As the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline looms, United Nations officials have issued a stark warning: despite notable strides in Asia, no single country is on track to meet the critical goals. At the current pace, it will take another 32 years for the region to achieve the 2030 agenda.  

The next five years are pivotal. To bridge the trillion-dollar funding gap necessary for Asia to regain momentum, we must mobilise resources through clear policies, robust investment plans, and strategic partnerships.  

Sustainable finance plays a crucial role in achieving these goals. With comprehensive regional taxonomies now established, what measures are needed for green finance to be scaled with speed? How will transition finance feature in the region?  

Asia’s growing marketplace for carbon credits also presents an opportunity to galvanize funding, but how will governments and businesses leverage this mechanism while maintaining credibility? Amid our global biodiversity crisis, how will regulatory frameworks evolve to enable companies to integrate nature and biodiversity risks into their business decisions?    

Unlocking capital for sustainability 2024 will be hosted in six countries across Asia this year — in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and China with the main summit being held in Singapore to discuss the responses to these urgent questions. This multinational meeting, in its seventh edition, will convene policymakers, business leaders and civil society to explore innovative ways to accelerate progress in meeting these ambitious targets.