Singapore Management University (SMU), together with an international consortium of universities and finance organisations, has unveiled the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Mapper — a global platform designed to compare and link sustainable finance taxonomies across jurisdictions.
Developed in partnership with Dublin City University, the University of Edinburgh, University College Dublin, the Climate Bonds Initiative, the EU Sustainable Finance Advisory Hub, GIZ, the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), the platform aims to strengthen research, assist policymakers and improve cross-border alignment in sustainable finance standards. It provides a structured view of how taxonomies are designed, including detailed economic activity mapping.
The project is co-led by Dr Theodor Cojoianu of SMU; Prof Andreas Hoepner and Dr Fabiola Schneider of University College Dublin; and Dr Anh Vu of Dublin City University. Supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service, the team is inviting universities and research institutions worldwide to contribute to the further development of the tool and to join a growing global academic network focused on sustainable finance policy.
Dr Cojoianu said: “Our sustainable finance mapper tool and academic network will support policymakers, financial services actors and civil society by providing data, research tools and education public goods for effective design of sustainable finance policies.”
Nathan Fabian, PRI’s chief sustainable systems officer, added: “The PRI has been engaging with investors on the implementation and use of sustainable finance taxonomies since their early inception. Enhancing the usability and interoperability of sustainable finance taxonomies is crucial to ensure well-functioning financial markets that collectively contribute to climate and broader environmental goals.”
Sean Kidney, CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative, said: “The world has seen a wonderful explosion of sustainable finance taxonomies — shopping lists for the future. The next step is a tool to navigate seamlessly across them, quickly finding the extensive common ground. That’s what the Taxonomy Mapper is for.”
The initiative aligns with SMU’s broader efforts to contribute to global climate and finance discussions. Dr Cojoianu, from the College of Integrative Studies (CIS), is leading the project as part of the University’s 2030 Strategic Plan. SMU faculty are also engaged in international climate work, including Prof Winston Chow, Lee Kong Chian Professor of Urban Climate and Co-Chair of IPCC AR7 Working Group II, who is taking part in COP30 negotiations.
Prof Elvin Lim, Dean of CIS, said: “I am delighted that the College of Integrative Studies is fostering impactful international research partnerships on green finance policies. The mapping of green finance taxonomies to facilitate cross-jurisdictional operability is critical work that must be done to foster robust global cooperation on green finance. We are very excited to be a part of this consortium of esteemed institutions to do this impactful work.”
As more governments introduce sustainable finance policies, a proliferation of national taxonomies has emerged. Although these frameworks reflect local economic and environmental priorities, their differences pose challenges for cross-border investment and regulatory coherence. The Taxonomy Mapper seeks to address these gaps by offering independent academic analysis to support global policy alignment and smoother flows of sustainable finance.
The initiative is co-funded by the European Union through the EU Sustainable Finance Advisory Hub and by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The authors note that the views expressed are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or BMZ.
