance?
Guest: Michael Walker, Head of Working Capital Finance, APAC, Finastra

Download the podcast.

#14: Are You Ready For Responsible Investing?
How have ESG funds been performing? What should investors look for when embarking on an ESG investment journey? What do the MAS Environmental Risk Management Guidelines mean for the market in Singapore?
Guest: Ms Edris Boey, ESG Practice Lead, Maitri Asset Management

Download the podcast.

#15: What Does It Mean To Invest With Purpose?
The current Covid-19 current crisis provides an opportunity to "build back better". That's according to Citi Private Bank. In its half-year review, the bank shared that investors can effect positive change with private capital.
Guest: Julie Koo, Head, Citi Investment Management Sales, APAC

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#16: What Investors Should Look For In An Annual Report When It Comes To ESG
Guest: Alistair Thompson, Director of Asia Pacific Equities, First State Investments

Download the podcast.

#17: How Will Covid-19 Change Sustainability Reporting For Listed Companies In Singapore?
Covid-19 has forced many businesses to reevaluate business models and strategies.
This has in turn required a need for listed companies to communicate to investors on material changes as and when developments arise. Going forward, in the latest regulators column, SGX RegCo highlighted what it expects of Sustainability Reporting during Covid-19 times.
Guest: Michael Tang, Head of Listing Policy and Product Admission, SGX RegCo

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#18: The tide is turning for sustainable startups
Earlier this year, the latest edition of The Liveability Challenge (TLC) was launched calling for innovative solutions to pressing environmental issues faced by modern, urban cities. Over 400 participants from 60 countries submitted solutions for a chance to win over S$1 million in grant funding. Find out more about TLC and how sustainable startups can overcome launch hurdles.
Guest: Jessica Cheam, Founder & Managing Director, Eco-Business

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#19: Will sustainability investing still be fully integrated by 2025?
It is now becoming increasingly clear how the environmental impact of companies will play an even bigger role on their financial outlook. This point was highlighted in global asset manager, Robeco’s latest report on equity investing for the remainder of 2020. Find out the latest trends in sustainability investing and what the future holds.
Guest: Fabiana Fedeli, Global Head of Fundamental Equities, Robeco

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#20: Accounting for change
In a new report published by ACCA, Sustainable public finances through Covid-19, three organisations; ACCA, the World Bank and IFAC, are calling for governments to use public sector balance sheets to properly manage their finances through the pandemic, paying attention to their public sector net worth. For some, this means a change in accounting methods from cash to accrual accounting. For finance professionals, this means considering the broader metrics of societal wellbeing and sustainability.
Guest: Alex Metcalfe, Global Head, Public Sector, ACCA

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#21: Green is the new gold: how ESG altruism is a reality
What companies should focus on when paving the way for sustainable growth beyond the crisis. Perhaps, it could be impact-investing, looking beyond self and altruism.
Guest: Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO, Stewardship Asia Centre and former TEDx speaker

Download the podcast.

#22: What should Green Bonds be reporting?
In a recent report, Carbon Care Asia asked: how much have green bonds and climate bonds contributed to their stated environmental goals; and has there been adequate attention placed on the social impact of projects funded by green bonds? They found that of the 249 green bonds issued since 2018 - only 26% offered details on how environmental impact was identified in their project evaluation process. Some 8% offered details on how to manage environmental risks.
Guest: John Sayer, Director, Carbon Care Asia

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#23: The evolution of ESG across asset classes
Investors are increasingly looking to make a statement with their money. Taking a look at an investment's ROI is no longer enough for some. As a result, money has been pouring into the responsible investment sector or funds closely tied to it through environmental, social and governance integration.
Guest: Francois de Bruin, Fund Manager, Sustainable Income & Growth, Aviva Investors

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#24: The rising importance of environmental, social, and governance in structuring insurance products
During times of crises, insurance is meant to be a stabilising force for society. To reinforce this image, McKinsey says that insurers should look to adopt ESG principles throughout their organisations to make sure they are creating a better world for all.
Guest: Brad Mendelson, Senior Partner and Asia Insurance Practice Lead, McKinsey

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#25: The positive impact of sustainability reporting on brand value
A study of 100 leading brands in Singapore found that sustainability reporting is positively linked to their brand value. However, one-fifth of these brands do not engage in sustainability reporting.
Guest: Sharmine Tan, Co-Author, Impact of Sustainability Reporting Report, National University of Singapore

Download the podcast.

#26: Why HSBC is prioritising investment that support the transition to a net zero global economy
This month, HSBC announced an ambitious plan to prioritise financing and investment that supports the transition to a net zero global economy, citing a landmark opportunity to build a thriving, resilient future for society and businesses. The bank is committing to align its financed emissions – the carbon emissions of its portfolio of customers – to the Paris Agreement goal to achieve net zero by 2050 or sooner.
Guest: Patrice Conxicoeur, CEO and Head of S.E.A., HSBC Global Asset Management Singapore

Download the podcast.

