Eco-Business

???? Eco-Business' award-winning range of newsletters are published daily, weekly, and monthly. Below, peer inside the March edition of our Singapore country newsletter. Singapore's Committee of Supply debate is ongoing. For two weeks, Members of Parliament (MP) will examine each government ministry's requested annual budget to determine how much should be allotted. The Ministry of Sustainability and Environment's budget and plans for FY2025 are to be discussed tomorrow. Read about the nation's latest clean energy plans below. ?? Our country newsletters are dispatched on the first Monday of each month. To explore the complete selection of newsletters, visit https://lnkd.in/gphNAkS (they're free!).

?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ???? ????????! Sustainable tourism initiatives are taking off in Coron Island, Bohol and Cebu, where stewardship plans are in place to ensure tourism spend goes towards the funding of conservation efforts – and ultimately benefit local communities. Any form of ecotourism must take into consideration waste generation and its management. Plastic pollution – rife on these islands?– is a global crisis and needs to be tackled urgently. As governments in Asia look to implement laws to address the issue of waste, we published?our latest roundtable insights report?that?offers a?deep-dive into Malaysia's waste strategy: [https://lnkd.in/gD8NFUyF] ?? ?? Catch up on the freshest developments in this condensed version of ???????????????? ????????????. ?? To get these stories directly in your inbox every Wednesday, subscribe to ???????????????? ???????????? or explore the complete selection of newsletters on our website at https://lnkd.in/gphNAkS (they're free!).

In a world increasingly marked by geopolitical polarization and diverging priorities, impact investing remains a crucial mechanism for solving urgent societal problems and driving positive change.? Hong Kong, with its substantial number of high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and multinationals, is strategically positioned to emerge as a leading impact investing hub. The city's financial infrastructure and deep capital markets offer significant advantages, but global cooperation and regulatory clarity are key for supporting the growth of impact investing in a fragmented world. Delve into the future of impact investing together with us at this afternoon plenary during the inaugural edition of Unlocking capital for sustainability Hong Kong. Happening on 26 March, this specific session will explore how impact investors can navigate complex global dynamics while promoting sustainable development and social equity. ?? Michael Au, Chair, Toniic ?? Amita Chaudhury, Group Head of Sustainability, AIA ?? Katy Yung, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Finance Initiative ?? Kithmina Hewage, Senior Advisor, Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS) ?? Kitty Bu, Vice President, Asia ex-India, The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) Book your seat to hear from these brilliant speakers and many more:[https://lnkd.in/g65HbkKG] ————— Unlocking capital for sustainability Hong Kong is organised by Eco-Business in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). Our strategic partners are AIA Hong Kong and Macau, Invest Hong Kong, OCBC, and TOMRA, while CDP and Climate Finance Asia are our knowledge partners. Our outreach partners include Business Environment Council, Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), MioTech, Nasdaq, ReThink HK, Sustainable Finance Initiative, 世界綠色組織 (World Green Organisation) and WWF-Hong Kong. Green Queen Media is our media partner.

10 March 2025 marks the 50th day of Trump's second term as president of the United States. In those few weeks, his speeches and executive orders have spurred almost-daily headlines. In this story roundup, we look at how Trump's second term has affected sustainability and environmentalism in Asia. The stories can be viewed here: US pulls out of JETP in Indonesia: [https://lnkd.in/euayp-nX] Trump 2.0's impact on SEA energy politics: [https://lnkd.in/gwxEvYgN] Businesses need to rethink their focus, not values: [https://lnkd.in/gCgMvz-x] SEA's recycled plastics market amidst Trump trade war:?[https://lnkd.in/gzQsckVV] Asia's opportunity as transition leader:?[https://lnkd.in/g9wpJxvA] Trump's foreign aid freeze:?[https://lnkd.in/gDv6trX3]

