Asset owners and fund managers from the Asia-Pacific region are more likely to engage in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment than those in other regions, according to a survey.
A majority (84%) of respondents from the Asia-Pacific region said they considered ESG factors when investing, while 92% said they had an ESG policy.
In contrast, 70% of respondents from North America said they considered ESG factors in their investment decision-making.
At a briefing to explain the findings, executives from BNP Paribas Securities Services, which commissioned the research, suggested the results reflected a response to China's decision to invest heavily in environmental technology, such as renewable energy. The Japanese government's efforts to improve governance of the country's companies was also mentioned as a factor influencing ESG investment.
The survey included 461 people, of which 135 were from the Asia-Pacific region.
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