#27: Should a ratings system be implemented for Green Bonds?
A flurry of Green Bonds have been hitting the market as companies and governments across the globe turn to such instruments. Experts say that this year's issuance is likely to surpass last year's global $250 billion. But are these bonds really contributing to the fight against climate change? And could a ratings system keep issuers in check?
Guest: Mitch Reznick, Head of Sustainable Fixed Income, Federated Hermes

Download the podcast.

#28: China’s crucial role in the pursuit of global net zero emissions
The third quarter of 2020 has seen a surge in countries and companies pledging to achieve carbon neutrality. The most notable, China's pledge to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. A significant climate policy milestone, and if achieved some reports estimate that this could curb global warming by 0.2-0.3 deg C this century.
Guest: Edris Boey, ESG Practice Lead, Maitri Asset Management

Download the podcast.

#29: Are you ready for Eco Accounting?
A global survey of 829 accountants and finance professionals reveals their deep concerns about social and environmental issues. 90 per cent of respondents said they want organisations to increase efforts to become more environmentally sustainable.
Guest: Jimmy Greer, Head of Sustainability, ACCA

Download the podcast.

#30: DBS Private Bank - banking on ESG products
Investors are becoming increasingly open to ESG and sustainability linked products. DBS Private Bank recently conducted a small group survey to assess clients’ sentiments towards ESG investing. It found that 98% have a positive outlook on ESG investing and believe it to have benefits such as positive social impact, portfolio diversification, financial outperformance and resilience to market shocks. Find out how this trend is steering new products the private bank is offering to its clients.
Guest: Rohit Jasingh, Head of Capital Market Products, DBS Private Bank

Download the podcast.

#31: Assessing regional banks sustainability performance
Find out more about the Sustainable Banking Assessment (SUSBA), a tool that shows year on year changes in a banks performance on the integration of environmental and social considerations.
Guest: Dr. Keith Lee, Senior Vice President, Sustainable Finance, WWF-Singapore

Download the podcast.

#32: Outlook for upcoming launches around ESG, SDI, and SDG-driven indices in Asia
Qontigo's role in the recently launched Sustainable Development Investments Asset Owner Platform.
Guest: Rick Chau, Head of Asia Pacific for Index and Analytics, Qontigo

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#33: ESG Regulatory outlook
What the increased focus on sustainability and finance means for the legal and regulatory landscape.
Guest: Grace Chong, Of Counsel (Regulatory & ICT), Singapore and Hong Kong, Simmons & Simmons JWS

Download the podcast.

#34: How should you prepare for a responsible investment landscape in 2021
Ensuring that investment teams are aware of and integrate ESG performance in investment decisions.
Guest: Leon Kamhi, Head of Responsibility, Federated Hermes

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#35: Nature is too big to fail
A deeper dive into the way that finance interacts with nature. WWF's report "Nature is too big to fail".
Guest: Anders Nordheim, Vice President, Sustainable Finance, WWF-Singapore

Download the podcast.

#36: Sustainability investing trends in 2021
Outlook for sustainable investing in the year ahead.
Guest: Kristina Church, Head of Sustainable Solutions, Lombard Odier Investment Managers

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#37: Introduction of Renewable Energy Certificates to Singapore’s energy market
An increasing number of corporates are looking to add renewable energy sources to their energy mix as part of sustainability efforts. But, what do you do if you can’t fit solar panels on your office roof? Energy Market Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singapore Exchange recently launched Renewable Energy Certificates to offer a solution to this.
Guest: Tan Liang Ching, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Energy Market Company

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#38: Unlocking the full potential of Southeast Asia's Green Economy
A recent report by Bain & Company highlights that amid accelerating global momentum and investment in addressing sustainability and climate challenges, Southeast Asia is not a leader today, yet given its share of global population and biodiversity, it should play a far larger role.
Guest: Dale Hardcastle, Partner (Singapore), Bain & Company

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#39: New WWF online tool helps asset managers go green
WWF recently shared the results of its 2021 report on responsible investment practices, titled RESPOND. The report this year highlights that Asian asset managers fulfil just 43% of RESPOND’s criteria, suggesting their portfolios may be at greater risk from climate change and natural capital loss.
Guest: Dr. Keith Lee, Senior Vice President, Sustainable Finance WWF-Singapore

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#40: How can blockchain benefit sustainable finance?
STACS, a Singapore FinTech firm is seeking to provide a nexus between the financial ecosystem and the physical world. Plans for the fintech firm and what's next on the ESG front.
Guest: Ray Ferguson, Chairman, STACS and Benjamin Soh, Co-founder & Managing Director, STACS

