Countering the Anti-ESG Backlash: Does Japan Have a Meaningful Role to Play?

How can Japanese institutional investors and financial institutions secure a place in the rapidly evolving sustainable finance world?

At Responsible Investor's 2024 Japan Conference, opinion leaders and finance professionals from Japan and abroad will explore the urgent theoretical and practical issues relevant to advancing sustainable finance in Japan, including regulatory developments, market trends, and best practices in responsible investment.

InfluenceMap's Director for East Asia, Monica Nagashima, will join Plenary 3 on the first day of the conference to discuss anti-ESG backlash and Japan's role in the ESG debate.

Panelists will discuss:

• What is the real-world impact of ESG backlash? Has ESG backlash also catalyzed positive change, or is this wishful thinking?
• The role of Japan in the ESG debate: does Japan have a better model?
• Will ESG funds in Japan and abroad need to radically evolve going forward to overcome a skeptical market, and how should they do this?

Agenda

Moderator: Khalid Azizuddin, Senior Reporter, Responsible Investor

Speakers:

• Colin Melvin, Founder and Managing Director, Arkadiko Partners
• Satoshi Ikeda, Chief Sustainable Finance Officer & Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs, Financial Services Agency
• Sasja Beslik, Chief Investment Strategy Officer, SDG Impact Japan Inc.
• Monica Nagashima, Director for East Asia, InfluenceMap