Environmental Finance's in-person ESG in Fixed Income Asia 2022 conference in Singapore recently highlighted the crucial environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics relevant to the fixed income markets in the region, including key trends in green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked (GSSS) bond markets.
30 speakers across 9 sessions provided analysis on topics including sovereign GSSS bond issuance, taxonomies and standards, corporate net zero transition plans, ESG data and bondholder engagement.
Here is a roundup of some of the main stories written at the event.
- Singapore considers ground-breaking foreign currency green bond – Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) financial products and solutions deputy director Tze Khai Poh said a foreign currency green bond is the most likely next step for the sovereign, rather than exploring new sustainable bond structures.
- SGX developing sustainable bond listing initiative – The Singapore Exchange (SGX) exclusively announced that it plans to launch a sustainable bond initiative to provide "added assurance" for investors around reporting and greater visibility for issuers.
- AI data providers 'not there yet' for sustainable bond data solutions – Marketnode general manager and chief product officer Rehan Ahmed said that, after closely assessing several AI and NLP providers for sustainable bond data, "we do not think the technology is there yet".
- APAC investors embracing active ownership, says Schroders – Speaking on the side-lines of the conference, Schroders head of sustainability strategy for APAC Mervyn Tang said the region had the biggest pick-up of interest in active ownership.