Call-for-Papers on:

ESG Investments in East and Southeast Asia
(For an edited book and Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management special issue)

Editors:

Dr. Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary

Dr. Troy Sternberg(Tokai University, Japan)(University of Oxford, UK)

Conference date and location: Authors of the selected paper will be invited to present
their papers at the conference titled: “ESG investments in East and Southeast Asia,” to be
jointly organized by Tokai University, the University of Kitakyushu, the University ofOxford, and World Scientific (publisher) at The University of Kitakyushu, in Kitakyushu,
Japan on May 12, 2023. The conference will be in hybrid mode.

Conference co-chairs: Prof. Satoshi Honma (Tokai University, Japan); Prof. YoshiakiUshifusa (The University of Kitakyushu, Japan); Assoc. Prof. Farhad Taghizadeh-Hesary(Tokai University, Japan); Dr. Troy Sternberg (University of Oxford, UK).

Outline: To build a sustainable global economy companies and investors must pay attention
to ecological and social criteria as well as economic factors. Environmental, social, andgovernance (ESG) standards enable investors to determine if a company contributes tocreating a sustainable economy. Traditionally investors focused on rate of return and projectrisk to make investment decisions. However, with the introduction of the United Nations’Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and adoption of ESG goals, many institutional
investors, especially in developed countries, now consider three factors: rate of return, risk,and ESG goals for investment allocations. The lack of a clear ESG definition and measurement
indicators distorts investments. Variable growth of ESG sectors creates unbalanced growthand further problems.
In East and South East Asia and particularly in developing countries, the public sector
cannot fill the vast ESG investment gap. The private sector’s limited ESG interest is due totheir low return rate, especially for long-term projects. This means an active financial sector isneeded to meet ESG goals. Policymakers must look for solutions to incentivize ESG projects
and accelerate private investments.

CALL for PAPERS: Our book and journal special issue aim to provide several empirical,
theoretical, and case study approaches on ways to fill the ESG investment gap in East andSouth East Asia.
Accepted papers will be published by World Scientific in an edited book volume or will beinvited for submission to a special issue of the Journal of Environmental Assessment Policyand Management.
Topics of interest in this book include, but are not limited to:
••
•
•
•••
•
••
•

Opportunities for ESG investment
Role of governments and fiscal policies in accelerating ESG investments
Ways to assess and mitigate the risk of ESG investments
Role of banks and non-banking financial institutions in ESG investments
Financial management and ESG investments
Green bonds, carbon taxation and green rating and ESG investments
Innovative and market-based instruments for ESG investments
The issues of greenwashing and steps to prevent it in ESG investment
ESG investment policy design and effectiveness evaluation
Public supports for investments in ESG projects during and post- pandemic
Role of new technologies (e.g., AI, blockchain) to support ESG investments

Submission Procedure: Contributors should submit their extended abstract in English
by February 28, 2023. The deadline is not extendable. The abstract should be about 500 words
and include the title, name of author(s), affiliation(s), research background, motivation andmethodology, and expected policy implications. Abstracts should be submitted in word
format to both Editors: farhad@tsc.u-tokai.ac.jp and troy.sternberg@geog.ox.ac.uk.
Email subject message: “Submission to ESG Investments in East and Southeast Asia CFP”
Accepted abstract authors (notified by March 10, 2023) will be invited to present their fullpapers at a conference to be jointly organized by Tokai University, the University ofKitakyushu, the University of Oxford, and World Scientific (publisher) at The University of
Kitakyushu, in Kitakyushu, Japan. Date of the conference (hybrid): May 12, 2023.