CIMB’s 5th Cooler Earth Sustainability Summit to explore the wealth of business opportunities arising from the transition to a greener economy and more equitable society

4 September 2023

The 2023 Summit aims to highlight the many ways businesses can both drive and benefit from sustainability as part of the accelerating shift towards low carbon and inclusive economies

Kuala Lumpur: CIMB Group Holdings Berhad (“CIMB” or “the Group”) is hosting the fifth instalment of its annual flagship event, The Cooler Earth Sustainability Summit (“The Cooler Earth” or “the Summit”) from 11 to 21 September 2023, themed Sustainability in Action: Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow. In order to enable capacity-building among a wider audience from the ASEAN region, the hybrid Summit will be broadcast virtually and is free to access to all. 

This year’s Summit aims to connect businesses with key players from across the public and private sectors as well as civil society, to hear from global and regional experts and better understand the multitude of opportunities arising from the shift towards a greener economy and 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, has been planned to engage businesses on the many ways they can both drive and benefit from sustainable business adoption.

Participants will be able 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 will offer practical guidance to businesses on how they can navigate various business, regulatory and trade developments, such as carbon border adjustments and sustainable supply chains.

The Summit will feature 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 planned includes a Government Linked Investment Companies (“GLIC”) 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, who will be speaking on "Unlocking Insights: A Personal Perspective from GLIC Leaders". These distinguished leaders will deliberate and offer 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.

Dato’ Abdul Rahman Ahmad, Group Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Group said, “The Cooler Earth Summit this year will underscore how businesses of all scales can tap into opportunities within the rapidly evolving economic landscape, as part of the accelerating shift towards sustainable economies. The creation of more resilient, low-carbon and inclusive economies will require collaborative action and innovative solutions from all stakeholders, and we hope to highlight how businesses can stay ahead of the curve and position themselves at the forefront of this swift and inevitable transition."

“As a purpose-driven organisation and an aspiring ASEAN sustainability leader, we are committed to playing our part to accelerate the growth and adoption of sustainable practices among businesses and communities alike,” he added.

The programme will also be complemented by on-ground experiential events in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Cambodia, such as thematic learning sessions with CIMB’s partners and non-governmental organisations (“NGOs”). The events planned in Malaysia will be held across various locations which have benefitted from CIMB’s strategic conservation projects through its EcoSave Savings Account-i (“EcoSave”) contributions. These hands-on experiences will enable participants to explore relevant topics such as diverse natural landscapes, the latest agricultural technologies, and renewable energy.

CIMB remains committed to advancing the ESG agenda, having doubled its sustainable finance target to RM60 billion by 2024 under its Green, Social, Sustainable Impact Products and Services (“GSSIPS”) framework. CIMB has also committed to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, including financed emissions, by 2050.

The Cooler Earth Summit 2023 is open to all and participation is free-of-charge. For more details and to register, please visit https://coolerearth.cimb.com.