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#41: How far does carbon capture go in combating climate change?
A report out earlier this year commissioned by Global Witness and Friends of the Earth Scotland commissioned stated that Carbon capture and storage cannot be relied on to deliver global 2030 emissions reductions, whilst the majority of CCS that exists is being used to extract more oil. That said - an article out in Forbes earlier this month stated that Venture investments into carbon capture technologies was up 4x in 2020 (40 deals) from the 10 deals just back in 2017.
Guest: Ken Hickson, Chairman & CEO, Sustain Ability Showcase Asia, Author, ABC carbon, and Managing Editor, ABC Carbon Express

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#42: Investor demand for ESG products is shaping offerings
How new investor demand for ESG products is shaping the asset managers focus and offerings in the year ahead.
Guest: Albert Tse, Head of Distribution Sales & Marketing, South Asia, Amundi

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#43: Investing and the race to net zero
30% of firms in Europe are estimated to be carbon neutral by 2030, according to the latest analyst research by Fidelity International. So where are firms here in Asia placed - and what does that mean for investors?
Guest: Tan Jenn-Hui, Global Head of Stewardship and Sustainable Investing, Fidelity International

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#44: Qontigo to launch China ESG focused Indices
Qontigo, the provider of STOXX indices and Axioma market risk analytics, has announced an agreement with the International Institute of Green Finance (IIGF), a provider focused on ESG ratings for Chinese companies – across both fixed income and equities. Learn about the details of indices to be launched on the back of the collaboration.
Guest: Rick Chau, Head of Asia Pacific, Qontigo

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#45: Investing in ESG Funds with your CPF
Investing in ESG funds is no longer just for institutional investors. Retail investors looking to gain access to better sustainable investing options can now do so through their CPF.
In Eco Money, Rachel Kelly speaks to Sam Rhee, Chief Investment Officer Endowus as he shares more about CPF allocation and the launch of  new Endowus ESG portfolios for retail investors.
Guest: Samuel Rhee, Chairman & Chief Investment Officer, Endowus

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#46: Investing in ocean preservation with Blue Finance
According to the United Nations - the blue economy- with an annual economic value estimated at USD$2.5 trillion, is increasingly attracting investors, insurers, banks, and policymakers as a new source of opportunity, resources, and prosperity.
But - with rapid growth comes risk and the threat of loss of natural capital.
On land - we have so called green bonds and loans which look at sustainable projects that tackle issue such as climate change -- but blue finance for ocean preservation is gaining ground.
Guest: Charles Goddard, Editorial Director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

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#47: Achieving your financial goals sustainably
Find out more about how the push to sustainability is shifting the insurers investment offerings.
Guest: Pierre-Emmanuel Brard, Chief Investment Officer, AXA Insurance Singapore.

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#48: Artists push for green NFTs
Non-Fungible Tokens have been making headlines over the last few weeks following the record sale of an NFT by auction house Christies for $69.3 million US dollars.
While digital artists have broadly welcomed NFTs as a way to expand works value and potential - there is a new dilemma that some are facing - and that is the environmental impact of NFTs.
SUTU is an Australian digital artist based in Los Angeles - he has created and sold an NFT - he speaks to Rachel Kelly to share his perspective on the topic.
Guest: Stu Campbell, Australian Comic Book Artist

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#49: MSCI on ESG investment trends
In MSCI’s 2021 Global Institutional Investor Survey, a survey of 200 institutions managing assets of approximately $18 trillion -  79% of investors in Asia Pacific ( increased ESG investments “significantly” or “moderately” in response to COVID-19, with this figure rising to 90% for the largest institutions.
But does investing in ESG or sustainability liked companies or products necessarily equate to higher returns?
And what does this wider trend mean for the MSCI?
Guest: Baer Pettit, Chief Operating Officer, MSCI

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#50: HSBC switches to recycled plastic credit and debit cards
HSBC announced a new programme that will introduce recycled credit and debit cards across all its global locations.
In fact, by the end of 2026, it aims to eliminate single-use PVC plastics in favour of recycled PVC plastics.
Guest: Alice Fok, Head of Customer, International and Marketing, HSBC

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#51: Regional green recovery opportunities
A recent report titled ‘Green recovery opportunities in Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan’ by EY - revealed a pipeline of over 800 projects in the markets covered with an aggregated investment value in excess of US$316b and a job creation potential for over 870,000 positions.
Guest: Gilles Pascual, EY Asean Power & Utilities Leader

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#52: Financial firms are focused on sustainability
Financial institutions in Singapore place significant importance on Environmental, Social and Governance performance, with a heavy focus on climate considerations.
Guest: Cherine Fok, Director, Sustainability Services and KPMG IMPACT, KPMG Singapore

