Asia emerges as global leader as West backpedals, says sustainability expert

HONG KONG — Asia is steadily advancing to the forefront of sustainability discussions and, if this momentum continues, is poised to emerge as a global leader in sustainability, said Nana Li, head of Asia-Pacific sustainability and stewardship at Impax Asset Management. The U.S. and E.U., which once led the sustainability push, are now backpedaling, weighed down by the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Facing greater economic disruption than Asia, they are shifting their focus away from sustainability, according to Li. "There's been a very strong pushback from corporates. The past 12 months have almost felt like backpedaling," Li told The Korea Times in a recent interview. However, political endorsement from Asian governments has remained consistent, including in China, Japan, Korea, India and Indonesia, she added. With 15 years of experience, Li leads Impax's sustainability research, stewardship strategy and policy advocacy across the Asia-Pacific region, coordinating engagement with portfolio companies and regulators. Prior to jo

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