Fair Finance Asia (@fairfinanceasia.bsky.social)

Sustainable Finance Puts Communities First | Bernadette Victorio In this episode of the Sustainable Ambassador Podcast, we speak with Bernadette Victorio, Program Lead for Fair Finance Asia, to explore her work to change practices and politics around sustainable finance. Bernadette outlines the network’s three-tier strategy—capacity-building at the national level, coordinated advocacy at the regional level, and alignment with global standards—to ensure capital respects both people and planet. Through this conversation, we speak about the legacy of the 2008 financial crisis, the emergence of “just transition” as a guiding principle, and the practical challenges of engaging regulators, multilateral banks, and local communities. If you want a clear view of what sustainable finance must look like in Asia—and what it takes to get there—this conversation delivers a grounded, policy-focused roadmap. LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1eTyAfaKphSdyiSNZFcKSm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/sustainable-ambassador-podcast/id1705344128 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Ambassador-Podcast/dp/B0CGWXG2ZV acast: https://shows.acast.com/sustainable-ambassador-podcast iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-sustainable-ambassador-pod-160211015/ Timestamps: 0:00 Civil Society Lens on Finance 0:18 Show & Guest Introduction 1:25 Bernadette’s Journey & Roles 2:09 Fair Finance Asia’s Mission 3:01 Capacity-Building Approach 3:48 Post-2008 Origins of the Framework 4:29 Consumer Assessment Tools 5:27 Transparency & Disclosure 6:35 Regulation & Taxonomy 8:38 Defining Sustainable Finance in Asia 11:04 Three-Layer Advocacy Model 13:25 Regional Focus on Just Transition 15:15 Engaging Emerging Banks 18:21 Shifting DEI & Priority Landscapes 20:19 Disruption, Momentum & Greenwashing 23:14 Funding Headwinds for CSOs 26:54 Localizing & Resilient Funding Models 28:49 Structural Change & Critical Mining 32:51 Civil Society’s Vital Check-and-Balance 34:44 Advice for Aspiring Changemakers 36:19 Closing Reflection About Collective Responsibility Based in Shanghai, Collective Responsibility is a strategic advisory firm founded by Richard Brubaker, one of Asia’s most recognized authorities on sustainability, innovation and responsible leadership. Founded with the fundamental belief that a sustainable world can only be achieved through awareness of issues, finding tangibility in business cases, and development of cross-sector collaboration, Collective Responsibility acts as a knowledge base, catalyst, and facilitator between stakeholders. Our mission is to: – Create a knowledge base and catalyze discussion of issues related to the development of civil society, business sustainability and social development in Asia. – Develop tangible interests, engagement, and action on issues of sustainability (economic, environmental and societal). – Develop organizational capacity with the aim to help create stable and profitable enterprises. Follow Us: Website: http://www.coresponsibility.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/collective-responsibility WeChat: http://www.coresponsibility.com/wechat/ Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/sustainable-ambassador-podcast Contact Us: [email protected] https://bit.ly/403zR8e