ESG summit spotlights geopolitical risks and opportunities amid crises
PETALING JAYA: Geopolitical tensions are increasingly reshaping the global sustainability agenda, particularly in areas such as energy transition and sustainable materials.
Sustainability practitioners are coming to realise that environmental, social and governance (ESG) ambitions cannot be separated from the risks associated with fossil fuel dependence and concentrated global supply chains.
These concerns are among the topics to be discussed at this year’s Asia ESG Summit, which will be held on July 21 and 22 at Sunway Resort Hotel here.
Themed “Driving Action to Measurable Impact”, the summit is organised by Star Media Group and will feature three concurrent forums on ESG Governance and Data Assurance, Circular Economy, and Green Climate and Energy.
One of the speakers, Greenie Web founder Dr Ian Chew, will explore the premise that South-East Asian nations are facing a defining moment in their energy transition with geopolitical tensions altering global energy flows and artificial intelligence accelerating demand for power.
His plenary session “Geopolitics, AI and Energy Security: From Global Disruptions to Measurable Action in Asean’s Energy Transition” during the Green Climate and Energy forum will explore how global disruptions, from supply chain fragmentation to data centre expansion, are converging to create both risks and opportunities for the region.
With the Middle East conflict disrupting polymer and feedstock supplies, there is an urgent need to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable alternatives.
Prof Dr Ong Kian Ming, adjunct professor at Taylors University and executive director of RGE Malaysia, will be among the panel speakers for “Plastics & Packaging in Transition: Navigating Asia’s New Regulations and the Shift to Sustainable Materials”.
The panel, part of the Circular Economy forum, will present an overview of new plastics regulation in Asia and the shift towards sustainable packaging materials.
The discussion is expected to help businesses adapt to the evolving landscapes while remaining competitive.
One of the highlights of the ESG Governance and Data Assurance forum is a plenary session on “Double Materiality in Practice: Identifying Impacts, Risk, and Opportunities”.
Roslina Muhammad, a technical specialist and subject matter expert in the sustainability domains, will offer a practical guide to applying double materiality – how a business impacts the environment and society (impact materiality), and how these issues affect the business’ financial performance (financial materiality).
Real case studies have shown that companies using double materiality can better manage risks, improve transparency and build trust with stakeholders.
For details on the summit, visit https://bit.ly/aes2026_1.
Register by May 31 to enjoy the super early bird promotion.
