The Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI), alongside the Green Investment Principles (GIP) and Neuberger Berman, jointly hosted a webinar themed “Climate Transition Investing” on December 19, 2024, as the last webinar of the year. This event also marked the first anniversary of CASI which started operations in December 2023 after COP28.
The event was opened by Cheng Lin, Head of CASI Secretariat, who reflected on CASI’s first-year achievements, including growing membership, impactful activities and events, and innovative online learning platform and content. He emphasized CASI’s role in fostering knowledge sharing, which was broadly recognized by the international community, and outlined ambitious goals for 2025, such as strengthening its ecosystem and expanding capacity-building programs to support sustainable investment.
The webinar then proceeded with a session of presentations on transition finance research and investment practices from different viewpoints, including an asset manager like Neuberger Berman, a government-backed research like the transition finance market review and an international green investment initiative like the GIP, and a panel discussion with different perspectives for transition investing.
At the expert presentation session, Charles Nguyen, Head of Asia ESG Investing at Neuberger Berman, focused on the firm’s ESG investment strategies. He described their approach to setting science-based targets and validating them to align with the Paris Agreement. Charles elaborated on the evolution of climate transition frameworks, from exclusionary practices to forward-looking alignment strategies. He underscored the importance of combining strategy, governance, and flexibility to assess companies' transition progress effectively.
Vanessa Havard-Williams, Chair of the UK government-backed Transition Finance Market Review, provided an overview of the UK’s transition finance landscape. She shared challenges identified in her Review and pointed out that transition finance should be defined broadly enough to encourage adoption while ensuring it remains effective. Vanessa emphasized the role of government policies and recommendations in shaping the market’s future.
Chen Yunhan, Deputy Head of the GIP Secretariat Beijing Office, shared the Carbon Reduction and Transition Tool (CRTT) for the steel sector. CRTT is recognized as a valuable benchmark with potential applications for financial institutions, investors and real sector enterprises. This tool can be reviewed as a Chinese version of the SBTi as it aligns with the Paris Agreement while considering national climate goals by highlighting the principles of green technology accessibility, economic affordability, and international comparability. Chen elaborated on the tool’s systematic approach, spanning assumptions, parameter settings, corporate scenario modeling, and results interpretation.
The dynamic panel discussion brought together experts from DBS, Bank of China (Singapore Branch), AVPN, and Bank of Africa to explore critical issues in transition finance.
Jordan Issaakidis, the Vice President of DBS Bank, focused on transition finance within the Southeast Asian context. He shared DBS’s experience in engaging clients for emissions reduction and adaptation while tackling infrastructure and energy grid challenges to support renewable integration.
Chen Xiang, Deputy General Manager of the Bank of China Singapore Branch, shared the bank’s structured approach to aligning with China’s 2060 carbon neutrality goal and Singapore’s 2050 target. He outlined their five-year action plan, which integrates green finance products, such as renewable energy project funding, and retail green solutions to raise awareness.
Tristan Ace, Chief Engagement Officer at AVPN, delivered a thought-provoking presentation emphasizing the importance of a people-centered approach to energy transition. He highlighted AVPN’s initiatives, including the Ascent Initiative launched at COP29, which supports Asia’s clean energy shift while balancing decarbonization with economic development. Tristan also addressed the critical need to integrate social considerations—such as gender equality and labor conditions—into climate finance frameworks to ensure a just transition.
Amal Benaïssa, Director of Sustainability Advocacy, representing Bank of Africa, detailed the bank’s early adoption of sustainability frameworks and its use of blended finance to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in areas like energy efficiency and waste management. She highlighted challenges such as client hesitancy and regulatory complexities but expressed optimism about Africa’s vast renewable energy potential.
Key points included:
- Regional Challenges: Panelists addressed the balance between ambitious climate goals and regional economic development needs, particularly in diverse regulatory environments.
- Innovative Financial Solutions: Discussions highlighted the use of blended finance and catalytic capital to incentivize low-carbon transitions. Speakers emphasized credible frameworks and sector-specific strategies to ensure equitable and effective change.
- Data Challenges: Panelists noted the ongoing difficulties in obtaining reliable data for transition finance, which complicates risk assessment and project evaluation.
This webinar marked the seventh online event hosted by CASI in the first year and its commitment to driving impactful discussions and fostering knowledge sharing in sustainable finance and investment. As it enters its second year, CASI has planned even more activities, including both in-person and online ones, and looks forward to further supporting and expanding global efforts for discussions and knowledge sharing on sustainable investment.
Stay tuned for the next CASI Seminar!
