We are pleased to invite you to attend the official launch of the first Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Asia ex-Japan Report.

Launched in December 2000, the CDP has invited institutional investors over four consecutive years (2003 - 2006) to collectively sign a single global request for disclosure of information regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In doing so it has created one of the largest ever collaborations of global institutional investment capital - at $31.5 trillion of assets under management for CDP4 in 2006. The information requests have historically been sent to some of the largest global companies by market capitalisation.

This year is the first time the CDP has been extended to include a representative sample of Asian corporates. The CDP Asia ex-Japan report produced by ASrIA specifically focuses on disclosures from these companies. 

The aim of the CDP is two-fold.  Firstly, to inform investors regarding the significant risks and opportunities presented by climate change and secondly, to inform company management regarding the serious concerns of their shareholders regarding the impact of these issues on company value.

As the debate about strategies for addressing climate change matures, there is an urgent need to bring the role of Asia’s fastest growing economies into clearer focus. Unfortunately, data gaps at both the country and corporate level are a critical constraint. In general, Asia’s largest listed companies lag their global counterparts in reporting on a broad range of environmental, social, and governance risks. As a result, making progress on corporate disclosure of carbon emissions by Asia’s corporate leaders is now a priority for global investors.

ASrIA’s CDP work aims to begin the process of filling this information gap by mapping the profile of carbon disclosure in the Asia Pacific Region. This report examines the disclosures from 125 Asian companies covering nine countries: China including Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. As a result, this year marks the first time that Asian investors have a representative sample of responses to evaluate on climate change fundamentals. This makes it possible to begin tracking important global sector comparisons and to assess different Asian country level trends.

The briefing will provide the opportunity to hear about the findings in detail from ASrIA with a guest speaker from Marsh - the world's leading risk and insurance services firm.  Copies of the report will also be available.

The launch will be held at 4:00pm on Tuesday, 19th September.  Attendance will be on a first come first serve basis, with priority registration being given to ASrIA members.  Please RSVP if you wish to attend.