Yasmin says SDP’s goal is to build spaces where people and nature coexist, and where future generations can thrive. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
SDP is creating multi-generational benefits through ESG-focused urban development
AS Asia faces accelerating climate risks, rapid urbanisation, and mounting pressure on natural resources, property development is no longer just about constructing buildings.
It is about shaping the resilience of communities for the future. This was the central message delivered by Sime Darby Property (SDP) general manager of Sustainability Dr Yasmin Rasyid, during her keynote titled “Fostering Resilient Communities: The Sime Darby Property Approach” at the Asia ESG Summit 2025.
Yasmin points out that nearly 70% of the world’s projected nine-to-ten billion people will live in cities by 2025.
This unprecedented demographic shift necessitates massive urban expansion to accommodate hundreds of millions of new residents.
“This trajectory will place tremendous pressure on metropolitan centers,” she notes.
The real estate sector, a colossal consumer of cement, steel, and energy, stands at the nexus of this challenge. The industry bears the vital responsibility of aggressively managing water use and mitigating carbon emissions, all while ensuring the long-term prosperity and resilience of the communities it builds.
Why the ‘G’ drives ESG
For SDP, sustainability begins at the top. Governance structures drive initiatives, ensuring environmental, social and ethical considerations are integrated into planning, operations and long-term strategies.
While the spotlight often falls on the Environmental pillar of ESG, Yasmin argues that Governance is, in fact, the ultimate engine of sustainability. “The biggest driver of ESG is the ‘G’,” she asserts.
Without explicit leadership commitment—getting the governance and policies right—no environmental or social agenda can successfully take root or endure.
This ethos underpins her company’s approach: creating resilient townships where residents can “live, work, and play in harmony with nature,” making urban biodiversity a core element of planning, not merely an afterthought.
The commitment is backed by science-based, audited initiatives, including a recognised decarbonisation pathway to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions by 40%.
Measures like optimised energy usage, smart building systems and the deployment of rooftop solar panels—which, as Yasmin notes, are now far more “economically viable” than in previous decades—prove that strategic governance can translate vision into measurable impact.
Designing for climate resilience
Beyond reducing carbon emissions, climate resilience is now central to SDP’s planning—built in from the start rather than added as an afterthought.
Bandar Bukit Raja Town Park embodies this approach. Designed not only as a public recreational space, it also doubles as a flood retention area capable of holding up to 50,000 cubic metres of water during heavy rainfall.
“Nature-based solutions must be built in from the start, not added as an afterthought. Climate risk is now one of the highest concerns for banks and investors,” she says, highlighting SDP’s use of climate modelling and water science tools to assess vulnerabilities across townships, safeguarding both residents and the environment.
Enhancing asset value
SDP views biodiversity not as a cost centre but as a core strategic value. By choosing to develop on previously used oil palm plantations instead of forested tracts, and by actively enhancing natural habitats, SDP minimises its ecological footprint.
Their environmental ledger includes the planting and monitoring of 18 species of indigenous and endangered trees since 2016.
This approach culminates in high-impact initiatives like the Elmina Urban Biodiversity Corridor in City of Elmina—a model river restoration project that successfully re-establishes urban wildlife connectivity.
“Can we make our townships biologically diverse after we have constructed them?” Yasmin challenges.
The success hinges on social governance. Through educational programmes focused on ecosystems, the company ensures community buy-in, stating: “The true value of biodiversity cannot be realised, nor can its preservation be secured, without the active understanding and stewardship of the local community.”
Integrating these efforts creates multi-generational benefits, ultimately delivering a higher quality of life and strengthening a community’s resilience against inevitable environmental volatility.
Balancing profit with enduring purpose
The company operates under a strategic synthesis of People, Profit and Purpose, recognising that environmental goals must be seamlessly balanced with social responsibility and financial viability.
This alignment is rooted in governance structures that embed ethical practices, supply chain transparency and rigorous human rights protections, ensuring ESG policies are both actionable and measurable.
Yasmin is pragmatic about the foundation of sustainability: “Sustainability doesn’t run on sunshine and fresh air.
“Companies must be profitable, but profit must also be channelled into building stronger communities.”
This commitment is realised through a multi-generational perspective, where every township is built with three or four generations in mind.
This foresight dictates durable investments in green infrastructure, flood resilience and biodiversity, establishing a lasting, positive legacy for residents and the environment alike.
Resilient urban growth
The dual challenge confronting developers is clear: managing rapid urban population growth while actively protecting natural resources. SDP proves this balance is achievable.
Their model integrates governance, thoughtful planning and a commitment to biodiversity to build resilient and vibrant townships.
“Our goal is simple,” Yasmin states. “It is to build spaces where people and nature coexist, and where future generations can thrive.”
This commitment translates into climate-smart planning and science-backed governance, establishing a system where green infrastructure—parks, rivers and trees—are integral components of a living ecosystem, not merely add-on amenities.
By setting this standard for nature-rich, resilient communities, the company is creating a crucial benchmark for the future of sustainable urban development in Asia.
