Rosamund Barker is a senior consultant to the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association. Andrew Ferguson is chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association.
Sustainable finance is essential to Asia's transition toward net-zero emissions, which makes it concerning that market standards are being questioned amid the rising tide of concern over greenwashing -- the use of marketing or public relations, rather than substantive initiatives, to present an environmentally friendly image. As banks in the region continue to develop sustainable finance products, all parties must take care not to overpromise and underdeliver.
