Gabriela Gunawan

📰 Check out my latest article on Decarbonization Partners Fund I Inaugural Launch. This ambitious initiative, a joint venture between BlackRock and Temasek, successfully raised $1.40 billion, aiming to accelerate the global shift toward a net-zero economy. Discover why the fund is strategically focused on late-stage venture capital and early-stage growth capital. #Decarbonization #Sustainability #netzero #energyinvestments #SustainableInvesting #ESG #ImpactInvesting #GreenTech #VentureCapital

20

4 Comments

"30 by 30 needs to be part of a larger whole-of-system strategy that takes into account other ways to assure food resilience". Transformation is not only breakthrough technologies like cell cultured meat etc... Innovating food manufacturing and food value chains and developing strategic partnerships with our agri-food exporting neighbours is transformative too. All go hand in hand

7

To help these firms, EnterpriseSG and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) will launch a Sustainability Reporting Grant in 4Q2024. The grant will provide funding support for large companies with annual revenue of at least $100 million to cover a portion of their costs in producing their first sustainability report in Singapore. The grant defrays up to 30% of qualifying costs, or $150,000, whichever lower. https://lnkd.in/gRTwQkeB

3

Glad to be given the trust and the opportunity by Stewardship Commons to self publish my commentary. This time, I wanted to focus on the work of asset managers and how they shape and define financial flows in the sustainability space. This commentary examines the crucial role asset managers can play in driving sustainability in ASEAN. It explores their existing influence, potential to mobilize climate-focused investments, and capacity to create effective sustainability indicators for regional governments. It emphasizes the need for asset managers to bridge investment gaps, ensure efficient capital allocation towards climate tech, and actively engage with policymakers to accelerate the region's green transition. It concludes with a call to action for asset managers to embrace this responsibility and leverage their expertise to build a sustainable and prosperous future for ASEAN. The image is entire AI created. I am very thankful that simple prompts can give me the flexiblity of having unique images that often gave me good results in what I wanted to convey in most of my commentaries. #ASEAN #Sustainability #AssetManagers #ClimateTech #ESG #ImpactInvesting #Stewardshipcommons #GSFN

3

💡 SGX Needs to Rethink Its Investor Base A year ago, I returned to investing in SGX-listed stocks as part of my personal asset allocation strategy. After 25 years away, I was curious to see how things had changed. One thing that stood out was the persistence of outdated practices. For example, physical B4 white envelopes are still being sent for AGM and EGM notices, along with physical proxy forms delivered by post. While there is an online option, it’s cumbersome: you have to first know where to find the website link, download a PDF, print it, fill it in, rescan it, and then email it. Ironically, the recipient likely prints it out again. When I spoke to a fund manager specializing in SGX stocks, he pointed out that the retail investor base is primarily made up of retirees who prefer physical documents. There has also been consolidation among institutional fund managers in recent years, resulting in less active trading and lower liquidity on SGX. The focus remains on blue-chip and dividend stocks, which are popular with retirees, but the momentum and capital gains trading that defined the 1990s and early 2000s has diminished. It may be time for SGX to broaden its appeal and attract younger investors. Modernizing the documentation process would be a good start—proxy forms today look the same as they did two decades ago. Why not integrate Singpass to streamline online submissions? Looking ahead, I expect SGX will list several high-quality IPOs that could bring exciting opportunities. However, without increased liquidity from both retail and institutional investors engaging in momentum-driven trading, these IPOs could be undervalued. Image: A screenshot of a proxy form I had to fill out by hand and mail. #sgx #equitiestrading

39

6 Comments

📈 Reflecting on Accelerate To Net Zero: Southeast Asia 📈 Last week, I attended The Carbon Trust global series event Accelerate To Net Zero: Southeast Asia. The webinar provided valuable insights into the current state of net zero goals in SE Asia, upcoming legislation changes, and the transformations needed from businesses to help accelerate to net zero. My major learning points: 💡 SE Asia is at the beginning of a very exciting phase in the net zero journey 💡 Corporate sustainability reporting is pretty fresh here and businesses have a lot to learn but are overall engaged and eager 💡 Governmental incentives and sustainable finance up-skilling will help accelerate reporting disclosures ahead of the mandatory deadline 🤩 Being knowledgable in ISSB, TCFD, SASB, CDP, GRI, SBTi, UN SDGs etc. is going to be sorely sought after in the SE Asia job market (great news for me!) Thanks to The Carbon Trust, moderator and host Prannoy Chowdhury, speakers, Datin Seri Sunita Rajakumar from Climate Governance Malaysia and Cindy Khoo from Enterprise Singapore, and to the panellists Dr Hui Mien Lee from Singtel, Dr Hezri Adnan from Bursa Malaysia, Philip Ling from CelcomDigi, Kenneth Ng from Razer Inc., Yap Kim Bong from ACRA - Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, John C. from Clime Capital, Tulika Raj from SunGreenH2, Dr David Broadstock from Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN), Dennis Tan from Surbana Jurong Group, and Ayato Kurokawa from Asian Development Bank (ADB). Here's to continued progress towards sustainability in Southeast Asia! #CarbonTrust #AccelerateToNetZero #SustainabilityLeadership #SustainabilityReporting #NetZero #SustainableFinance

