Indian investors have highest appetite for transition investing: Stanchart

MUMBAI: Given the huge unmet demand, Indian high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) have shown the strongest appetite for transition investing globally, according to Standard Chartered’s Sustainable Banking Report 2025. The study found that 93% of Indian respondents expressed interest in this emerging investment theme—more than any other market surveyed. Transition investing, as defined in the report, involves allocating capital to support the shift to a low-carbon economy.

India also led in sustainable investing, with 92% of respondents indicating interest. The findings are based on a survey of 1,600 HNIs with at least $1 million in assets under management, conducted in Q4 2024 across eight markets—India, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the UAE.

Among Indian investors, the primary motivation for transition investing was the desire to create positive social and environmental impact. This was followed by the aim to generate better returns and to align investments with personal values. Electric vehicles were a particularly popular theme, with 55% of Indian respondents expressing interest—the highest level recorded across all eight markets.

In addition to electric vehicles, Indian investors also showed strong interest in green hydrogen and low-emission fuels. Across the full sample, the most popular transition themes were green hydrogen (49%), low-emission fuels (47%), carbon capture and storage (45%), electric vehicles (44%), carbon markets (42%) and electrification (32%).

Despite the enthusiasm, the report highlighted several barriers to greater adoption of transition investing. Chief among them was the perception of higher risks, cited by 50% of respondents. A lack of benchmarks for comparing products (46%) and concerns about potentially low returns (44%) were also noted. Awareness remains a challenge, with only 15% of respondents able to fully define transition investing.

To address these gaps, Standard Chartered has introduced a Transition Investing Guide to help clients better understand and evaluate such investments. Samir Subberwal, global head – wealth solutions, deposits and mortgages, and chief client officer at Standard Chartered, said the bank continues to see growing interest in sustainable and transition investing. “The concept of transition investing is one that our clients are increasingly interested in being educated on,” he said.

Standard Chartered’s approach is guided by its Transition Finance Framework, which aligns financing with a 1.5°C pathway, drawing on the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero Emissions 2050 scenario. The bank operates in 53 markets and is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges.


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