Time of event

15:00–18:00 Tokyo time

Summary

Increasing numbers of investors are integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues in their investment decisions. Just in the last several years, ESG investment has grown exponentially, now totaling over $30 trillion. Europe and the United States are the largest contributors of ESG investment, but Asia and the Pacific is rapidly catching up.

In principle, greater ESG investment could encourage the private sector to tackle environmental, social, and governance challenges, as well as boost corporate profits and economic growth. However, the COVID-19 crisis and investors’ preference for safe assets are among the factors impeding the acceleration of ESG investment.

This conference featured research papers that examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on ESG investment, its potential to support sustainable economic recovery, and ways to drive ESG investment growth and address related risks. Private investor behavior, the effects of ESG policies on investment performance, and ESG investment implications for social welfare and environmental sustainability in Asia and the Pacific were also explored.

Objectives
  • Examine ESG investment trends and impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on Asia and the Pacific
  • Identify ESG investment challenges and policy solutions to promote sustainable economic recovery and development
Participants
  • Policy makers and researchers from think tanks, universities, and public and private organizations, as well as postgraduate students
Output
  • Enhanced understanding of ESG investment barriers and policy measures for addressing them amid the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Impetus for greater ESG investment policy dialogue and research
  • Research papers featured during the virtual conference will be considered for publication as an ADBI policy brief, ADBI working papers, and/or inclusion in a related book or special journal issue
Conference Presentations

8 February 2021

Keynote Speech: ESG Global Trends
Fiona Elizabeth Stewart, Lead Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank

Slide

Session 1.1: Key Findings of the 2020 Business and Finance Outlook
Masamichi Kono, Deputy Secretary General, OECD

Slide

Session 1.2: Strengthening ESG Investment/ Sustainable Investment under the COVID-19 Crisis
Satoshi Ikeda, Chief Sustainable Finance Officer, Japan Financial Services Agency

Slide

Session 2.2: ESG Investing: Convergence Needed
Gilles Moec, Chief Economist, AXA Insurance Group

Slide

Session 2.4: Sustainable Investment
Helena Fung, Head of Sustainable Investment, Asia Pacific, FTSE Russell

Slide

9 February 2021

Session 3.4: Promoting Sustainable Finance in ASEAN
Evan Oktavianus, Senior Policy Analyst, Ministry of Finance of Indonesia

Slide

Session 4.3: Policy Support in Promoting Green Bonds in Asia
Dina Azhgaliyeva, Research Fellow, ADBI

Slide

10 February 2021

Session 5.1: Resurgence of ESG Investments in India: Towards Making of a Sustainable Economy
Gopal K. Sarangi, Assistant Professor, TERI School of Advanced Studies

Slide

Session 5.2: Effective Stewardship - Examining the Asset Chain and Identifying Risks to Capital Allocation, Oversight and Management
Govinda Finn, Economist, Kobe University

Slide

Session 5.3: Private Investment in Renewable Energy: Drivers of Alternative Sources of Financing
Ranjeeta Mishra, Project Consultant, ADBI

Slide

Session 6.1: The Resilience of Green Stocks During COVID-19: A Clustering Approach
Lorenzo Prosperi, Specialist, Prometeria SPA

Slide

Session 6.2: ESG Evaluation and Corporate Financial Performance in China, Prior and After COVID-19 Shock
Lian Liu, Research Associate, ADBI

Slide

Session 6.3: ESG Evaluation and Organizational Attractiveness for Prospective Employee: Evidence from Japan
Naoko Nemoto, Financial Economist, ADBI

Slide

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