2023年市場展望:永續發展路線概覽

亞洲在全球轉型至淨零碳排發揮至關重要的作用,因為該地區佔全球將近半數的溫室氣體排放。為應對氣候挑戰而增加的綠色資本支出將使亞洲區發行大量債券,而專注於電動汽車及可再生能源生態系統領域的亞洲創新公司在實現淨零碳排方面也為投資人帶來具吸引力的機會。

亞洲在第27屆聯合國氣候變化大會期間取得數項成果,儘管未能就進一步減排或終止使用化石燃料達成共識令許多與會代表感到失望。在氣候大會上,各國同意設立基金以補償「特別脆弱」的國家因氣候變化遭受的損失及損害。這對菲律賓及泰國等東南亞部分地區可能是好消息,這些國家在2022年遭受惡劣天氣打擊,導致農業產量大幅下降,進而影響當地居民生計。此外,以美國及日本為首的聯盟宣佈將提供20億美元援助,協助印尼關閉燃煤發電廠,並將排放高峰日期提前7年至2030年。

綠色基礎建設的興起

據估計,在未來的10年及以後,全球每年需要4至6兆美元才能轉型至低碳經濟。由於全球十大溫室氣體排放國中亞洲佔據了其中五個,因此亞洲將發揮關鍵作用。光是亞洲,每年便可能需要1兆美元協助高碳排產業實現淨零碳排轉型,其中包含發電、交通、房地產、農業及製造業等。這將對投資人帶來眾多面向的影響。

亞洲永續債券市場將在提供資金協助主權國家及企業轉型方面發揮關鍵作用,我們期待更多房地產公司發行綠色、社會及永續發展債券以建造及翻新節能建築,發電公司亦可能籌集資金以投資可再生能源。同時,政府及準主權政府將尋求債務融資,以建設低碳/零碳交通基礎建設。多邊開發銀行及超國家開發組織可透過提供擔保及資助,幫助國內債券市場的債券順利發行。同時,轉型資本支出(綠色資本支出)的增加是一項商品密集度極高的工程,可能有利於新興市場。

實現淨零碳排

亞洲正引領電動汽車電池及可再生能源生態系統的創新發展。中國在太陽能製造方面處於世界領先地位,並主導全球電動汽車供應鏈。印尼計劃在北加里曼丹建設全球最大綠色工業園區(完全由水電及太陽能發電),該園區將引入生產太陽能板、環保鋁及鋰電池的高科技綠色產業。馬來西亞蓬勃發展的自動測試設備(ATE)及外包組裝及測試(OSAT)產業也有公司正在設計創新系統及設備以檢測生產線的異常情況。除節省人力及能源消耗外,及早偵測出缺陷也可顯著減少最終被丟棄於垃圾掩埋區的電子垃圾。上述這些情況均為投資人帶來令人振奮的投資機會。

氣候挑戰亦影響非零碳/低碳行業的公司。2022年能源價格上漲,促使部分企業檢視未來能源需求,並制定計劃管理有關風險。儘管亞洲在ESG政策、投資及報告方面可能落後於已發展市場,但更多亞洲企業正致力改善可持續發展路線藍圖及政策。自2016年以來,亞洲的ESG政策數量增加一倍1

亞洲方面,投資者在考慮環境、社會及管治因素時亦採用較為平衡的方針,從排除轉為更大程度參與管治。具體而言,日本企業出現更多參與管治的空間,尤其是環境及管治方面,以推動長期價值。根據MSCI ESG研究的數據,僅10%日本公司獲評為ESG領導者(ESG評級為AAA級、AA級),遠遠落後於歐洲公司。

參與管治較排除政策更受青睞(顯示亞洲、日本及中國)

charting-sustainability-pathways-fig2

隨著越來越多公司作出碳中和或淨零承諾,碳信貸的需求亦有所增加。根據麥肯錫的一項研究,全球碳抵銷需求到2030年將增長15倍,到2050年將增長100倍。推動提高碳信貸項目的透明度、標準化及詳細驗證的全球倡議將有助發展更完善的碳市場。在第27屆聯合國氣候變化大會上,Global Carbon Trust同意為碳信貸創建標準合約,加入第三方監控及項目表現驗證,以及為未能實現目標的項目提供仲裁機制。

亞洲可擔當碳交易中心,從而發揮重要作用。近年,隨著2021年在新加坡設立Climate Impact X,作為全球碳交易中心及銷售平台,亞洲致力發展碳抵銷生態系統。香港亦在2022年10月推出碳交易平台,而馬來西亞亦展示出類似抱負。監管環境亦日益有利於發展碳抵銷市場,新加坡允許公司透過碳抵銷扣減5%碳稅。

同時,亞洲擁有優質自然生態系統,意味著超過50%自然碳抵銷供應位於亞洲,有可能促使亞洲成為自然碳抵銷(利用植物、樹木、土壤或海洋從大氣中移除碳)的重要供應地。從2020年到2021年,碳抵銷的平均價格上漲50%以上,優質自然碳抵銷的信貸價格享有超過200%溢價(8美元/噸二氧化碳當量2);。因此,抵銷價格上升有利能夠提供優質碳抵銷的亞洲公司,雖然開發自然解決方案(包括保育、造林、重新造林、森林管理、草地)需要專門資源及專業知識。只有優質的碳抵銷方案才有助抵銷無法減少的剩餘排放,並推動有關公司更有效地履行淨零排放承諾。長遠而言,這有望協助提高ESG評級,儘管現時仍屬初期階段。

投資影響

charting-sustainability-pathways-fig2-1 

作者:

Joanne Khew, ESG Specialist, Eastspring Singapore
Rong Ren Goh, Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income, Eastspring Singapore
Bryan Yeong, Portfolio Manager, Equities, Eastspring Singapore
Steven Gray, Portfolio Manager, Equities, Eastspring Singapore
Sundeep Bihani, Portfolio Manager, Equities, Eastspring Singapore
Samuel Hoang, Portfolio Manager, Equities, Eastspring Singapore

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