Driving Sustainable Finance in Asia: Sophia Cheng on Climate, Nature and Investment Opportunities

In this interview, Sophia Cheng, Chief Investment Officer at Cathay Financial Holdings, shares her perspective on how Cathay integrates sustainability and climate considerations into its investment strategy, positioning the company as a leader in sustainable finance across Asia. She discusses effective strategies for managing climate and nature-related risks within large financial portfolios and highlights where the biggest opportunities for impact lie over the next decade.

“If every financial institution finds an area to accompany a project or a company becomes successful, this world will be different. We don’t need more cases; we have enough, and we can be part of them.”

The interview was held at World Climate & Biodiversity Summit 2025 in New York and offers a compelling reminder that integrating climate, nature, and finance is essential not only for long-term investment resilience but also for driving meaningful change at a global scale.

Watch the full conversation:

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Sophia Cheng

Chief Investment Officer, Cathay Financial Holdings

Sophia Cheng is the Chief Investment Officer of Cathay Financial Holdings and also acts as Chair of Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC). Sophia has nearly 30 years of experience in research and investment, with last position acting as Chairman and head of research of Merrill Lynch Taiwan. 

Sophia is highly regarded by the government. She is well known for her work in financial sector research and her proactive participation in forming government policies, including promoting banking reform and tax reform. 

Sophia has been actively promoting Corporate Sustainability and Responsible Investment in Taiwan. Currently, she acts as a member of Taiwan National Climate Change Response Committee. She was also appointed as a member of Taiwan National Sustainable Development Committee. Sophia has been selected as 2019 Asia’s Top Sustainability Superwomen, 2021 Global Top 50 Women in Investment Management, and 2022 Taiwan’s Outstanding Corporate Sustainability Professionals. 

Sophia holds an M.S. in finance-banking from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California and a B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from National Taiwan University.