Limiting global warming to 1.5°C implies reaching net zero by 2050. This requires a significant amount of investment, estimated at around US$9.2 trillion annually for the next three decades. While current investment falls short by approximately 38 per cent, there is an urgent need to increase sustainable finance initiatives. They help direct investments towards environmentally friendly and low-carbon projects, fostering the transition to a more sustainable and resilient economy.
Sustainable finance is defined as investment decisions that consider the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors of an economic activity or project. As someone who is an environmentalist and has always been interested in capital market flows, I decided to conduct extensive research on this topic and came to the realisation that becoming more energy efficient can lead to a more profitable business. That was when it clicked – access to capital is a key driver for sustainability.
The reality is, however, that sustainable finance is a broad topic that can be confusing to many people, particularly those who are not familiar with the field or the intricacies of financial terminology. This made me want to make the topic relatable to everyone.
#WeGotThis by WWF-Singapore and Temasek Foundation
The complexity of this topic arises from the multiple dimensions involved, including environmental factors like climate change, resource management, biodiversity conservation, and more. Additionally, sustainable finance operates within a rapidly evolving landscape, and I was eager to find effective ways of communicating the complexity of science.
Around the time when I discovered an interest in this topic, I stumbled upon the #WeGotThis global youth sustainability incubator programme organised by WWF-Singapore and presented by Temasek Foundation. I was drawn to the programme’s agenda of equipping youths with the right skills and know-how to successfully utilise social media to advocate for positive, sustainable change.
Also Read: How to tackle climate change by choosing a career in cleantech
As part of the #WeGotThis programme, participants will have access to three master classes covering topics like conscious living or digital advocacy. After the master classes, selected participants will be invited to attend an incubator programme comprising a five-day boot camp and access to a mentorship programme helmed by industry experts.
Once I learned that I would be guided by a mentor, be part of a bigger community with youths who share the same environmental vision and be equipped with the knowledge to successfully launch a social media campaign, I knew I had to sign up.
I took away so many valuable learnings from the #WeGotThis programme. The boot camp was a particularly exciting period for me because it revealed an aspect of the content creation side that I never knew about.
As the days went on, I could sense everyone’s passion for various sustainability topics, especially when it came to sharing sessions by the speakers. They taught me that truly believing in your work is important because content creation is a lifelong journey. To my surprise, the whole journey from researching to editing content was such an enjoyable learning experience.
Let’s finance a future together
As the programme went on, I initiated the ‘Finance a Future Together’ campaign as part of the #WeGotThis programme. This campaign was aimed at educating and inspiring action, as well as promoting the importance of sustainable finance in driving positive change.
Eventually, I gained a deeper understanding of sustainable finance and its broader societal benefits. It was very evident that capital plays a pivotal role in mobilising resources for sustainable initiatives, and that was when I combined my passion for sustainability with finance to launch Sustainable Finance Simplified – a LinkedIn platform that acts as a bridge between finance and sustainability, providing accessible information and resources to individuals and businesses seeking to incorporate sustainable practices into their financial decisions.
SMEs collectively account for over 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the business sector. Recognising their significant contribution to carbon emissions, I wanted to support startups and SMEs in integrating sustainability principles into their financial strategies to maximise the potential for positive change.
Sustainable Finance Simplified offers educational materials that empower individuals and businesses to keep up with the latest trends and developments. These resources address the unique challenges faced by startups and SMEs in adopting sustainable finance practices and enable them to align their financial decisions with their sustainability goals.
By emphasizing sustainable finance at the grassroots level, we empower startups and SMEs to integrate sustainability principles into their financial strategies and significantly contribute to global sustainability goals.
The future of sustainable finance simplified
During the campaign, Sustainable Finance Simplified achieved over 300 followers, 2,100 search appearances and over 3,000 impressions. By the end of the programme, I was humbled to receive the Best Content Winner award. This achievement amplified my campaign’s reach and impact, enabling it to resonate with a wider audience.
By leveraging social media platforms, webinars, and collaborations with sustainability influencers, the campaign effectively conveyed its message and engaged individuals and organisations in sustainable finance discussions.
With increased education, accessible information, and industry-wide efforts, the topic of sustainable finance became more understandable and manageable for startups and SMEs looking to engage in sustainable finance initiatives, thanks to Sustainable Finance Simplified.
Looking ahead, Sustainable Finance Simplified has ambitious plans to expand its reach and influence. These include providing tailored consulting services and workshops and working with fellow partners in the sustainability space to accelerate impact. Strategic collaborations with financial institutions and regulatory bodies will further drive systemic change and promote sustainable finance practices on a larger scale.
The future of our planet
I’ve always believed that our future is a summation of our actions today. An advice that I would give my younger self is to find what is value-aligned to you to find true fulfilment. As Peter Drucker would put it: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Since #WeGotThis was launched in 2021, the programme has inspired over 1,600 youths through master classes and boot camps to launch more than 60 successful social media campaigns. This year, as #WeGotThis reaches its third and final year, I strongly encourage passionate youths who are eager to advocate for change to sign up for their upcoming campaign clinic and incubator programme. Let’s proactively take steps to change the trajectory of our planet.
Take a leap of faith as I did, and join the #WeGotThis journey here.
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