SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENTS: THE EXPERIENCE OF EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
Keywords:
sustainable investment, ESG, green finance, green bonds, green sukuk, decarbonization, renewable energy, East Asia, Southeast Asia, green economy.Abstract
This article examines the experience of sustainable investment development in East and Southeast Asian countries, focusing on institutional mechanisms and the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into investment processes. Using the cases of China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, the study analyzes the practical implementation of green finance instruments, green bonds, green sukuk, renewable energy projects, and decarbonization strategies. The paper also identifies the key drivers, challenges, and future prospects of sustainable investment development in the region.
Downloads
References
1. OECD. Responsible Business Conduct and Sustainable Finance: Policy Actions and Market Practices / Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. – Paris: OECD Publishing, 2023. – 84 p.
2. Asian Development Bank (ADB). Green Finance Development in Asia and the Pacific: Institutional Frameworks and Market Innovations / ADB. – Manila: Asian Development Bank, 2022. – 142 p.
3. World Bank. Sustainable Finance and Climate Investment in Emerging Economies / World Bank. – Washington: The World Bank Group, 2022. – 128 p.
4. United Nations. Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development / United Nations General Assembly. – New York: UN Secretariat, 2015. – 41 p.
5. International Energy Agency (IEA). World Energy Investment Report 2022: Focus on the Asia-Pacific Region / IEA. – Paris: IEA Publications, 2022. – 186 p.
6. People’s Bank of China (PBOC). Green Finance Guidelines and Regulatory Framework in the Banking Sector / PBOC. – Beijing: China Financial Press, 2021. – 64 p.
7. Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA). Global Sustainable Investment Review 2022 / GSIA. – Melbourne: GSIA Publications, 2022. – 98 p.
8. https://greenfdc.org/china-green-finance-status-and-trends-2025-2026/
9. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/07/chinas-green-transformation/
10. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/05/china-green-energy-sector-investment-growth
11. https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-investment-2025/china
12. China Pulls Far Ahead in Green Energy Investment https://www.statista. com/chart/34682/global-investment-in-renewable-power-and-fuels/
15. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-026-07607-z
16. https://www.gsi-alliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Japan.pdf
17. https://www.wri.org/insights/sustainable-investing-japan-2-ways-build-rising-enthusiasm
19. https://www.japanmeetings.org/why-japan/sustainability/
21. Government of the Republic of Korea. Korean New Deal Policy Briefs: Green New Deal Strategy. Seoul, 2021.
22. International Energy Agency (IEA). Korea Energy Policy Review 2024. Paris, 2024.
23. https://www.investkorea.org/ik-en/pgm/i-3037/cntnts/front/sst-list.do
24. World Bank. Republic of Korea: Climate and Green Finance Overview. Washington, DC, 2023.
25. https://www.unepfi.org/regions/asia-pacific/asean-taxonomies-analysis/
26. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AIR2025_rev17-Okt.pdf
27. https://sea.ub-speeda.com/my/asean-insights/trend-reports/sustainability-and-investment/
28. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ASEAN-Sustainable-Investment-Guidelines-ASIG.pdf
29. https://aseanenergy.org/topics/green-finance-and-investment
31. https://www.sc.com.my/api/documentms/download.ashx?id=3c4f768f-a290-4722-b9d1-ef55942fbfde
32. https://aseanenergy.org/topics/green-finance-and-investment
33. https://asean.org/our-communities/economic-community/investment-2/
34. https://www.aseanstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ASEAN-Statistical-Brief-Vol-9-June-2024_fn.pdf
