Key takeaways

  1. Asia is stepping up as a focal point for ESG regulation innovation, demonstrated by a market-calibrated approach that is increasingly aligned with international standards.

  2. Asia’s responsible investment market remains resilient, with sustainable investment inflows continuing in Q3 2025, and regulatory improvements strengthening disclosure and incentives, while rising public financing and de risking mechanisms are accelerating investment in transition projects.

  3. China: Asia’s green finance giant moves towards mandatory corporate disclosures for high polluting firms, with expansion to major stock indices by 2026. Hong Kong: charges ahead in the race to go green, as Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) publishes a taxonomy for the country.

  4. Japan: strengthening standards amid slow progress, with the release of International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) aligned disclosures standards and the implementation of gender diversity targets and sectoral transition roadmaps.

  5. India: regulation push builds momentum as the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) has been made mandatory for top 1000 listed companies, and a Draft Climate Finance Taxonomy has been published.

  6. Singapore: Innovating the region’s green finance playbook, as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) launches Finance for Net Zero (FiNZ) plan.

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