The Nature Conservancy has outlined four key priorities for its Singapore office that align with the city-state’s Green Plan 2030.
One of them is impact investing.
“Since the launch of NatureVest, we have organized around 15 deals around the world, and these deals have received over $3 billion in impact capital commitments,” said The Nature Conservancy’s Singapore Country Director. Tom Brzostowski said. Asian investors.
These projects aim to provide financial returns to investors in addition to tangible impacts and benefits for nature and people, he said.
“Only one of these projects is in the Asia-Pacific region, but we want to accelerate this work in the region. We are expanding the NatureVest team in Singapore to do this.”
NatureVest is the organization’s impact investing and sustainable finance team.
The Nature Conservancy is one of the world’s largest and oldest environmental nonprofit organizations by assets.
Its total assets are approximately $9 billion, of which the Investment Office is responsible for managing approximately $4 billion consisting of endowments and other long-term investments.
The Singapore office, which opened in late July, will help more asset owners in the region commit to net-zero targets and assess how their businesses are impacting the biodiversity of plants, animals and marine life where they operate. It was established in response to the government’s efforts to consider whether it would have a significant impact.
Partnerships, Banking with Carbon Markets
Another priority for The Nature Conservancy is connecting with family offices in the city-state.
“We welcome the opportunity to explore partnerships with family offices here in Singapore and better understand their impact investing and sustainable investing goals,” Mr Brzostowski said.
“I think family offices can be just as agile, responsive and quick to act.”
Family offices typically tend to be conscious of leaving a positive legacy, and some establish foundations or endowments to engage in philanthropic activities.
However, many investors are also increasingly focusing on sustainable investing, with an average of around 18% of their portfolios being sustainable, according to the Asia Pacific Family Office Report 2023 by Camden Wealth and Raffles Family Offices. It is said that the amount is allocated to various investments.
The Nature Conservancy’s third priority is promoting carbon markets.
“We believe that carbon markets are important for companies in their decarbonization efforts, but also as a way to channel money to important parts of the world where conservation efforts are desperately needed.” Brzostowski said.
Other asset owners in Singapore are also stressing the importance of a well-developed carbon market. Well-designed carbon projects and trading mechanisms can mobilize capital and support the decarbonization of emerging markets, said Hung Lin Min, investment group director at Temasek’s GenZero. Asian investors, recently.
Well-designed carbon projects and trading mechanisms can mobilize finance and support the decarbonization of emerging markets. Image credit: Shutterstock
knowledge sharing
The Nature Conservancy also joined the Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-Based Solutions (SCeNe) Coalition, a collaboration between non-governmental organizations with an established presence in Southeast Asia.
The coalition aims to accelerate and increase the adoption and investment in high-quality nature-based solutions across the region.
According to Brzostowski, the launch of the SCeNe coalition will focus on supporting frontline organizations to accelerate and scale nature-based solutions that could become carbon projects across the region. This is also expected.
Finally, nature-focused asset owners are also looking to “achieve sustainability goals and reduce pressure on the natural areas we cherish,” especially financial and commodity companies. Brzostowski said the company hopes to share knowledge through corporate collaborations and partnerships. .
Property owners are already working with several other parties, including governments, non-governmental organizations, communities and local indigenous groups.
“We also want to collaborate with Singapore’s leading scientific institutions to fill knowledge gaps on nature’s role in tackling climate change,” he added.
“There are some big net-zero and climate-related goals and businesses are looking for partnerships to help them achieve those goals. It will take a major effort to solve the problem, and other countries may consider similar efforts.”
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