Financing Asia's Green Transition

Sustainable finance has gained significant momentum over the years, witnessing sharp growth in investments to promote the development of green strategies and support the transition to a more sustainable future. In a 2019 report, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) estimated that the Asia-Pacific region alone requires an annual investment of US$1.5 trillion to achieve the UN SDGs by 2030, with clean energy and climate-resilient infrastructure accounting for almost a third of this figure ($434 billion).​

Themed “Financing Asia’s Green Transition”, discussions at the Singapore Sustainable Investing and Financing Conference (SSIFC) 2022 will focus on how capital can be mobilised to accelerate investment in climate mitigation, catalyse climate innovations, develop stronger carbon markets and accelerate the energy transition.  

Leveraging the combined networks and expertise of BlackRock, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Temasek, SSIFC will convene key decision-makers from central banks, SWFs, financial institutions, private banks, government agencies and corporations across the Asia-Pacific region. ​

The second edition of Singapore Sustainable Investing & Financing Conference (SSIFC) will be held on 9 June 2022, as part of Ecosperity Week.


Programme

8 JUN 2022

Marina Bay Sands

Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Level 5

Join us virtually on LinkedIn Live:

Plenaries

Timings indicated are Singapore time (GMT+8)
08:00 – 09:00
Registration
60 mins
09:00 – 09:10
SSIFC 2022 Opening Address
10 mins
Speaker
Speaker
Larry Fink speaker frame
Larry Fink

Chairman & CEO, BlackRock

09:10 – 09:20
Keynote Address
10 mins
Speaker
Speaker
Indranee Rajah speaker frame
Indranee Rajah

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development, Republic of Singapore

09:20 – 09:50
Aligning Private Finance to Net Zero​
30 mins

As countries and corporates accelerate towards net zero, there needs to be a fundamental shift in the deployment of capital to catalyse systematic change. There has been a remarkable uptick in interest to mobilise private capital into the new green economy, with significant commitment by major funds toward green financing. The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zeo (GFANZ) – a global coalition of more than 450 financial firms, from 45 countries – leverages US$130 trillion in private capital and is widely recognised as a critical vehicle in the race towards net zero. Yet there remains a significant shortfall in capital flows – annual investments in sustainable solutions will need to increase to US$4 trillion by 2030 in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

How has private finance been aligning behind climate action? How will it be allocated to scale investments and achieve transformative alignment?

Speaker and Moderator
Speaker
Dr Mark Carney speaker frame
Dr Mark Carney

Co-Chair, Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance

Moderator
Png Chin Yee speaker frame
Png Chin Yee

Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Temasek

09:50 – 10:30
Unlocking Capital for Asia's New Energy Paradigm
40 mins

Asia accounts for more than half of global energy consumption. 85% of Asia’s energy consumption comes from fossil fuels, with energy demand expected to at least double by 2030. We have nearly universal government commitments to reach net zero, but they are not yet enough to deliver net zero by 2050. The success of the global net zero transition will largely be determined by Asia’s net zero path.

How can Asia simultaneously decarbonise and energise while maintaining reliable and affordable energy for its economic development? Trillions of dollars are required to finance the net-zero transition in the region but how do we source and ensure financially viable projects to attract the needed capital?

The urgency of the net-zero transition demands governments, businesses and investors to formulate a new energy paradigm in Asia while also maintaining resilient and secure energy systems. In this panel, we will discuss how companies and investors can navigate, drive and invent Asia’s energy transition. 

Speakers and Moderator
Speakers
Paul Bodnar speaker frame
Paul Bodnar

Global Head of Sustainable Investing, BlackRock

Dr Meghan Sharp speaker frame
Dr Meghan Sharp

Global Head, Decarbonization Partners

Fiona Wild speaker frame
Fiona Wild

Vice President, Sustainability and Climate Change, BHP

Moderator
Jeanne Stampe speaker frame
Jeanne Stampe

Green Finance Resource Lead, Monetary Authority of Singapore

10:30 – 11:00
Tea Break
30 mins
11:00 – 11:10
Championing Net Zero in Asia
10 mins

The world must reach net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century to stave off the worst effects of climate change. Cutting financed emissions, mobilising private finance, accelerating innovative solutions and voluntary carbon trading are some of the tools that can help us get there.

In this session, Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank and also Board Member of Climate Impact X, will share about the important role that banks and carbon markets play in the transition to net zero, with a focus on Asia.

Speaker
Speaker
Bill Winters speaker frame
Bill Winters

Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered PLC

11:10 – 12:05
Setting Carbon Markets Up for Success​
55 mins

Driven by net-zero pledges from countries and corporations and consumer demand for stronger ESG commitments, the demand for carbon credits is projected to increase by a factor of more than 100 times by 2050 and potentially create a market valued at more than US$550 billion. Yet uncertainty remains over regulatory policy and the supply of credits to sustainably grow the carbon market. As the outlook on carbon markets faces increasing complexity, how can we ensure the integrity of carbon markets and the supply of high quality credits? 

Meanwhile, the demand for Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) continues to grow. With Asia predicted to be a major contributor of NBS credits, are capital flows sufficiently aligned behind ambition? How can we accelerate innovation and transition to deliver a high integrity and inclusive carbon market?

This session features a panel discussion on key levers to scale up carbon markets, followed by a dialogue on how companies can simultaneously deliver innovation and investment in low carbon solutions. 

