Climate Finance Asia

To our Partners and Friends in Japan: 謹啓   師走の候、貴社ますますご清祥のこととお慶び申し上げます。 平素は、格段のお引き立てを賜り、厚く御礼申し上げます。   2024年は、私たちClimate Finance Asiaにとって重要な節目の年となりました。持続可能な未来を目指し、さまざまな課題に取り組む中で、皆様のご支援がなければ成し得なかった多くの成果を収めることができました。この場をお借りして心より感謝申し上げます。   本年の主な成果を以下にご報告申し上げます： § 「公正な移行」ワーキンググループの設立: 国際的および地域の金融機関や非営利団体の協力のもと、公正な移行を支えるための具体的なガイドラインの策定を進めております。この取り組みは、気候変動対応と地域社会の公平な発展を両立させることを目指し、COP29では「銀行向けファシリティレベルの公正な移行ガイドライン」のドラフト報告書を発表いたしました。 § 研究と洞察の拡充: アジア太平洋地域の研究交流プラットフォームや主要メディアでの発表を通じて、気候ファイナンスやグリーンファイナンス、エネルギー移行に関する専門的な知見を提供し、さらなる社会的貢献を果たしました。 § 日本での基盤強化: 東京都のご支援のもと、東京での拠点設立や有能なチームの構築に成功し、パートナーシップの拡大と事業運営の強化を進めました。これにより、地域での活動が一層充実したものとなりました。 § AI駆動型フィンテック事業の設立: 新たに立ち上げたSustainvest Technology Limited（SIT）は、AI技術を活用したESG投資分析の提供を通じ、金融機関における持続可能な投資判断を支援しております。サイバーポートへの参加も実現し、今後の成長が期待されております。 § グローバルXグリーンJ-REIT ETFの純資産総額が100億円を突破: 弊社はGlobal X Japanとの協業により、「グローバルXグリーンJ-REIT ETF」を成功に立ち上げました。本ETFは、Solactive社と共同で開発したアジア太平洋グリーンREIT指数に連動しています。本年度、このETFは純資産総額7,000万米ドルを達成しました。本取り組みは、環境に配慮した不動産への投資機会を拡大すると同時に、環境持続可能性に沿った革新的な金融ソリューションの推進に対する弊社のコミットメントを示すものです。   § イスラム諸国との協力: ICESCOとの協働を通じ、イスラム諸国における再生可能エネルギープロジェクトの推進を支援しています。「小規模再生可能エネルギープロジェクトのベストプラクティスと基準」をテーマとした研究成果はCOP29で発表され、国際的な評価を得ております。 § 人材の功績: 当社のチーフエコノミストであり日本代表でもあるタギザーデ　へサリ　ファルハード博士が、Research.xn--com2024-1e4f7hua2140kfxsaqzd「トップライジングスター」(Top Rising Star) に選出されました。彼の専門分野であるグリーンファイナンスやエネルギー政策における画期的な研究成果は、当社のミッション実現に欠かせないものでした。この機会に彼の功績を称えたいと思います。   さらに、本年、弊社のLinkedInページのフォロワー数は5倍以上に成長いたしました。ぜひフォローいただき、引き続き情報をご確認くださいませ。   これらの成果はすべて、Water Cheung会長、Chong Chan Yau取締役、そして当社チーム全員のたゆまぬ努力によるものです。何より、皆様のご支援と信頼があったからこそ可能でした。深く感謝申し上げます。   2025年にはさらなる挑戦と新たな機会が待っております。引き続き皆様と持続可能な未来の実現に向けて邁進してまいります。   メールにて恐縮ですが、年末のご挨拶とさせていただきます。 どうぞ良いお年をお迎えください。 謹白   Alan To Climate Finance Asia グループCEO

Dear Partners and Friends, As we approach the end of 2024, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the humble achievements of Climate Finance Asia this year and extend my heartfelt greetings to each of you. I am very pleased to join Climate Finance Asia early this year. Working with a highly dedicated and professional team, we have made remarkable strides toward strategic growth and have reinforced our commitment to sustainable finance in the region. Achievements of 2024: ·        Just Transition Working Group: Established with global and regional banks and non-profits to create guidelines for integrating Just Transition practices into financing strategies. Released a draft report at COP29 for consultation. ·        Research and Insights Expansion: Listed on CFA Institute’s Asia Pacific Research Exchange, published on SCMP.com, and contributed insights on climate finance, green finance, and energy transition. ·        Presence in Japan: Established infrastructure, built a team, formed partnerships, and expanded operations in Japan, invited by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. ·        AI-Driven Fintech Venture: Launched Sustainvest Technology Limited (SIT), an AI-driven fintech venture for ESG investment analytics, admitted by Cyberport. ·        Global X Green J-REIT ETF: Surpassed 10 billion JPY in net assets, tracking an Asia-Pacific Green REIT Index developed with Solactive, achieving over 70 million USD in net assets. ·        Collaboration with Islamic Countries: Partnered with ICESCO to support energy transition and sustainable societies, presenting a draft report on renewable energy projects at COP29. ·        Recognition of Chief Economist: Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary was named Top Rising Star of Science in Japan for 2024 by Research.com for his work in green finance and energy policy. In addition, our LinkedIn page followers has grown over 5 times organically this year. Please follow and stay connected. All these achievements could not have been realized without the trust of Water Cheung, Chairman, and Chan-yau Chong, Board Director, as well as the tremendous efforts of the entire team. As we celebrate these accomplishments, we also anticipate the opportunities and challenges that 2025 will present. Together, we will continue to drive impactful change and foster a sustainable future for everyone. On behalf of the entire team at Climate Finance Asia, I wish you and your loved ones a joyous Winter Solstice, Christmas and a prosperous New Year. May 2025 be filled with success, happiness, and continued collaboration. Warmest regards, Alan To Group CEO, Climate Finance Asia Full letter here: https://lnkd.in/g7pX7KAS Water Cheung Chan-yau Chong Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary Mark Hinnells Toby C. Lilu Vandercamme Donald Eubank

Hong Kong’s Sustainable Disclosure Roadmap Released. Are you ready?

