People, Planet, Profit

China accounts for some 70% of global electric vehicle production and also moved 11 million EVs in 2024. How did China manage to carve out a first mover advantage in the global EV sector? We discuss the policies behind China’s EV dominance with Kyle Chan of Princeton University.

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The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) was first mooted in 1997 to establish regional energy security and connectivity. Recent years have seen greater traction for the initiative in tandem with the growth of renewable energy and decarbonisation strategies. We discuss the development of the APG and the latest announcements stemming from the 46th ASEAN Summit.

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At COP 29 in Azerbaijan, UN member states agreed to increase cooperation to scale climate financing up to $1.3 trillion US dollars annually by 2035. What is the pathway to achieving this exponential growth in investment, especially for the Southeast Asian region? We get perspectives from Lisa Sachs, Director of the Columbia Centre on Sustainable Investment. 

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Sustainable fashion is a contradiction, given that the fashion industry is one of the key drivers of consumption - but there are movements looking to make systemic changes in the sector to better protect people and planet. We deconstruct what sustainable fashion means and how the trend is taking shape in Malaysia with Najah Onn, founder of FashinFidelity.

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The International Energy Agency estimates that ASEAN's energy transition requires annual investment of USD190 billion until 2030. Could China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provide a channel to accelerate investment in ASEAN green energy? We discuss the trends with Prof. Christoph Nedopil Wang, Director of the Griffith Asia Institute.

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Shangri-La Rasa Ria recently became the first hotel in Malaysia to secure ISO 20121 certification in sustainable event management. We discuss the thought process driving sustainability action in the hospitality sector with Fiona Hagan, General Manager of Shangri-La Rasa Ria.

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To what extent has climate governance been mainstreamed in the corporate space and what influence does Malaysia wield on regional climate policy? We discuss the trends related to climate policy and decision-making with Dr. Gary Theseira, Council Chair of Climate Governance Malaysia.

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The Securities Commission under the National Sustainability Reporting Framework has mandated that publicly listed companies begin complying with ISSB standards in phases, starting in January this year. How are businesses adapting to the evolving ESG reporting landscape? We get insights from Manohar Johnson of PwC Malaysia.

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Parliament passed the Carbon, Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) bill last month. We discuss what went into the drafting of the law with Amin Abdul Majid and Khoo Yu Lin, who are partners at Zaid Ibrahim & Co.

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With the built environment responsible for approximately 40% of global carbon emissions across its value chain, ESG and sustainability considerations have become embedded in the real estate business. How are UK property developers navigating the sustainability imperative amid competing economic priorities and headwinds? We get a snapshot of the situation from Ghislaine Halpenny, Director of ESG & Corporate Affairs at Regal London, a UK boutique property developer.

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