Comms Lens: 11 Asian Financiers Pushing ESG Agendas in 2025
Asia’s most active ESG financiers, which stories they care about, and the metrics PR and IR leaders need to watch.
Sustainable finance in Asia is not slowing down. If anything, it is maturing. Sensational headlines about an ESG backlash in the West do not correlate with what is happening in Asian markets. Industry stakeholders assert that there is a clear gap between the headlines suggesting a pullback and the reality on the ground, where sustainable financing activity remains vibrant.
That ground truth is visible in deal flows and bond issuance. This is also evident in the shift of major banks from net-zero promises to financing actual decarbonization.
For communications leaders, this matters. PR managers, CMOs, corporate affairs heads, and investor relations teams need to know which financiers are actually deploying capital, what stories they care about, and the metrics they are using to judge progress.
This list focuses on financiers that have concrete 2024-2025 milestones, clear sustainability strategies, and track records across Asia.
The Asia-Pacific sustainable finance sector was valued at US$133.6 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$563.7 billion by 2030, a 27.3% CAGR.
China’s sustainable debt market reached a major milestone with US$555.5 billion in cumulative aligned issuance by the end of 2024, and Hong Kong captured 45% of Asia’s international green, social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked bond market in 2024. Even with policy uncertainty in some countries and funding setbacks like the withdrawal of US$3 billion from the energy transition program in Indonesia and Vietnam, financiers across the region are pressing ahead.
Below are 11 financiers to watch in 2025, in no particular order. Each profile is built for busy business leaders and comms teams who need fast, reliable context, plus links to dig deeper.
United Overseas Bank (UOB)
UOB is positioned as one of Southeast Asia’s most active transition financiers. Despite talk of an ESG retreat, UOB’s sustainable finance portfolio grew significantly in the first 10 months of 2025. The bank is moving beyond net-zero target setting and into practical decarbonization, with a focus on mature, commercializable low-carbon technologies. It aims to follow sector themes, such as green data centers and renewables, as well as cross-border financing that supports regional growth.
Key Details
- Recent Story: Sustainable finance portfolio up more than 20% in 2025 year to date
- Location / HQ: Singapore
- Specialization: Transition finance for proven tech, climate-aligned lending
- Notable Work: The bank has highlighted growth areas such as green data centers and energy transition
OCBC
OCBC’s net-zero pledge for 2050 guides its financing strategies, with detailed decarbonization targets across six high-emitting sectors. The bank takes a long view, treating sustainability as a strategic marathon. OCBC also reached a major commercial milestone ahead of plan, achieving its SGD 50 billion (~US$37 billion) committed sustainable finance target two years early. The bank’s geographic footprint, especially in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China, aligns with some of the fastest-growing transition opportunities in Asia.
Key Details
- Recent Story: Hit SGD 50 billion (~US$37 billion) committed sustainable finance target two years early
- Location / HQ: Singapore
- Specialization: Sector-specific decarbonization targets toward net-zero financed emissions by 2050
- Notable Work: Publicly disclosed targets across six sectors to align portfolio emissions to net zero
Why comms professionals should know them: OCBC’s message is operational discipline plus sustainability expertise. As Group CEO Helen Wong has noted, "the need for strong business acumen combined with expertise in sustainability" defines how the bank executes its strategy.
DBS Bank
DBS is a consistent player in sustainable finance. DBS is active in sector-based decarbonization solutions across Asia and continues to execute large transition deals. In 2025, DBS and UOB provided a US$411 million loan to support DayOne-INA’s data center project in Indonesia, a sector that is decarbonizing with cleaner power, efficient design, and high-performance computing needs.
Key Details:
- Recent Story: Recognized as the "World's Best Bank" by Euromoney in 2025
- Location / HQ: Singapore
- Specialization: Sustainable finance across power, industry, and digital infrastructure
- Notable Work: Co-arranged a US$411 million loan for a data center project in Indonesia
For comms leaders, DBS pairs proof points with a clear message. As Managing Director Terence Yong has shared, DBS is looking to use its influence to accelerate Asia-Pacific decarbonization. When told properly, that is a story that resonates with boards and investors.
CIMB Group
CIMB is setting a pace for Malaysian and ASEAN banks. In 2025, the group committed RM 300 billion (~US$63 billion) to drive a greener and more inclusive ASEAN economy by 2030. CIMB also became the first Malaysian bank to complete 2030 decarbonization targets for high-emitting sectors, a move that gives clients clearer guidance on transition pathways. With a regional footprint, CIMB supports projects across power, industrials, and mobility, where decarbonization is both urgent and investable.
