Despite mounting interest in sustainable investing, many investors are still concerned about the risk of greenwashing and the lack of transparency in ESG data. Over 60 percent cited these concerns, highlighting the need for clearer standards and better reporting. 62 While investors favor environmental solutions—such as water management, healthcare, and climate action—many remain uncertain about how to approach social themes, indicating a gap in targeted investment options. Moving forward, there is significant growth potential for asset managers and financial advisors who can provide more guidance and innovative investment solutions. As sustainable investing continues to gain momentum, offering transparent and impactful investment opportunities will be crucial to meeting the evolving demands of global investors. Evolving Definition and Mainstreaming Sustainable finance and sustainable investing have a long history, both globally and in Japan. Some trace the origins of Japan’s interest in sustainable investing back to 1997, when the Kyoto Protocol under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established global guidelines for addressing climate change. Others cite 2015, when the commitment to sustainable finance deepened with The Paris Accord and Japan’s Figure A: Illustrates key milestones in the development of sustainable finance in Japan.
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2015 SDGs, Paris Agreement
2006 Principals for Responsible Investment International or Government-Led Initiatives
2006 Principles for Responsible Investment
2019 Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB)
2020 EU Taxonomy
2003 Equator Principles
2017 Task Force on Climate- Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
2000 CDP (former Carbon Disclosure Project)
2014 The Green Bond Principles (GBP)
2017 The Social Bond Principles (SBP)
Private Sector-Led Initiatives
19
Ten Years in the Making
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