JULY saw the highest recorded temperatures in many countries across Europe, Asia, and America, underlining the reality of global warming and the imminent existential threat to mankind and planet Earth.
As such, climate change is an urgent challenge we face that needs to be addressed immediately, and as a result, UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez called for urgent concerted global climate action.
Responding to this call, the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific (KSI), along with the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei and the World Green Organisation (WGO), organised the first World Green and Sustainability Summit in Kuching on Sept 4.
The event was attended by various distinguished speakers, including Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg who delivered the keynote address at the summit.
He called for collaborative action moving forward, emphasising a green agenda and the necessity of transitioning to a green economy using green energy and technology.
Additionally, he highlighted Sarawak’s focus on renewable energy, specifically hydrogen energy, as the region is at the forefront of hydrogen energy development in Malaysia.
The World Green Sustainability Summit saw over 250 participants convening to discuss challenges and opportunities in the green economy and the path forward to transition to green energy and sustainability which will power the green economy.
Key topics addressed at the summit included:
> Leadership panel: Greening the world, save the planet with green pledges towards sustainability.
> Green energy, green technology: New challenges, new breakthrough and new opportunities in energy transition – renewable and hydrogen energy.
> Green cities and green mobility: Advancing sustainable cities, mobile communities, green properties and green infrastructure.
> Scaling up ESG: Showcasing success stories and best practices in ESG.
> The changing regulatory and policy landscape for sustainable finance.
The summit also urged the business community, including SMEs, to support and embrace the circular economy, and to scale up ESG goals – especially environment and governance aspects– while sharing best practices.
KSI president Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, who is the summit organising chairman, said the speakers and partners discussed the need to prioritise the 4Ps – people, planet, prosperity, and partnership to ensure sustainable growth.
He added that KSI is fully committed to the 4Ps and urged businesses and civil society organisations to emphasise the 4Ps in their programmes and business models.
He also called for partnerships among stakeholders to achieve the UNSDGs.
KSI demonstrates commitment to the UNSDGs by signing both the UN Global Compact Pledge and the UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific Green Deal for Business.
Representing KSI and Malaysia, Yeoh is on the 15-member executive council of the UN ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN) appointed by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (ESCAP).
"The urgency of our times demands swift actions. This summit, built on the foundation of partnerships, emphasise the vital role businesses play in driving sustainable transformations.
“Through public-private-people partnerships, green growth and conscious decisions, we have the opportunity to achieve a just transition and secure a thriving future for generations to come," said Faroze Nadar, executive director of UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB).
For the green economy to succeed, there must be investments in technology and innovations.
The sustainability of the green growth also depends on the support and participation of youth – the next generation of leaders who will inherit the Earth in the next 20-50 years.
To achieve this, KSI will initiate a Next Generation Green Network to be coordinated by KSI’s director of external relations Zaim Mohzani (zaim@kasi.asia), which aims to mobilise greater youth support for the green transition.
For the green transformation to succeed, government, business, and civil society partnerships have to be reinforced in alignment with SDG #17.
The summit also conferred World Sustainability Excellence Awards, the World Sustainability Leadership Awards and the World ESG Awards to several recipients.
The summit was sponsored by the Sarawak government, Sawit Kinabalu Group, Samling Group of Companies and Rimbunan Hijau Group.