18/05/22

SINGAPORE: ESG registry launched to support green finance.

As published on businesstimes.com.sg, Wednesday 18 May, 2022.

A SINGAPORE-based environmental, social and governance (ESG) registry is now in place to make it easier for financial institutions to access companies’ sustainability data from multiple certification bodies and verified sources.

Fintech company Hashtacs (Stacs), which is behind the registry that today hosts 168,100 certificates, covering 60,552 companies and 110,500 assets, officially launched the blockchain-based platform called ESGpedia on Wednesday (May 18).

ESGpedia powers Greenprint ESG Registry, one of the four digital utility platforms housed under Project Greenprint, which the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is developing in partnership with the industry.

Commenting on the launch, MAS’ chief sustainability officer Darian McBain said that data housed in the registry will, in time, form a “central pillar” that underpins the financial sector’s effective mobilisation of capital towards sustainable projects.

It also supports the accurate tracking and quantification of emission reductions, abatement levels and other sustainability key performance indicators linked with the sustainable projects, he added.

Stacs’ managing director Benjamin Soh, meanwhile, said the registry will bridge the “profound disconnect” between the ESG data financial institutions and companies need and what is available to them.

“We are excited to be working on use cases with leading global partners in different industries and sectors, whether as data providers or users, to strengthen trust in ESG data, to truly enable effective sustainable finance on an international scale,” Soh added.

In working towards the launch, Stacs had partnered banks including DBS, OCBC, UOB, Citi, UBS and Standard Chartered and other financial institutions like CSOP Asset Management, Fidelity International and Singlife with Aviva.

Stacs also worked with a range of corporates, including urban planning company Surbana Jurong, professional services firm PwC Singapore, and natural rubber trading platform HeveaConnect.