Key Details:
- Recent Story: RM 300 billion (~US$63 billion) commitment to sustainable finance by 2030
- Location / HQ: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Specialization: Transition finance, sector targets, ASEAN-wide project financing
- Notable Work: Completed 2030 decarbonization targets for high-emitting sectors.
Comms takeaway: CIMB’s messaging is concrete and regional. It is ideal for firms that need an ASEAN lens and a bank with clear sector roadmaps.
Leighton Cosseboom
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG)
MUFG is a leading Asian-headquartered global bank with deep project finance and sustainable finance capabilities. In 2025, it received top honors at The Asset Triple A Sustainable Finance Awards, signaling its leadership in structuring and scaling climate-related financing. MUFG is investing in its sustainability bench strength globally, showing a sustained commitment to climate transition work across regions that tie back to Asia’s supply chains and project pipelines.
Key Details:
- Recent Story: Won top honors at Triple A Sustainable Finance Awards 2025
- Location / HQ: Tokyo, Japan
- Specialization: Sustainable finance structuring, cross-border project finance, transition financing
- Notable Work: Organizational build-out with senior sustainability appointments, aimed at strengthening client advisory and execution capacity
For comms teams, MUFG offers credibility with global investors and rating agencies. This helps when your story needs both an Asian context and global scale.
Mizuho Bank
Mizuho claims to have embedded sustainability into its lending, capital markets, and advisory work, with a focus on transition finance. The bank shares frameworks and analysis to help clients shift their businesses toward lower emissions and better risk management. Its efforts include supporting transition technologies and enabling financing paths that reduce emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, a critical part of Asia’s climate transition.
Key Details:
- Recent Story: Public updates on sustainability strategy and transition finance policies
- Location / HQ: Tokyo, Japan
- Specialization: Transition finance for heavy industry, power, and infrastructure
- Notable Work: Published guidance and press updates related to sustainability commitments and client support
For comms pros, Mizuho’s value is in its clear frameworks. This helps companies explain why a transition pathway is viable, not just ideal.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC Group)
SMBC runs a fairly broad sustainable finance platform across project finance, sustainability-linked loans, and structured solutions. The group is active in energy transition projects and decarbonization initiatives. It maintains an internal base of case studies and awards that show consistent delivery. SMBC’s approach is hands-on and execution focused, so it features often in large, multi-country financing syndicates tied to clean energy, mobility, and infrastructure.
Key Details:
- Recent Story: Expanded suite of sustainable finance solutions
- Location / HQ: Tokyo, Japan
- Specialization: Sustainability-linked financing, project finance, transition lending
For comms teams, SMBC brings credibility in execution. If you need to show bankable progress, not just plans, this is a partner to understand.
Pentagreen Capital
Pentagreen Capital is a sustainable infrastructure debt financing platform established by HSBC and Temasek. In 2024, it was selected to manage the FAST-P Green Investments Partnership, which aims to deploy up to US$1 billion for Asia’s sustainable infrastructure. In 2025, Pentagreen was appointed to serve as fund manager for Singapore’s central bank, which secured US$510 million in new backing to support green infrastructure in Asia. These moves signal institutional support and investor interest around the fund's mandate.
Key Details:
- Recent Story: Appointed to manage the FAST-P Green Investments Partnership
- Location / HQ: Singapore
- Specialization: Blended finance for early and mid-stage sustainable infrastructure projects
For PR and IR professionals, Pentagreen offers a clear story of catalytic capital. It is tailor-made for infrastructure players who need blended finance.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
AIIB is a multilateral development bank with a growing climate finance footprint across Asia. In 2025, multilateral development banks set a record with US$137 billion in climate finance, and AIIB is part of that collective push through its project financing and sustainable development bonds. AIIB’s climate stance, including its COP28 analysis, underscores a long-term approach to scaling climate-related investment across energy, transport, and urban systems.
Key Details:
- Recent Story: Part of a record US$137 billion in climate finance push by multilateral banks
- Location / HQ: Beijing, China
- Specialization: Climate-aligned infrastructure finance, sustainable development bonds
- Notable Work: Published perspective on AIIB Climate Finance and COP28
For comms teams, AIIB brings policy credibility and scale. Referencing AIIB involvement can strengthen narratives with governments, regulators, and international investors.