21

4 Comments

The Singapore Asia Taxonomy (SAT), the world’s first taxonomy to comprehensively provide green and transition definitions across 8 focus sectors, was launched in December 2023. In the past month, two leading corporate players OUE Limited and Sembcorp Industries Ltd announced efforts in alignment with the SAT: ❇️ On 30 September 2024, OUE Limited announced its inaugural five-year green bond of OUE Limited, with the underlying use of proceeds aligned with the SAT’s green criteria. Proceeds of the bonds will be allocated to the financing and refinancing of four green buildings certified under the Building and Construction Authority Green Mark 2021 certification scheme. CIMB Singapore, OCBC and HSBC Singapore were the Joint Lead Managers, Bookrunners and Green Finance Structuring banks to the Issuer for the offering of the Notes. The independent external review is provided by Sustainable Fitch: https://lnkd.in/guc3hk2q ❇️ Sembcorp recently unveiled its updated Green Financing Framework, which is aligned with the SAT, alongside the Green Bond Principles by ICMA - International Capital Market Association and the Green Loan Principles by Loan Market Association (LMA), APLMA (Asia Pacific Loan Market Association) and LSTA. This framework will apply to all Green Finance Transactions raised or issued from 1st October 2024. We look forward to seeing more SAT adoption among financial institutions and corporates, particularly in the frontier area of transition finance: ❇️ Anticipated developments ahead include the APLMA-led initiative to develop transition finance principles and guidance. ❇️ Keep a look-out for announcements from the Singapore Sustainable Finance Association (SSFA) Taxonomy Work Group in the coming months as they develop best practice guidance and FAQs to support financial institutions and corporates in the interpretation and adoption of the SAT’s green and transition criteria. Pamela Lee Bey An Lim Ivan Tan Shi Min Tan Sui Hui Lim Adeline Chan Vania Xu Felix Lim

150

Looking forward to being at the Singapore Pavilion at COP - and sharing more about the role financial institutions can, do and should play in accelerating the much needed transition. #COP29 #COP29SGPavilion #Sustainability #OCBC

138

1 Comment

BlackRock, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Nippon Export & Investment Insurance (NEXI), and AIA Group (AIA) have sign a Statement of Intent (SOI) at COP29 to work on blended finance debt initiative for global investors to finance decarbonization projects in Asia with a focus on Southeast Asia.  Singapore MAS industrial transformation infrastructure debt program is targeting to raise $5 billion from public, private & philanthropic partners to finance transition opportunities in Southeast Asia. Read - https://lnkd.in/gxQeBYUP follow Caproasia | Driving the future of Asia BlackRock, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), International Finance Corporation (IFC), MUFG, Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), and AIA Group (AIA) have sign a Statement of Intent (SOI) at COP29 to work on blended finance debt initiative for global investors to finance decarbonization projects in Asia with a focus on Southeast Asia.  Singapore MAS industrial transformation infrastructure debt program is targeting to raise $5 billion from public, private & philanthropic partners to finance transition opportunities in Southeast Asia. Mark Wiedman, Head of Global Client Business, BlackRock: “Emerging markets in Southeast Asia face hurdles in funding capital-intensive projects like decarbonisation. BlackRock is bringing our blended finance and transition investing expertise to public-private partnerships like FAST-P, benefitting our clients and the societies in which we invest.” Leong Sing Chiong, Deputy Managing Director, Markets and Development, MAS: “For Asia to transition to net zero, we must decarbonise sectors of the economy progressively, including carbon intensive or hard-to-abate sectors. Financing for businesses and sectors that seek to adopt cleaner technologies and processes, is an important enabler." Riccardo Puliti Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific, IFC: “The stakes are high in Southeast Asia, where climate change poses major challenges to environmental stability, economic growth, and human development." Fumitaka Nakahama, Chief Executive and Senior Managing Corporate Executive, Global Corporate and Investment Banking, MUFG: "We are excited to cooperate on FAST-P and delighted to be part of this initiative in order to support accelerating the sustainable development of Asia." Dr. Mark Konyn, Group Chief Investment Officer, AIA: “As a leading pan-Asian asset owner AIA is pleased to collaborate with BlackRock, MAS and other partners on this decarbonisation initiative and to explore the blended finance opportunities this collaboration is expected to create." IFC - International Finance Corporation, AIA

