Asia comprises some 60% of the world’s population, many of whom will be exposed to climate risk. Yet, while the region arguably continues to lag behind other developed markets in terms of ESG awareness and commitments, change is accelerating.
Asian governments are increasingly committing to specific targets in the fight against climate change, including a shift to carbon neutrality and clean energy. So it is essential that we take a clear look at what companies in various countries are doing to help their governments and economies meet carbon targets. This also gives rise to a compelling investment opportunity, as we outline in the RBC GAM Asian Equity team ESG annual report.
We take a proactive approach to ESG engagement, by encouraging in-depth discussions with the companies in which we invest, and establishing long-term relationships with management teams. These are some of the ways our recent suggestions have led to positive change:
- Board diversity: we engaged with a Japanese healthcare company to increase its number of independent directors and improve gender diversity.
- Environmental impact: we invested in an Australian commercial and industry group that owns and manages warehouses. The company achieved carbon neutrality for its global operations in 2021, four years ahead of our 2025 target.
- Privacy and data security: we engaged with an Indian bank, offering our opinions on how they could further improve their data practices and protect themselves against the threat of cyberattacks.
In our RBC GAM Asian Equity team ESG annual report, we take a tour of the ESG issues that matter right now across Asia, including:
Japan’s green journey
Japan’s competitive edge in renewables technologies can help it overcome the unique challenges it faces in its transition to a net-zero carbon economy. We look at the targets the country has set and take a detailed look at Japan’s energy and transport sectors.
What does ESG mean to Chinese consumers?
We analyse the results of a survey, which shows that Chinese consumers have strong awareness of environmental and social issues. Environmental concerns around climate change have increased over the past two years, with preferences for green transportation and organic food. We look at what this means from an investment perspective.
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