The latest developments in the ESG space.

A global study of almost 24,000 individuals by Schroders finds that Southeast Asian people regard climate issues as the most important areas to engage with. 

Natural capital and biodiversity (both 23 per cent in Southeast Asia and globally) also ranked second in Southeast Asia, demonstrating the significance of environment-related matters, Schroders said in its report, issued yesterday. Some 31 per cent of these investors said climate issues were their top engagement priority, with 32 per cent of the main global survey taking the same view.

Some 58 per cent of “expert” investors in Southeast Asia (versus 55 per cent globally) said their personal principles were “very important” to them – significantly higher than those who class themselves as having an intermediate level of investment knowledge (21 per cent versus 16 per cent globally) and those in the ‘rudimentary’ category of knowledge (15 per cent versus 10 per cent globally).

Southeast Asian investors also feel overwhelmingly that as shareholders, they should have the power to influence the companies they invest in. This applies across the investment knowledge spectrum, from those who class themselves as having a “beginner” level of investment knowledge through to the “experts.” A significant 92 per cent (versus 95 per cent globally) of “expert/advanced” Southeast Asian investors believe they should be empowered to do so.