2

Investment interest in APAC markets is rising, making it essential for fund managers to keep up with the latest trends in fundraising and exits. At a recent EY Wavespace Singapore event ‘Forward Momentum: Emerging trends for Asian managed funds on fund raising and exits', experts gathered to discuss the growing importance of private capital trends and key legal, tax, and commercial factors. Thank you to the valued clients and speakers who joined us in conversation. Please contact us should you wish to learn about how EY teams can support your firm’s growth ambitions: [email protected]

34

Excited to share the latest edition of the Southeast Asia's Green Economy 2024 report, launched by Bain & Company in collaboration with GenZero, Standard Chartered Bank, and Temasek. This year's edition provides a timely progress update on the region's efforts to achieve its net-zero targets. It identifies 13 high-impact, investable decarbonization ideas across key sectors and outlines 5 critical accelerators that can help scale investments in the near term. For those interested in sustainability and decarbonization in Southeast Asia, please take the time to review the findings of our report!

26

Today we announce Action, Scale and Impact. Delighted to share that our SME AI Powered Decarbonisation programme is delivering Results, through 21 SMEs in Singapore and hundreds more preparing for the coming cohorts. First cohort already now implementing decarbonisation actions that will reduce their emissions by up to 50% by 2030 with the support of Bain's AI and carbon advisory teams. This is a testament to the power of AI in helping SMEs take bold climate action. Thank you to the impeccable support and collaboration of our partners Singapore Business Federation Ping Soon Kok, Ching Hu and Enterprise Singapore 'Innovation First' approach has led to these results. Tackling Scope 3 emissions—often the most complex yet crucial part of the decarbonisation journey—has long been a challenge for many businesses. SMEs account for the bulk of these emissions, making their involvement essential. Today, we take a major step toward addressing this by leveraging AI to simplify, standardise, and enable Action toward Net Zero, especially in global supply chains. #NetZero #Sustainability #Decarbonisation #SMEs #GreenEconomy #SustainabilityGoals #GreenFuture #AIDecarbonization

55

1 Comment

Good insights. Full report in the link below.

15

Unleashing the Power of Asset Tokenisation: The Game-Changing Playbook 💥 In an audacious move that promises to redefine the future of asset management, KPMG and the Singapore Fintech Association have joined forces to unveil a groundbreaking playbook on asset tokenisation. 🚀 As the financial world stands poised for a seismic shift, this pioneering collaboration has ignited a spark that could potentially reshape entire industries. 💥 At the heart of this revolution lies the emergence of digital assets, a pivotal advancement that has set the stage for asset tokenisation to take center stage. This innovative concept holds the remarkable potential to democratise investment access and streamline the management of diverse asset portfolios, poised to disrupt both financial and non-financial markets over the next 5–15 years. 🔥 Brimming with invaluable insights and extensive research, the playbook embarks on an in-depth exploration of asset tokenisation, with a particular emphasis on real assets. 📚 This comprehensive resource is a testament to the collaborative efforts of industry titans, distilling their collective expertise into a strategic decision-making framework tailored for C-suite executives. 🧠 Navigating the complexities of this transformative journey, the playbook serves as an indispensable guide, equipping leaders with the knowledge and foresight to surmount the key challenges associated with adopting asset tokenisation in an ever-evolving landscape. 🗺️ With its meticulous attention to detail and forward-thinking approach, this playbook positions itself as an essential tool for those seeking to harness the vast potential of asset tokenisation and secure their place at the vanguard of this revolutionary paradigm shift. 🏆 Asset tokenisation transcends the realm of mere technological innovation; it represents a fundamental transformation in the very fabric of asset management and ownership. 🌐 As this groundbreaking playbook takes center stage, it beckons industry leaders to embrace the future with open arms, unlocking unprecedented opportunities and paving the way for a new era of financial empowerment. 🎉 #AssetTokenisation #FinancialRevolution #DigitalTransformation #InvestmentAccess #RealAssets #StrategicFramework #IndustryLeaders #FutureOfFinance

