Malaysia’s RHB Asset Management (RHBAM) and J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) have launched the environmental, social and governance (ESG)-themed RHB Climate Change Solutions Fund, which aims to provide investors in Malaysia with easy access to the US$35.3 trillion global sustainable asset market.

The fund, with its focus on sustainable transport, construction, food and water, recycling and re-use, and renewable energy, is designed with diversified exposure to climate-change solutions and aims to provide long-term capital growth by investing in US dollar-denominated shares of the JPM Climate Change Solutions Fund.

This underlying fund is a high-conviction and unconstrained portfolio, investing in forward-thinking companies that are developing and scaling solutions to address climate change, RHBAM says. Its investment strategy combines artificial intelligence and human insight to invest in companies across sectors that are developing innovative solutions to address the global challenge of climate change.

“We are already seeing the impact of global climate change to the environment from shrinking glaciers, accelerated sea level rising, more intense heat waves, harsher winters, typhoons, floods, and rising global temperature,” shares Eliza Ong, managing director, RHBAM. “Funds with low-carbon/fossil fuel-free and environmental attributes had inflows of US$28.33 billion and US$13.53 billion respectively from January through October 2021.

“This fund, which aims to leverage JPMAM’s expertise on climate change and is the latest addition to our sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) fund offerings, is targeted to achieve 100 million ringgit (US$23.88 million) of assets under management (AUM) within six months of its launch.”

As of 2021, RHBAM has launched three ESG SRI-qualified funds with a combined AUM of more than 800 million ringgit – the Shariah-compliant RHB i-Global Sustainable Disruptors Fund, RHB Global Impact Fund, and RHB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund.