A new survey by the bank reveals an upward trend in sustainable investing among Asian investors.
After years of reticence, interest and awareness towards sustainable investing in Asia is at an all-time high, at 81 percent and 82 percent respectively, according to Standard Chartered's latest survey on sustainable investing trends among emerging affluent, affluent and high net worth investors.
The majority of investors (72 percent) also have a growing sense of responsibility and are looking to do good with their wealth, Standard Chartered said in its «Sustainable Investing Review 2021,» the Bank’s fourth study since 2018, covering among more than 2,000 investors across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, India, the U.A.E. and U.K.
The allocation of sustainable investments in investor portfolios is also on the rise – 13 percent of investors already have more than 25 percent of total investments channelled into sustainable solutions, compared to just 2 percent of investors in 2020.
Obstacles Remain
At the same time, the report cited investor apprehensions including lack of measurement and transparency, which are preventing sustainable investing from becoming more mainstream.
«With investor interest at an all-time high, we can expect more investment capital to move into sustainable investing solutions, presenting a huge opportunity to address pressing global challenges,» Marc Van de Walle, Standard Chartered global head of wealth management, said.
«To ensure we cross the tipping point, it is vital for the industry to collaborate and develop robust governance frameworks and address the concerns with transparency and measurement,» Van de Walle added.
