Asia Pacific

The Asia Pacific chapter of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) has published guidance for financing the early retirement of coal-fired power plants.

The chair of Australia's regulator has criticised 'greenhushing' - whereby companies do not publicly communicate their sustainability strategy - as "just another form of greenwashing".

Eastspring Investments is taking a "non-confrontational" approach to climate engagement in Asia, where governance remains the pressing sustainability-related concern, it told Environmental Finance.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is to launch a consultation on the inclusion of managed phase-out of coal fired plants within Singapore's 'green' taxonomy.

The China Green Finance Committee is preparing to publish its methodology for relabelling existing Chinese green bonds as being in alignment with the 'common ground taxonomy' (CGT) in a "couple of months' time".

Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management will for the first time vote against boards that have failed to take action on ESG issues, following six years of engagement with company management.

The Common Ground Taxonomy (CGT) of sustainable activities is being extended beyond the EU and China, by the International Platform on Sustainable Finance, Ma Jun has said.

From Genevieve Redgrave at the Net Zero Delivery Summit

Investors are "less credible" when engaging with policymakers on ESG, and should focus instead on improving economic freedom, Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) told Environmental Finance.

Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) still need to solve the challenge of how coal asset owners can be compensated for early retirement of their assets, Eastspring Investments has said.

Upcoming changes to reporting standards in Hong Kong could enhance sustainability reporting across mainland China, Sustainable Fitch has said.

Gender equality has risen as a priority for institutional investors and bond issuers in the Japanese market, following an increase in gender-focused regulations in the country, Sustainable Fitch has said.