Across Asia, a quiet revolution is unfolding as an increasing number of companies commit to net-zero targets, signalling a profound shift towards sustainability in one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions. This surge in corporate climate ambition is not a mere trend but a response to a complex interplay of global pressures, regional policies, and economic incentives that are reshaping how businesses operate in the face of the climate crisis.

The global push for climate action, catalyzed by frameworks such as the Paris agreement and initiatives like the Race to Zero campaign, has set a high bar for corporate responsibility. Asian companies, operating in a region responsible for nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions according to data from the World Bank, face mounting expectations from international investors, customers, and partners to align with science-based net-zero goals. The Science Based Targets initiative ( SBTi ) reports that over 1,300 companies worldwide, with a significant portion from Asia, have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions.

As a result, Asset Benchmark Research ( ABR ) has seen a rapid growth in respondents who have established net-zero targets – from 53% of companies in 2022 to 84% of companies in 2024 – indicating growing awareness of setting such targets. Of those companies that had net-zero targets in place, a majority of companies wanted them to be achieved by 2050, in alignment with the Paris agreement adopted in 2015, which aims to limit global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with 2050 being the key target for net-zero emissions.

While the intention of companies in Asia is noble, it is worth noting that 54% of respondents with net-zero targets in place didn’t have their action plans verified by SBTi, increasing the risk of companies setting vague, unachievable, or misaligned targets, thereby undermining climate action and stakeholder confidence.

Initiatives aimed at addressing nature and biodiversity issues are another growing trend that companies in Asia are adopting. According to a report by PwC and the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change, more than half of Asia-Pacific’s Gross Value Added ( GVA ), equivalent to US$18 trillion, is in economic sectors moderately or highly dependent on nature such as agriculture, construction, and food systems.

This dependency makes biodiversity loss a significant business risk, as ecosystem degradation threatens supply chains, operational resilience, and long-term profitability. Additionally, growing expectations from investors, consumers, and civil society are pushing companies to demonstrate sustainability to maintain market competitiveness, attract investment, and meet stakeholder demands.

ABR data reveal that 83% of respondent companies reported having initiatives already in place to address nature and biodiversity issues. Some of these initiatives include educating employees and stakeholders about the importance of biodiversity and providing training on sustainable practices. Moreover, respondent companies also reported supporting reforestation efforts and planting native species to restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity. 

However, similar to companies with net-zero targets in place, a majority of respondents were not signatories to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures ( TNFD ), a global initiative that provides a framework for companies and financial institutions to assess, manage, and disclose nature-related risks, dependencies, impacts, and opportunities.

These are some of the key insights from companies that took part in our annual Corporate Sustainable Leadership Awards last year, which engaged a number of leading organizations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Interested to take part in this year’s Corporate Sustainable Leadership Awards? Please reach out to us at sustain@theasset.com.

For more information about this award programme, please go here.