The benefits of AI may arrive in the future — but the costs are being paid now. While AI holds the promise of significant societal upside, its environmental footprint and workforce impacts are immediate. That imbalance is likely to drive further disruption unless it is addressed deliberately and early. A key part of this conversation is the green AI paradox  — and it was great to see APAC Advisors Senior Advisor Megan Willis  bring her deep expertise on the social impacts of

AI promises productivity gains, but without corporate and investor commitment, Singapore risks deeper inequality, higher emissions, and growing social strain as jobs are lost. By Steven Okun, Megan Willis, Noemie Viterale Feb. 20, 2026 Artificial Intelligence (AI) empowers businesses to do more with less people. Many businesses are racing ahead to take full advantage. DBS Bank’s announcement that AI will eliminate 4,000 jobs across 19 markets provides both a proof point and

Trang (Tris) Ha Thao Nguyen  invited Steve for an interview for the global affairs program Global Insight to forecast global clean energy momentum for the next 5 years and how this may be affected by changing climate policies from the US and China. The first question: What do you see as the main reasons behind US President Donald Trump’s climate stance?  Simple. He does not believe in the climate crisis. And, a focus away from traditional energy sources would harm the US econ

The resistance to Artificial Intelligence will come from the social disruption it will bring – and data centres will be where that backlash lands first. Investors in AI must ensure that its benefits are shared across society, harm is reduced, and value created local Artificial intelligence (AI) fuels one of Asia’s fastest infrastructure expansions in decades – data centres, which are essential to achieve the promise of AI, such as advances in education, health care, longevity

Investors who fail to assess and mitigate the potential harms of adopting Artificial Intelligence cannot credibly call themselves “responsible”. By Steven Okun, Megan Willis, Noemie Viterale Nov. 12, 2025 A hyperscaler data centre. For investors in AI, the test will be how to ensure adoption of AI while mitigating the harm from job losses, the increase in income inequality, and the damage to the environment. Image: Tommy Young/Flickr Artificial Intelligence (AI) did not exis

The “S” in ESG has never been more complex, or more important. On November 17th in Hong Kong, APAC Advisors CEO  Steven Okun  moderated a panel at the  Mergermarket   Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ)  Private Equity Forum - unpacking how the AI trilemma, rising enforcement risk, and shifting global trade norms are redefining what responsible investment actually looks like in practice. From the job-loss and inequality impacts of AI to the intensifying scrutiny on supply ch

Oct 22nd-23rd: Steven Okun chaired the Responsible Investment Forum: Asia for a second consecutive year. In doing so, he helped steer the forum’s agenda, bringing together institutional investors and private-markets senior decision-makers around themes such as value creation through sustainability and regulatory evolution in Asia.

Steven Okun is CEO of APAC Advisors, a geostrategic consultancy headquartered in Singapore who served in the Clinton administration....

While the language of ESG is changing, its fundamental value for business is not. Some companies never used the term ESG publicly - even...

With Donald Trump in the White House, some Asian companies may believe they do not have to worry about forced labour in their operations...

ESG Decoded is the podcast powered by Global Affairs Associates to share relevant updates related to business innovation and...

Steven Okun joined the Pacific Polarity podcast to break down the U.S.-Southeast Asia trade landscape, explaining how tariffs are...

In this new era of corporate sustainability, no issue unites stakeholders as urgently as climate change does.

Every company can or does cause harm. ESG gives a framework to eliminate harm where you can and reduce it where you cannot.

DBS is a sustainable bank. But Greta Thunberg they are not. Their claim of being more like an eco-warrior & less like a bank is ridiculous.

Fear is biggest driver of Indonesian companies slashing carbon emissions; do nothing and risk being kicked out of global supply chains.

The sessions at Temasek’s Eco-Sperity highlighted the inextricable link between the environment, social and governmental aspects of ESG.

Using ESG to avoid investing in potentially stranded assets & improving your carbon profile were among topics at AVCJ.

Dow's misstep of treating a key ESG program as a CSR project should be a lesson to all companies on how greenwashing can damage reputation.

ESG mindset helps management know what's happening in ops & supply chains & address issues before being hit with fines & enforcement.