Experts on Tuesday called for stronger global collaboration to promote sustainable investing, emphasizing the need for Hong Kong to navigate the emerging financial trend in anticipation of a rise in climate-related themes.

Bei Duoguang, president of the Chinese Academy of Financial Inclusion at Renmin University of China, stressed the importance of fostering deeper ties among nations, as countries can learn from each other to drive impact investing -- an approach that aligns financial returns with societal and environmental values.

For example, China can draw lessons from Japan’s experience in addressing its aging population, while African nations are learning from China’s expertise in photovoltaic power to tackle electricity shortages, Bei told the International Forum for Impact Investing in Hong Kong.

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Wang Xiaojun, trust fund director at the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, said there’re persistent challenges, such as fragmented impact measurement systems, data privacy concerns and capacity constraints.

Coordinated efforts should be made to harmonize policies across countries, align global standards with local realities, and mobilize capital through public-private partnerships, she said, highlighting the need to leverage technology for transparency and scale up successful models to drive innovation and inclusive growth.

The event marks the forum’s inaugural edition, bringing together asset managers, scholars, and decision-makers of non-governmental organizations. Impact investment opportunities in Hong Kong became a default ice-breaker for conversations among attendees over buffet tables offered by the host.

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Wu Zhong, director-general at the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation, said the decision to host the forum in the special administrative region is by no means coincidental. “Hong Kong is one of the world’s top three financial centers, with over $4 trillion in assets under management and hundreds of thousands of elite professionals from the global investment community gathered here,” he said.

The SAR’s allure is further defined by its robust legal framework, financial strengths, and dedication to sustainable development, Wu added.

Au King-lun, executive director of the Financial Services Development Council, underscored the significant opportunities impact investing has on investors. According to the advisory body, the estimated size of the world’s impact investing market reached $1.6 trillion last year.

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Asia, in particular, has experienced substantial growth in impact investing since 2019. Impact assets under management allocated to Asia grew from $50.8 billion to $79.6 billion during this period, with the largest share of investments directed toward energy, followed by housing and financial services, Au noted.

Massamba Thioye, project executive at the UN Climate Change Global Innovation hub, told the forum the role of younger generations has also been critical to advancing global impact investing and overcoming development bottlenecks. “Young people should see themselves as future leaders,” he said.