ESG: From Niche to Norm

In a new normal of volatile, unpredictable and rapidly changing economies and markets, many investors are grappling with maintaining momentum in their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) journey. But beyond short-term asset repricing, balancing returns while integrating sustainability objectives should be at the core of portfolios.

"ESG: From Niche to Norm", a hybrid event partnered with AsianInvestor, brings together experts of the industry and our affiliates to address some of the key topics of ESG investing in APAC.

Guest speakers:

• De Rui Wong, Vice President, Sustainability Office, GIC
• Emma Herd, Partner, Climate Change & Sustainability, Ernst & Young
• Jansen Phee, Managing Director, Head of Fund Investment Solutions APAC & Head of Global Investment Management, China, UBS
• Keisuke Kawasaki, Chief Investment Officer, Executive Director, Member of the Board, Nissay Asset Management Corporation

Speakers from Natixis IM and affiliates:

• Fabrice Chemouny, Head of Asia Pacific, Natixis Investment Managers
• David Waldman, Chief Investment Officer, Loomis, Sayles & Company
• Philippe Setbon, Chief Executive Officer, Ostrum Asset Management
• Philippe Zaouati, Chief Executive Officer, Mirova

Read some of the takeaways of our speakers below.

1. Reflecting ESG factors in mainstream investment decisions

“Sustainability and climate are complex topics. There's no silver bullet or panacea to try and address the issue. And we need to be quite multi-dimensional in addressing investments.”
De Rui Wong, Vice President, Sustainability Office, GIC

“The key issue to address [in Japan], is how can we label ESG and categorise it in a way that helps address caution among Japanese investors? They need to see returns that outperform the benchmark.”
Keisuke Kawasaki, Chief Investment Officer, Executive Director, Member of the Board, Nissay Asset Management Corporation

2. Bridging the data and disclosure gaps

“Europe is leading the way in terms of ESG-related regulations, although there is still diversity in how European investors are implementing these. But we have learned how to use various tools and taxonomies to move the ESG journey forward.”
Philippe Zaouati, Chief Executive Officer, Mirova

“Investors should also be careful about setting specific metrics, as these might create an incentive for money managers to create an ESG product that isn’t necessarily aligned with a client’s sustainability values or objectives.”
David Waldman, Chief Investment Officer, Loomis, Sayles & Company

3. More integrated approaches to ESG investing

“Integrating ESG considerations into investment strategies seems to be strong as an active approach… as almost a ‘hard wiring’” of ESG into decision making. Yet ESG can mean different things to different people, so we need to know what we are integrating.”
Emma Herd, Partner, Climate Change & Sustainability, Ernst & Young

“It almost seems like we’re giving investors a choice: ‘do you want ESG or do you want non-ESG?’.... We just integrate ESG into the process we give our clients.… If you look at how we select funds, and how we market the funds, we don't have a separate process for ESG.”
Jansen Phee, Managing Director, Head of Fund Investment Solutions APAC & Head Global Investment Management, China, UBS

4. Taking ESG investing to the next level

“The most important question for investors, is what is their [sustainability] conviction and objective? This is also the best way to avoid greenwashing.”
Philippe Zaouati, Chief Executive Officer, Mirova

“Finance has a major role to play in the environmental transition given the vast amount of capital that is needed in the years and decades ahead, and it must step up to the plate. Financial performance is key and will be one of the success factors.”
Philippe Setbon, Chief Executive Officer, Ostrum Asset Management

“There needs to be a lot of dialogue and transparency between investors and their external managers, to help investors along their ESG journey.”
David Waldman, Chief Investment Officer, Loomis, Sayles & Company