Speakers and Moderator
Speakers
David Antonioli speaker frame
David Antonioli

CEO, Verra

Renat Heuberger speaker frame
Renat Heuberger

CEO, South Pole

Radha Kuppalli speaker frame
Radha Kuppalli

Managing Director, Impact and Advocacy, New Forests

Mikkel Larsen speaker frame
Mikkel Larsen

CEO, Climate Impact X

Frederick Teo speaker frame
Frederick Teo

CEO, GenZero

Moderator
Kavita Prakash-Mani speaker frame
Kavita Prakash-Mani

CEO, Mandai Nature

12:05 – 12:50
People, Partnerships, and Progress: The Human Dimension of Sustainable Finance
45 mins

Sustainable finance volumes surged past US$1.7 trillion in 2021, as the market responded to investor appetite for financial instruments with environmental, social, and governance goals. Growth was driven in large part by sustainability-linked loans and bonds, which quadrupled from 2020 to 2021 to reach $530 billion by year-end. Two-thirds of these issuances included metrics assessing impacts on the environment - but what about impacts on people? Ultimately, social and environmental factors are inextricably linked and this session will explore an integrated approach to sustainable finance.

How can we incorporate the human dimension into our strategies to generate positive social impacts while simultaneously achieving economic and climate objectives? What are the most urgent social and socio-ecological challenges? Can we be more robust and ambitious in defining Sustainability Performance Targets?

Speakers and Moderator
Speakers
Fang Eu-Lin speaker frame
Fang Eu-Lin

Partner and Sustainability & Climate Change Leader, PwC Singapore

Alfonso Garcia Mora speaker frame
Alfonso Garcia Mora

Regional Vice President, Asia and Pacific, International Finance Corporation

Rajeev Kannan speaker frame
Rajeev Kannan

Managing Executive Officer & Co-Head of the Asia Pacific Division, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Moderator
Kyung-Ah Park speaker frame
Kyung-Ah Park

Head, ESG Investment Management & Managing Director, Sustainability, Temasek

12:50 – 13:00
Special Address
10 mins
Speaker
Speaker
Dr Siti Nurbaya Bakar speaker frame
Dr Siti Nurbaya Bakar

Minister of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia

13:00 – 14:00
Ecosperity Week 2022 Closing Lunch
60 mins
Speaker
Speaker
Dr Steve Howard speaker frame
Dr Steve Howard

Vice Chairman, Sustainability, Temasek

Partner Events

Timings indicated are Singapore time (GMT+8)
13:00 – 14:00
GFANZ CEO Roundtable
60 mins
14:00 – 15:30
IFC-SMBC-Sembcorp-PwC Roundtable
90 mins

The IFC-SMBC-Sembcorp-PwC Roundtable is an invitation-only event.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Sembcorp Industries and PwC Singapore are convening a roundtable on the actions needed of all key stakeholders to enable a coordinated energy transition to bring about structural and impactful change across Asia Pacific in 2022 and beyond. The discussion aims to distill issues of vital importance to the region as countries work to transition away from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. 

14:00 – 15:30
Terrascope: Demystifying the path to Net-Zero
90 mins

For years, it was believed that if businesses committed to measuring and reporting their sustainability performance, their performance would improve because what gets measured gets managed. But if what is measured is incomplete and imprecise, companies could have tougher challenges than anticipated on their sustainability journey.

Terrascope CEO Maya Hari will be hosting leaders from business, policy and sustainability to exchange ideas on how to catalyse decarbonisation efforts in the areas that truly matter, solving for Scope 3 measurement and improving overall speed and accuracy of the process.

14:00 – 16:00
RGE Fireside Chat: The Real Returns on Carbon
120 mins

Businesses are increasingly recognising that nature-based solutions have a role to play in carbon-offsetting as part of their holistic abatement strategy to achieving net-zero targets. While there are a number of such carbon projects in the market that businesses can invest in, few are able to demonstrate that the carbon credits generated are credible, legitimate and meaningful.

RGE will host a fireside chat with Professor Koh Lian Pin of the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, and Lucita Jasmin, Director of Sustainability & External Affairs of the APRIL Group, to discuss what makes good quality carbon credits and how one can access them.

Details of the event can be found here.

14:30 – 18:00
The Liveability Challenge Grand Finale
210 mins

Started in 2018, The Liveability Challenge is a global call for viable, groundbreaking solutions to some of the greatest problems facing cities in the tropics in the 21st century. Finalists stand the chance to secure up to S$1 million to fund their game-changing solutions.

The Liveability Challenge is presented by Temasek Foundation and organised by Eco-Business.

Visit the event website for details.

15:30 – 17:00
CIX Connects: Innovation in the voluntary carbon market
90 mins

The voluntary carbon market (VCM) is projected to see exponential growth in the lead up to 2050 and beyond. When done right, the benefits of carbon credits can go beyond carbon sequestration to cover broader environmental, social and economic impacts for communities.

Climate Impact X, a Singapore-based global carbon marketplace and exchange, is bringing together experts, business leaders and policymakers for an invitation-only panel and networking session to discuss the latest developments, challenges and opportunities in the fast-evolving VCM. The event aims to serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas on new and emerging technologies and solutions that can help businesses transition effectively, and use carbon credits to deliver genuine climate impact.  


View the rest of the programme for Ecosperity Week 2022 here.

 


Speakers & Moderators

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development
Republic of Singapore
Minister of Environment and Forestry
Republic of Indonesia
Global Head of Sustainable Investing
BlackRock
Co-Chair, Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero
UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance
Partner and Sustainability & Climate Change Leader
PwC Singapore
Chairman & CEO
BlackRock
Regional Vice President, Asia and Pacific
International Finance Corporation

SSIFC 2021

The inaugural Singapore Sustainable Investing & Financing Conference (SSIFC) on 30 September 2021 brought together key actors from the Asia-Pacific region, including senior level representatives from central banks, SWFs, financial institutions, private banks, government agencies and corporations.

Themed “Bridging the Gap – Advancing Asia’s Sustainable Future”, the conference focused on drivers needed to catalyse sustainable investing and financing. 

Read more


About the Organisers






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