CIMB hosted the fifth installment of its annual flagship event, The Cooler Earth Sustainability Summit from 11 to 21 September 2023, themed Sustainability in Action: Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow. To enable capacity-building among a wider audience from the ASEAN region, the hybrid Summit was broadcast virtually and was free to access for all.
The Summit aimed to connect businesses with key players from across the public and private sectors as well as civil society, providing a platform to hear from global and regional experts and better understand the multitude of opportunities arising from the shift towards a greener economy and a more equitable society. A curated series of keynote presentations, expert panel discussions, masterclasses, as well as networking events with exclusive in-person client access across the ASEAN region were planned to engage businesses on the many ways they could both drive and benefit from sustainable business adoption.
Participants had the opportunity to gain new perspectives with meaningful insights on how to create shared value by integrating environmental and social considerations into their business strategies. In addition, the sessions offered practical guidance to businesses on how they could navigate various business, regulatory, and trade developments, such as carbon border adjustments and sustainable supply chains.
The Summit featured a Ministerial Address by YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade & Industry, Malaysia, along with a keynote by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond, Professor of Geography and of Environmental Health Sciences at UCLA, and a call to action by Sir Robert Swan, one of the world’s most prominent explorers.
One of the unique segments included a Government Linked Investment Companies CEO leaders panel session featuring Dato’ Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn, President & Group Chief Executive of Permodalan Nasional Berhad, and Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Chief Executive Officer of Employees Provident Fund. They spoke on "Unlocking Insights: A Personal Perspective from GLIC Leaders," deliberating and offering insights into their ESG portfolio aspirations, the imminent transition towards a low-carbon economy, and their personal reflection on the values and apprehensions driving their commitment to sustainability leadership.
Click here to learn more about The Cooler Earth.
