Driving regional decarbonisation agenda

Green approach: (From left) Star Media Group (SMG) chief operating officer Lydia Wang, Sime Darby Property Bhd chief marketing and sales officer Datuk Lai Shu Wei, SMG group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt, Permodalan Nasional Bhd group chief corporate affairs officer Nimmi Kamal and SMG chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng.

ACROSS two transformative days, ESG, net-zero targets and climate accountability moved beyond high-level commitments into clear, measurable execution across South-East Asia.

Sustainability practitioners, corporate leaders and policymakers gathered at the Asia ESG Summit 2026 to trade intent for real-world application – all with the shared purpose of driving tangible regional impact.

The summit, held on July 21 and 22 at Sunway Resort Hotel in Bandar Sunway, Selangor, was organised under the Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium (A-EPIC) – a regional initiative led by Star Media Group (SMG) alongside Indonesia’s Media Group of Kompas Gramedia and the Philippines’ Inquirer Group of Companies. Sime Darby Property Bhd served as the main sponsor, with Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) as supporting partner.

Real world execution: Sime Darby Property sustainability general manager Dr Yasmin Rasyid outlining sustainable development strategies and ESG integration during the summit.

Setting the tone for the event was Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, who delivered a virtual keynote address outlining Malaysia’s decisive shift towards strict climate governance.

“The ministry is developing the National Climate Change Policy 2.0 alongside drafting our National Climate Change Bill. This enactment will holistically institutionalise climate governance. It mandates responsibilities for public and private sectors complete with key performance indicators and strict reporting mechanisms,” he said.

ASNB representatives showcasing products and services at the PNB booth during the Asia ESG Summit 2026, for which PNB served as a supporting partner. ASNB is a subsidiary, wholly owned by PNB.

Highlighting the country’s transition to an absolute emissions target aiming for peak emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050, Arthur also highlighted the phased implementation of a carbon tax starting this year, targeting high-intensity sectors such as iron, steel and energy generation. He called on companies to eliminate greenwashing by measuring total supply chain emissions, particularly Scope 3, using standards aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The summit’s agenda was structured around the theme “Driving Action to Measurable Impact”, focusing discussions on ESG governance, data assurance, circular economy systems and green climate decarbonisation strategies.

Policy in action: Arthur delivering a virtual keynote outlining Malaysia’s strict climate governance plans at the Asia ESG Summit 2026.

Ending the event on an actionable note was a strong focus on urban sustainability, climate resilience and physical risk management – reinforcing how cross-border media reach and strategic corporate execution can convert regional sustainability pledges into transparent, verified outcomes.