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#53: SGX listed firms step up Sustainability Reporting
Singapore listed companies are getting better at sustainability reporting.
That’s according to a joint review out today by Singapore Exchange Regulation and the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore Business School.
Interestingly, Catalist companies overlook the Mainboard's score.
Guest: Prof Lawrence Loh, Director, Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations, NUS Business School

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#54: What investors need to know about Singapore’s New Carbon Exchange and Marketplace
SGX will be joining forces with DBS, Standard Chartered and Temasek to launch Climate Impact X (CIX) — a global exchange and marketplace for high-quality carbon credits, supporting organisations on their carbon reduction efforts.
Guest: Herry Cho Head Sustainability & Sustainable Finance, SGX

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#55: Investing in Natural Capital
Swiss banking group Lombard Odier says that the irony is that the threat to Natural Capital comes from the economy that it underpins.
Although many sectors are heavily reliant upon Natural Capital, those same industries are destroying the very resources upon which they depend through their unsustainable business practices
Guest: Dr Christopher Kaminker, Head of Sustainable Investment Research, Strategy and Stewardship at Lombard Odier

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#56: Singaporeans least aware of sustainable investing in Asia
According to a report out by Fidelity International - the Singapore public are the least aware of ESG investing in the Asian region, with only 26% knowing what it is.
BUT - Singaporean savers and investors are the most interested in doing it in the near future in the Asian region.
Guest: Jenn Hui Tan Global, Head of Stewardship and Sustainable Investing at Fidelity International

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#57: VP Bank’s Investing for Change programme
Dr. Felix Brill, Chief Investment Officer, VP Bank, speaks up on ESG trends in Asia.
Guest: Dr. Felix Brill, Chief Investment Officer, VP Bank

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#58: Can investors determine the authenticity of an ESG fund?
This year, ESG funds have been the hot topic. But - How can investors determine the authenticity of an ESG fund?
For example, does adding the word “sustainability” to a fund really make it sustainable?
And how do they avoid issues such as greenwashing?
Guest: Edris Boey, ESG Practice Lead at Maitri Asset Management

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#59: Climate change now tops risk concern lists for Asia-Pacific banks: survey
According to a recent study by EY and the Institute of International Finance 90% of Asia-Pacific banks’ chief risk officers view climate change as the top emerging risk in the next five years.
Guest: David Scott, EY Asia-Pacific Financial Services Risk Management Leader

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#60: What are 'brown' or transition bonds?
Most of us have heard of Green Bonds and Blue Bonds, but are not so familiar with ‘Brown Bonds’ or Transition Bonds. Find out more on what they are, and how significant the sector is.
Guest: Helge Muenkel, Head of Asia Pacific, Sustainable Finance & Global Capital Markets, ING

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#61: Opportunities for Asia to Build a More Sustainable Future
Citi recently conducted a survey about regional ESG investment product trends.
Guest: Jean Ang, Citi APAC Markets Investors, Citi Singapore ESG Taskforce

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#62: Singapore-Based Eco-Friendly Cryptocurrency Mining Service
Did you know that according to some estimates the energy used to mine and power Bitcoin is the equivalent to the energy used by Argentina?
Cryptocurrencies have been in the hot seat for their impact on the environment. One Singapore trader has now launched what he is calling a green crypto platform.
Guest: Jimmy Li, Founder and CEO, Sharemine AI

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#63: Global Impact Awards and sectors at the cutting edge of sustainability
How the Global Impact Awards empowers start-ups across different sectors?
Guest: Alessandra Sollberger, CEO, Top Tier Impact Group

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#64: How will climate change impact inflation?
The impact of climate change on inflation and focuses on how climate change will impact strategic asset allocation.
Guest: Salman Ahmed, Global Head of Macro and Strategic Asset Allocation, Fidelity

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#65: What investors need to look out for when it comes to Greenwashing
As the sustainability gold rush continues, ESG funds accounted for 90 per cent of inflows in July according to Calastone’s latest Fund Flow Index. But as asset managers roll out an array of so-called green products, how do investors know whether the funds they are pumping their money into for profits with purpose are actually ESG focused and how can they avoid greenwashing?
Guest: Associate Professor Lawrence Loh Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability, NUS Business School

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#66: London Stock Exchange sets up sustainable finance unit in Singapore
A new unit set up here in Singapore to tackle key sustainable finance issues.
Guest: Dr Felicia Shaw, Innovation Lead, London Stock Exchange Group Labs Singapore

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For more related podcasts & articles:

Why Should Investors Consider Investing In Sustainability?

Sustainable Singapore: Turning used cooking oil into biofuel and ensuring food security

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Sustainable Singapore: The world’s first zero-waste alcohol bottle packaging solution

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