The Singapore Sustainable Finance Association (SSFA) has unveiled its first white paper, “Financing Our Natural Capital: A practical guide for FIs getting started on nature financing.” Released on 25 April 2025, the document provides financial institutions in Southeast Asia with practical guidance on managing nature-related risks and leveraging climate action momentum.
The white paper, developed by SSFA’s Natural Capital and Biodiversity Workstream, is a landmark initiative for the organisation, which was established in January 2024. It draws insights from over 25 industry members and features case studies illustrating the interdependence of nature and economics. With over 60% of Asia Pacific’s GDP reliant on nature, the depletion of natural capital presents significant risks and opportunities. A 2021 report by Temasek, the World Economic Forum, and AlphaBeta suggests that nature-positive investments could unlock $4.3 trillion and create over 230 million jobs in Asia by 2030.
The paper offers actionable suggestions for integrating nature into financial decision-making, highlighting sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and real estate as highly dependent on natural capital. It aims to connect financial institutions, policymakers, and real economy players, translating global standards into relevant strategies for Asia’s sustainable future.
Gillian Tan, Assistant Managing Director at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, expressed support for the initiative, stating, “We welcome the launch of this industry-driven whitepaper on a topic of growing importance for the region.” Eric Lim, SSFA NCB Workstream Co-lead, emphasised the importance of treating natural capital as integral to economic value chains.
The white paper is available for download on the SSFA website, offering a roadmap for financial institutions to channel capital towards nature-resilient initiatives.
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