About Us
The Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN) is a research institute established by the National University of Singapore (NUS). SGFIN provides deep research capabilities in sustainable and green finance with the focal point on Asia and contributes thought leadership to shape sustainability outcomes in policymaking across the financial sector and the economy at large.
Supported by exceptional domain experts across NUS, SGFIN equips businesses with critical knowledge across disciplines to better quantify the environmental and social impacts of their business developments, operations, products, and services. SGFIN also provides education, training, and toolkits to integrate sustainability dynamics into their business strategies and investment decisions. In essence, SGFIN facilitates companies and institutions in embedding sustainability as a core pillar in their business decisions.
Recent News
Finance as a Catalyst for a Sustainable Future
In a compelling episode of the AIB Podcast, Professor Johan Sulaeman, Director of SGFIN, shared how green finance is reshaping the future of capital allocation. Moving beyond traditional profit-driven models, green finance is emerging as a strategic lever to drive long-term environmental and social value. Prof Johan highlighted the urgent need for clearer impact metrics, …
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Shaping Asia’s Net-Zero Future
With the closure of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, Prof Johan Sulaeman, Director of SGFIN, highlighted a pivotal moment for Asian banks and regulators. He emphasized that transparency, consistent climate disclosures, and stronger accountability are essential to maintain credible net-zero commitments. While the absence of a global oversight body creates challenges, it also presents a rare …
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Singapore’s multibillion-dollar events industry has a hidden cost
For too long, the environmental cost of major events have been discounted – invisible behind ticket sales and headline attendance. In the Straits Times, Associate Professor Zhang Weina and Yannis Yuan propose that Singapore’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry must measure and disclose its true carbon footprint to stay competitive on the global …
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Financing Climate Resilience: Farmers, Carbon Markets, and Capital Markets
Finance sits at the centre of climate resilience – a key insight from Professor Johan Sulaeman, Director of SGFIN, in his keynote address at the International Corporate Governance Conference 2025. Drawing on SGFIN’s research, he illustrated how financial systems connect three critical domains: local adaptation, carbon markets, and global capital markets. By expanding farmer financing, …
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Singapore’s green fuel levy: A step forward but harder work awaits
In a Business Times commentary, SGFIN’s Deputy Director Assoc Prof Zhang Weina, together with Michael Alexander, Fanny Xueqi Or, Jiaxin Zhang, and Feimo Zhang, discussed the challenges and opportunities of developing a sustainable biofuel industry. Using Singapore’s new sustainable aviation fuel levy as context, the article highlights that while the levy is an important first …
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Beyond “Green” – Financing for Real Ecological Impact
Sustainable finance must move past generic “green” claims to deliver tangible environmental outcomes. In The Business Times and CETEX publication, Professor Johan Sulaeman, Director of SGFIN, highlights the need for green loans to be backed by measurable biodiversity metrics. Ecological costs — such as land clearing and vegetation loss — should be transparently assessed to ensure credibility. …
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SMEs anchor Singapore’s shift to long-term carbon management
Associate Professor Zhang Weina (Department of Finance) commented on the 4th Singapore Business Carbon Report, which found that 74% of businesses — mainly SMEs — cut their emissions through the LowCarbonSG programme. Prof Zhang noted that sharper insights are helping companies act more effectively, and that digital technology has empowered the companies, some even leveraging the …
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Leading with Innovation: Rethinking Waste for a Sustainable Future
As Singapore contends with the prospect of Semakau Landfill reaching capacity, the imperative to re-examine waste management, recycling, and circular economy strategies has never been clearer. Speaking on CNA938 Rewind, Professor Johan Sulaeman, Director of SGFIN, highlighted that continued reliance on landfills is unsustainable. Progress lies in upstream interventions – from minimising waste generation and …
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Sustainability-linked finance: bridging nature disclosure gaps in Southeast Asia
SGFIN Director Professor Johan Sulaeman and Research Fellow Dr David Broadstock, together with two co-authors, contributed to this working paper, exploring the untapped potential of sustainability-linked finance (SLF) to address nature-related risks in Southeast Asia. As the region’s rich biodiversity faces increasing threats from deforestation, water stress, and land-use change, the paper presents the first …
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Bolstering the Singapore–Asia Taxonomy as a regional sustainable finance benchmark
In this article for East Asia Forum, Professor Johan Sulaeman (Director), Associate Professor Zhang Weina (Deputy Director) and Kim Seonghoon (Research Fellow) examine the Singapore–Asia Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (SAT). The SAT has set rigorous standards for green and transition financing, establishing important benchmarks for ASEAN countries interoperable with the EU Taxonomy. To further its …
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Read MoreUpcoming Events
This month
Carbon Accounting for Enterprises
Green Finance for the Built Environment
Next month
Financial Valuation of Social and Environmental Impact