2

Singapore Green Plan 2030 publishes concrete targets to advance Singapore’s transition. The intermediary 2025-2026 targets provide a strong reference of how countries and corporates may build milestones, roadmaps and action plans for ‘responsible production and consumption’ change. ✨2025 targets: Energy Reset Green Energy: 1.5 gigawatt-peak (GWp) solar energy deployment to support annual electricity needs of 260,000 households. 200 megawatt-hour of Energy Storage Systems to enhance grid resilience and support clean energy transitions Greener Infrastructure and Buildings: Singapore’s first integrated waste and used water treatment facility to be 100% energy self-sufficient (Tuas Nexus). Reduce energy consumption of desalination process from 3.5kWh/m3 to 2kWh/m3. Cleaner-energy Vehicles: New registrations of diesel cars and taxis to cease and HDB towns to be Electric Vehicle (EV) ready with chargers at all HDB carparks. Sustainable Aviation: All new airside light vehicles, forklifts and tractors at Changi Airport to be electric from 2025. ✨2026 Targets: City in Nature and Sustainable Living (Green Citizenry, Consume and Waste Less). Develop over 130ha new parks, and enhance 170ha existing parks with lush vegetation and natural landscapes. Reduce waste to landfill per capita per day by 20%. Visual: The magnificent 160 year Tembusu tree featured in our five-dollar bill, Botanic Gardens, Singapore

9

This energetic and engaging roundtable discussion on Market Mechanisms for Financing the Green Transition this afternoon was a powerful anti-jet lag antidote. (Still going strong since returning to Singapore on Monday!) Hosted by the Singapore Green Finance Centre, Standard Chartered Bank and Pollination, this roundtable - the second in a Nature Finance Roundtable Series - saw us tearing into detailed case studies. This was an excellent springboard for our discussion on the intricacies of the structures and incentives that have been used to finance nature-positive activities globally. It was great to hear everyone’s perspectives and analysis. There is strong interest on the part of financial institutions to better understand how to value nature and ecosystem services, and how to design financial solutions that are impactful and scalable. Data, guardrails, demand signals, risk mitigation solutions (including blended insurance solutions), aggregation and standardisation will all be needed to achieve the scale of financing needed. How are you thinking about nature financing? Nikki Kemp Donna Ho Jaclyn Dove TERK MING KWONG Genevieve Ding Valerie Lau, CFA Frances Chen Priya Bellino Diego de Sartiges

118

3 Comments

A recent survey by the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) found that uncertainty over the credibility of carbon credits in reducing greenhouse gas emissions could be curtailing their trade in Singapore. Indeed, integrity has long been an issue in the global #carboncredit market, but multiple initiatives are now underway to improve integrity and foster greater transparency. Alongside the launch of the MSCI Carbon Project Ratings earlier this week, #MSCICarbonMarkets and #MSCIResearch published a paper outlining the state of integrity in the global carbon-credit market and unpacking the various underlying criteria of integrity. Key observations? Overall, of the more than 4,000 projects assessed by MSCI Carbon Project Ratings, fewer than 10% of the projects are rated in the AAA-A band. There are, however, some early positive signs of a trend to increasing integrity, with gradual shift in retired credits moving toward higher-integrity projects and new projects being developed that are on average of higher integrity. Read the report to find out more - http://ms.spr.ly/6048mdCJg

24

I am thrilled to share that Investors for Climate is partnering with SGInnovate and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to co-host the Clean Energy and Smart Cities Venture Catalyst on November 28, 2024, in Singapore! This exclusive, one-day event will unite visionary startups and leading investors to explore innovative solutions in clean energy, climate tech, and smart city sectors. 💡 What to Expect: ✨ Curated Startups: 40 high-potential startups showcasing groundbreaking solutions. 🔄 Roundtable Discussions: Small-group sessions led by investors and industry experts, focusing on key topics like financing, manufacturing, IP, regulations, and commercialization. 🎤 Keynotes & Panels: Thought leaders will share insights into trends shaping sustainable urban development and energy solutions. 🤝 Networking Opportunities: Engage over breakfast, lunch, and curated networking sessions. 🔗 Tailored Matches: Investors and startups will be matched for meaningful, relevant conversations. 💼 Calling Investors: We are inviting funds that: Invest at pre-seed, seed, or Series A stages. Focus on clean energy, climate tech, or smart city startups. Commit to a minimum investment of $100,000 USD per startup. Moderate a roundtable discussion as part of the event. 🚀 For Startups: Must have raised up to SGD $10 million in equity (grants excluded). Secured at least SGD $100,000 in equity, grants, or sales. Present a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Ensure a founder or executive participates in all roundtables. This event is designed for deep collaboration and engagement, providing an intimate space where investors and startups can exchange ideas, address challenges, and foster partnerships for future growth. If this resonates with you, apply for a spot https://lnkd.in/gMt2vymG I look forward to seeing you there! 🌱 #CleanEnergy #ClimateTech #SmartCities #SustainableFuture #ImpactInvesting #InvestorsForClimate #SGInnovate #IEEE

40

3 Comments