The Sustainability Leadership A-List is back for its sixth edition! In response to the huge interest, we're ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ??????????! Swipe through our list of frequently asked questions below to understand the nomination process. Know?someone who is creating an impact through changes in policies or business practices? Submit now: [https://lnkd.in/gVzQX3b8] Eco-Business welcomes nominations for individuals based in Asia Pacific, which includes countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Asia, as well as Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Shouqing Zhu is China Policy Advisor at United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI).?Earlier in his career, he worked with multinational corporations and international financial institutions, managed cross border investment projects, developed renewable energy and #GHG management projects, and participated in #policyadvisory activities with governments of China and other APEC economies. He will be delivering a special keynote at the inaugural Hong Kong edition of Unlocking capital for sustainability, happening on 27 March 2025. Join us in exploring the crucial role Hong Kong plays in fostering innovation and collaboration across the region. Visit the link now to register your attendance: [https://lnkd.in/g65HbkKG] ——————— Unlocking capital for sustainability Hong Kong is organised by?Eco-Business?in partnership with?United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). Our strategic partners are?AIA Hong Kong and Macau,?Invest Hong Kong,?OCBC, and?TOMRA, while?CDP?and?Climate Finance Asia?are our knowledge partners. Our outreach partners include?Business Environment Council,?Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS),?MioTech,?Nasdaq,?ReThink HK,?Sustainable Finance Initiative,?世界綠色組織 (World Green Organisation)?and?WWF-Hong Kong.

Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership or JETP secretariat confirmed the world’s largest historical climate polluter’s exit from the deal, but said other funding partners will continue to support the pact. On Tuesday, US Treasury Department officials also informed Jean-Christophe Donnellier, the developed country co-chair for the global loss and damage fund, that the nation will withdraw from the fund board, according to a letter seen by Eco-Business. The fund, signed off at the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan last year, provides assistance to nations most severely impacted by the effects of climate change. News of America’s latest retreat from climate action comes?a month after Indonesia’s climate and energy envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo called JETP a failure. Read the full story on the Eco-Business website: https://lnkd.in/euayp-nX #JETP #COP29 #LossAndDamageFund

The first two Asia Pacific (APAC) banks have exited the sector’s?net zero?pact, but Southeast Asia’s largest lender DBS has reiterated its commitment to its climate targets in its?latest sustainability report. Since joining in 2021, DBS remains a member of the United Nations-convened alliance, where signatories pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to virtually zero by 2050. The lender remains on track for five out of seven sectoral decarbonisation targets it set out in 2022, which include the?power,?oil?and?gas, automotive, real estate and aviation sectors. Read more about DBS' progress towards its goals and its plans for the future: [https://lnkd.in/gUytqJ5J]

The world commemorated women's fight for equality and liberation on 8 March, International Women's Day?(IWD). In Asean, mainstreaming gender issues remains?“novel subject matter", suggested Apichai Suchindah, a veteran development specialist who has served both in the Asean secretariat and as executive director of the Asean Foundation.?But there is growing support for Indonesia to to widen its search when fielding the next?sec-gen in 2028. “Gender equality is not merely a moral imperative. It is a strategic necessity,” said Mutiara Indriani, PhD candidate and research officer at the Australia National University. Learn what other Asean watchers have said about the possibility of greater inclusivity in Asean leadership: [https://lnkd.in/gygM3tmV]

Advancing sustainable finance for nature in Asia: Join our exclusive masterclass! Over half of Asia Pacific’s economy faces nature-related risks—how can we drive capital towards nature protection, conservation and restoration projects?Join us for a half-day masterclass in Hong Kong and gain industry-first guidance on addressing nature-related risks and opportunities. Learn from leading experts about nature and biodiversity developments and policies taking shape, managing risk and opportunities through the TNFD framework, and more. Register now to stay ahead in the evolving landscape of sustainable finance! ?28 March 2025, 9.30am - 3.00pm HKT ?Blueprint, Dorset House, Tai Koo Place ? Register here: [https://lnkd.in/gdNaNaUi] This exclusive masterclass is organised by Eco-Business in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), and supported by Swire Properties.