Our Work
ASFI brings the perspectives and power of private capital to solve social and environmental challenges across both public and private sectors.
Current Work Programs
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Public Policy
ASFI is actively engaging with the Australian Government on a range of policy areas to support the flow of finance and investment for climate, nature, and social outcomes in Australia.
Leveraging our deep public sector expertise and strong government relationships, ASFI drives and supports policy reform for better climate and sustainability outcomes.
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Sustainability Standards and Practice
ASFI’s standards and practice work predominantly supports Australian financial institutions to pilot the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy in practice.
ASFI works in partnership with the Australian Government and members to inform future guidance and uses, and on the international harmonisation of taxonomies.
ASFI is actively promoting Australia's approach to green and transition finance through a range of bilateral and multilateral fora, and as technical and private sector partner to the Australian Government.
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Blended Finance
Blended finance, where public investment helps de-risk projects and crowd in private investment, is a key tool for decarbonisation and climate resilience. Effective blended finance structures to accelerate the flow of capital into projects and organisations that deliver sustainable outcomes.
This work program is being undertaken in partnership with Government, in particular the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the ACCC has granted ASFI formal authorisation to work with institutions and governments on co-designing new blended finance structures.
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Leadership and Capability
ASFI is committed to embedding sustainability into leadership and practice across the financial services landscape, and is actively working to unlock financial institution skills, leadership, and ambition on sustainable finance.
Leadership is critical to sharpening organisational focus on sustainability, driving internal buy-in and culture, and facilitating action across the real economy. ASFI works in partnership with the Australian Government, members and others to deliver targeted courses, mentor programs, working groups, member delegations and a Capability Framework.
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Financing Adaptation & Resilience
ASFI is working across the finance sector to address the structural barriers limiting investment in climate adaptation and resilience.
We are building the tools, frameworks and market infrastructure needed to identify adaptation investments, support investible projects and mobilise capital at scale, helping reduce systemic risk and strengthen Australia’s long-term economic prosperity.
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Financing the Agriculture & Land Sector Transition
ASFI is working across the finance sector to identify the barriers limiting the supply of green finance and its adoption by land holders.
We identify practical solutions for deploying credible, fit-for-purpose green lending and investment, and unlocking greater capital flows to the land sector transition to drive climate and nature outcomes.
Previous Work Programs
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First Nations and Finance
ASFI is positioned to act as a partner to First Nations-led businesses, Peaks, projects, Nations and communities, as lasting impact depends on First Nations leadership being centred and supported, not substituted.
This approach embeds First Nations rights in financial decision-making; increases access to finance and support for First Nations communities and businesses; elevates First Nations perspectives and priorities across Australia’s financial system; and ensures more First Nations peoples in Australia benefit from economic self-determination.
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Nature Finance
ASFI has worked across the finance sector to support the integration of nature-related risks, dependencies and value considerations into financial decision-making.
Bringing together finance, government, science and industry, ASFI has built shared understanding, identify practical approaches and strengthen the frameworks needed to recognise and incorporate nature into capital allocation and risk analysis.
Theory of Change
ASFI’s Theory of Change sets out how our work contributes to a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive financial system in Australia.
What is Sustainable Finance?
Sustainable finance is the allocation of capital to fund activities that advance sustainability goals, such as building a clean and reliable energy system, reducing damage to peoples’ homes from extreme weather events, or restoring our natural ecosystems.
Government policy plays an important role in enabling sustainable finance, as does industry leadership and market development.
As an open economy, settings that support sustainable finance are critical to maintain Australia’s access to international capital. They can help Australian businesses invest with confidence in our domestic transition, natural capital, and social well-being, and help ensure we are not left behind as the world transitions to green.
Australia needs a financial system that can properly address sustainability related risk and opportunity, to support a prosperous and inclusive Australia now and into the future.
What role does ASFI play?
ASFI leads change across the financial services system by driving initiatives, convening cross-sector collaborations, connecting across organisations, and enabling people and organisations to navigate the rapidly evolving field of sustainable finance.
Our work supports Australia’s financial system participants to transform finance through policy and regulatory reform; tools and frameworks; leadership and capability, and new products and partnerships. This unlocks capital to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future for all Australians.