Leighton Cosseboom
Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI)
BRI is one of Indonesia’s most influential lenders and a leader in inclusive sustainable financing. In 2025, it became the first in Indonesia to issue an IDR 5 trillion (~US$310 million) social bond to fund social and sustainability outcomes. BRI’s sustainable financing portfolio reached IDR 796 trillion (~US$49 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, signaling scale and commitment.
Key Details:
- Recent Story: First in Indonesia to issue an IDR 5 trillion (~US$310 million) social bond for sustainable financing
- Location / HQ: Jakarta, Indonesia
- Specialization: Inclusive sustainable financing across MSMEs and the broader economy
- Notable Work: Sustainable financing portfolio of IDR 796 trillion in Q1 2025 (~US$49 billion)
For comms teams, BRI offers an inclusion story. It shows how sustainability aligns with social impact and national development priorities.
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
BPI is setting benchmarks in the Philippines’ sustainable finance market. In 2025, it broke records with a PHP 40 billion (~US$700 million) sustainability bond listing, signaling local demand for green and social assets. The bank has also collected major awards and was voted the Philippines’ Best Managed Bank in 2025, reinforcing trust among investors and regulators.
Key Details:
- Recent Story: PHP 40 billion (~US$700 million) sustainability bond listing
- Location / HQ: Manila, Philippines
- Specialization: Sustainable bonds and financing for green and social projects
Earned 18 sustainability-related awards in 2024 (coverage)
For IR and PR teams, BPI offers headline-friendly milestones and consistent third-party validation. That is ideal for investor and media narratives.
China and Hong Kong: Market depth that supports the leaders
The scale of financing in China and Hong Kong shapes the opportunity set for every institution in this list. China’s sustainable debt market reached US$555.5 billion in cumulative aligned issuance by the end of 2024. Hong Kong captured 45% of Asia’s international green, social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked bonds in 2024, underscoring its role as a regional hub for issuers and investors.
These numbers provide context for comms teams. They help explain why Asian banks and platforms are pushing forward, even as some global headlines predict a pullback. For example, China is becoming a major exporter of clean technologies, with US$120 billion in green tech exports in the first seven months of 2025. That is the demand side these financiers are serving.
FAQ: Working with Asia’s ESG financiers in 2025
Why are Asian financiers still growing sustainable finance while some Western markets pause?
At the moment, it would appear Asian banks and financiers are treating sustainability as a long-term play, not a trend. Several are moving from pledges to practical financing, guided by sector-level targets and risk frameworks. In short, they see competitive advantage in climate transition, and the policy and market tailwinds in Asia support that view.
What should I prepare before approaching these institutions?
Prepare a clear transition plan with measurable KPIs. Show current emissions, a credible reduction pathway, and how financing will deliver real changes. Align your plan to the bank’s public sector targets, for example OCBC’s six sector decarbonization targets, or a lender’s transition finance framework. Bring data, timelines, and a credible capex plan. The more concrete your case, the faster a deal team can move.
Where does communications add the most value in sustainability financing?
Focus on proof, not slogans. Highlight project milestones, third-party validation, and alignment with national or sector policies. Tell a practical story that matches how Asian financiers work. For example, UOB is prioritizing mature low-carbon technologies. DBS stresses sector-based decarbonization. AIIB communicates policy-aligned climate outcomes. Your narrative should mirror this pragmatism.
How important are green and social bonds right now?
Fairly important. Bond markets provide scale and repeatability. Markets like Hong Kong are hubs for international green and social issuance, and banks like BPI are proving domestic demand with record sustainability bond listings. Green bonds make it easier to communicate use of proceeds, impact metrics, and governance. That helps with transparency to investors and regulators.
What risks do I need to address upfront?
Be clear about policy and project risks, especially in early-stage transitions. Some programs have faced funding shifts, such as the withdrawal of US$3 billion in support for energy transition efforts in Indonesia and Vietnam. If your project depends on policy or concessional funding, explain how risks are mitigated and who bears them. Financiers in Asia appreciate realistic risk assessments backed by practical steps.
A final word for comms leaders
Asian sustainable finance is on a growth trajectory. The financiers above are pairing commercial discipline with climate ambition. They are looking for credible partners and clear stories. Use this list to identify the right counterpart, shape your message around real-world impact, and align your KPIs to the way these banks and platforms make decisions.
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