The Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) has unveiled a new asset owner working group for Asia’s pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and insurers. The working group – which will start in January 2024 – is intended to help asset owners learn from experts and best practice from regional and global peers in the many aspects of net zero investing. It additionally aims to help them develop capacity to align investor portfolios with the goals of the Paris Agreement and build momentum for taking climate action to meet their fiduciary duties. The Asia-Pacific transition is projected to require US$71 trillion in investments to zero out the world’s carbon emissions by 2050. The AIGCC said that this is “far less than the cost of inaction” in a region highly exposed to the increasing costs of climate change-related events that are playing out on a weekly basis. Sophia Cheng, Chair of the AIGCC Board Committee, said: “This new AIGCC working group will be a critical resource for Asia’s asset owners, to learn from their peers in the region, connect with experts, and share best practice. Asia’s transition to net zero will create financial opportunities in clean energy, green industry and nature.”