Read our Director of Strategy Mark Hinnells recent article on 南華早報 about Did Cop29 make any meaningful progress on climate change? “A changing climate is an existential risk for many people and will displace millions in the next few decades. However expensive action is, doing nothing is even more costly.” https://lnkd.in/g6vhxfBW

Excited to share “𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝟮𝟵” Policy Brief by Dr. Nawazish Mirza, PhD, FAIA (Acad) (Professor, Excelia Business School, France) and Dr. Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary (Chief Economist, Climate Finance Asia, Japan).  This Policy Brief outlines key strategies to overcome barriers in climate finance for Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (#EMDEs) in the post-#COP29, including:  ✔ Expanding Carbon Markets for EMDEs ✔ Improving Access to Risk Mitigation Mechanisms ✔ Building Institutional and Market Readiness ✔ Enhancing Local Financial Ecosystems Read the full version in below link:  https://lnkd.in/g8KvUaja

Facility-level Just Transition guidelines for banks draft report released The Secretariat of the Facility-level Just Transition Working Group (F-JTWG), which is led by Climate Finance Asia, announces the release of a draft report of Facility-level Just Transition Guidelines for Banks at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29). The F-JTWG was formed in August of this year to explore practical ways that commercial banks can integrate Just Transition best practices, at a facility-level, into financing the transition to renewable energy. The report aims to provide guidelines that banks can use to engage their clients and other stakeholders when developing Just Transition Plans. The F-JTWG is comprised of around 15 major global and regional banks alongside non-profit organisations, including SMBC, Bangkok Bank, Climate Bond Initiative, International Labour Organization, and Sustainability Economics. The draft report includes a Facility-level Just Transition Guidelines Tool, covering the six focus areas below, that banks can use to assess their alignment with Just Transition principles, and to engage with their clients for achieving a sustainable and equitable transition: - Labour - Livelihoods - Gender - Energy Security and Poverty - Biodiversity - Governance More details: https://lnkd.in/gg-ams8f #just_transition_guideline #banks #COP29 #transition_finance #energy_transition Alan To Chan-yau Chong Donald Eubank Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary Toby C. Lilu Vandercamme Water Cheung

Thank you ICESCO for inviting our Director of Strategy, Mark Hinnells to present his and our Chief Economist Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary's findings of draft report on driving #finance into #renewable energy at COP29 Azerbaijan, for 53 Islamic countries. Final recommendations will be produced at the end of January 2025.

Our Chief Economist,Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary has been interviewed by China Daily , to share his views on Collective action urged to meet Asia’s climate finance needs. “Establishing both an international carbon market and a global carbon taxation system is essential for achieving net-zero emissions,” said Taghizadeh-Hesary, who is also chief economist of Hong Kong-based sustainable finance consultancy Climate Finance Asia. “Collective action is critical for Asia amid the immense financial resources required, given the transnational nature of climate change impacts,” said Taghizadeh-Hesary. #COP29 https://lnkd.in/gj5XdArz

🌏 Exciting day at the Japan Summit, organised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Silicon Valley’s Plug and Play Tech Center! Our Chief Economist, Dr. Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary, introduced Climate Finance Asia capabilities and ongoing projects to over 100 attendees, including representatives from the Japanese central government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, local governments, financial institutions, and venture investors. Dr. Taghizadeh-Hesary highlighted the our impactful initiatives, such as the #Just_Transition_Working_Group_Project,the establishment of #AI_powered_ESG tech. company endorsed by Cyberport Hong Kong, Global X ETFs #Green_J_REIT_ETF, and other projects. These efforts are paving the way for sustainable finance and carbon neutrality. 😀 Great networking opportunities followed, and we look forward to fostering new partnerships with Japanese companies interested in sustainability and finance. Stay tuned by following our LinkedIn page. Lilu Vandercamme Alan To Chan-yau Chong Water Cheung Toby C. Mark Hinnells #JapanSummit #SustainableFinance #JustTransition #Innovation #Partnerships #PlugandPlay

As part of Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Action Plan and budget for the year 2024-2025 and its strategic objectives geared towards expediting the integration of Islamic World countries into the global economy and fostering sustainable societies with a specific emphasis on knowledge production, scientific development, innovation, environmental protection, and the preservation of natural heritage, ICESCO engages Climate Finance Asia for research study on the development of "Best Practices and Standards for Small-Scale Renewable Energy Projects". Our Director of Strategy, Mark Hinnells has been invited to participate in the ICESCO and Egyptian National Committee roundtable and presented the draft report that worked together with our Chief Economist, Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary. Next step is to present the findings at #COP29, and the 53 member states of ICESCO can consider its implications for their revisions to #NationallyDeclaredContributions by February 2025. #renewableenergy #cleanenergy #ISESCO #Egypt