ASFI Newsletter – January

Written By Isobella Halcrow

We are pleased to bring you the first edition of our newsletter for 2024, launching our work plan and strategy for 2024, and reflecting on our work and progress over 2023.

ASFI's priorities for 2024

ASFI’s work for 2024 will be focused under five pillars, which are set out below. Much of this work will be a continuation and evolution of work already underway.  

To learn more, read our 2024 Strategy and Business Plan

2023 Year in Review

In 2023, ASFI continued to establish and strengthen partnerships across the financial system to drive the change needed to achieve our collective sustainability goals.

While there is much more to be done to achieve our mission, 2023 brought promising developments and we look forward to continuing our work to create a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive Australian financial system in 2024.

Enabling Sustainable Finance

Sustainable finance taxonomy

  • From June 2022 to July 2023, ASFI undertook a taxonomy scoping project. Its final deliverable, published in July, identified key considerations to inform the methodology for integrating transition activities in the taxonomy. Read more

Natural Capital

  • In 2023, ASFI supported a strong Australian voice in the development of nature-related disclosure frameworks. In June, we welcomed the opportunity to provide a joint submission with CA ANZ to the TNFD on its fourth and final beta framework.

  • August saw the launch of our partnership with Macdoch Foundation’s Farming for the Future on the ‘Valuing Natural Capital’ program of work. Read more

Policy Engagement

  • Throughout 2023, ASFI actively engaged with the Australian Government on a range of policy areas. Read more

  • A highlight of our 2023 policy engagement was our member Canberra visit in August, which saw a delegation of ASFI members travel to Canberra for a day of meetings and events. Read more

Finance Sector Leadership

  • Our member Leadership Working Group continued in 2023, supporting members with the organisational transformation needed to achieve sustainability targets. Read more

  • In September, we formed our Sustainable Finance Capability Reference Group. Read more

  • ASFI launched our mentor program for sustainable finance professionals, ‘Limitless’, in August. Read more  

  • On October 24, over 350 attendees came together at our second annual Summit. Read more

Connecting, Convening, Coordinating

  • Throughout 2023, we supported our network to navigate the sustainable finance landscape through a range of events and engagements. Highlights included a panel session at COP28 in December (pictured). A snapshot of ASFI events can be found here.

First Nations and Finance

  • This year ASFI established our First Nations Reference Group to provide subject matter expertise and insights for our First Nations and Finance work program. Read more

  • In July, we hosted a Lunch and Learn session for members to unpack how financial institutions were engaging on the Voice and First Nations cultural inclusion and awareness.

Sustainable Finance Solutions

  • ASFI held an industry workshop ‘Finance for Home Retrofits’ in February, which broughttogether 60+ representatives from finance, industry, and government. Read more

  • In November, we hosted a webinar exploring finance approaches to home energy upgrades in the UK and US. Read more

Events

We welcome your participation in the below upcoming events in sustainable finance. You can also learn about other industry events via our Sustainable Finance Events Calendar.

Isobella Halcrow
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ASFI Newsletter – December