Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) Virtual Conference 2023

OVERVIEW

Despite concerns that sustainability goals may be derailed by disruptions from the continued ground war in Europe, the energy security crisis, inflationary concerns and evolving globalisation, the key message that came through loud and clear at the 27th UN-Climate Change Conference (COP27) and Davos 2023 World Economic Forum was that climate reforms must be accelerated and in tandem with this, social reforms.

At the global level, in tracking the progress of commitments to the sustainability agenda, political and business leaders are being called out by youth activists to do more, to do it faster and to put people first. With youth adding on their voices, COP27 achieved some measure of success with notable decisions reached including on climate adaptation, the loss and damage fund and a call to accelerate renewable energy deployment, amongst others.

In another landmark development on climate change, the US introduced the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which directs nearly $400 billion in federal funding to clean energy, with the goal of substantially lowering the nation’s carbon emissions by the end of this decade.   However, as the subsidies and tax breaks focus on the domestic front, there are fears that this will disadvantage clean energy investments outside of the US and lead to protectionism.

In Malaysia, policy and regulatory actions to steer the sustainability agenda including the capital markets has been lauded by advocates as being ahead of the game. The Principles-Based SRI Taxonomy was unveiled in December 2022 reinforcing the capital market’s role in accelerating the nation’s sustainability goals.

Now, the spotlight is very much on corporate Malaysia to internalise commitments and takeover the  driver’s seat for implementation in the race for sustainability.

At the SRI 2023, discussions will revolve around the impact of global headwinds on Malaysia’s sustainability roadmap, the key catalysts in pivoting implementation commitments and mobilising investments towards the sustainability agenda with the social component in focus, the increasing importance of the youth activism in climate justice, stewardship priorities for investing resilience as well as sustainability innovations steering social progress towards an equitable society.

OBJECTIVE

This programme is designed to facilitate discussions with policy makers, sustainability advocates and business leaders on actionable strategies for sustainable development, climate change initiatives and the social agenda amidst ensuing global and domestic headwinds in 2023 which could impede efforts in achieving the sustainability goals.

Participants will benefit from expert panel discussions on how the markets are responding to the developments happening globally and regionally sustainability measures and commitments such as from COP27.  The discussion will discuss the US’s IRA commitments and measures  and  examine its impact on other economies including Malaysia  and what detractors have to say.

The programme also puts the spotlight on youth activism and how they are making the connections between climate and social justice and demanding that policy decisions and implementation include this trajectory.

In the Malaysian sustainability landscape, with a facilitative ecosystem starting to fall in place, the programme will delve deeper into how Malaysian businesses are mobilising SRI for the social components, how investment stewardship is providing perspective on pertinent issues within the SRI space, how innovation and design can pivot the sustainability journey of stakeholders and the role SRI plays as a catalyst for tackling societal challenges.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this programme, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the key factors and catalysts in accelerating the momentum of the sustainability agenda in challenging times and the related risks, implications and opportunities
• Reassess business strategies to rise to the challenge of the sustainability commitments admist of macroecomonic and geographical adversity
• Discuss the initiatives for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI)  in creating shared values for business and the nation
• Assess the state of investable investments mobilisation for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) financing to bridge the gaps in meeting sustainability targets
• Deliberate on education technology (EdTech) for accessible and quality education and its socioeconomic impact
• Discuss the impact of climate change, the investment and financing solutions towards climate adaptation
• Examine stewardship priorities towards building portfolio resilience in generating sustainable benefits for the economy, the environmentand society
• Discuss the sustainable design models that provides solutions towards supporting sustainability agenda and its impact to the environmental and social space
• Examine energy security, clean energy economy and effects of global policies and the impact it has on Malaysia
• Formulate forward looking strategies in building an equitable society for economic impact and social progress

METHODOLOGY

The conference will be delivered virtually with live and interactive presentations, talks, conversations and panel discussions.