Press Release
SIDC Sustainable and Responsible Investment Conference 2024 Calls for Mobilisation of Investments for Human Wellbeing and Environmental Preservation
20 June 2024 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC) today organises its flagship thought leadership programme, the SIDC Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) Conference 2024 (#SRI2024), calling for mobilisation of investments for human wellbeing and environmental preservation.
The SIDC SRI Conference 2024 emphasises the need for global unity in prioritising sustainable investments for human wellbeing and the planet amidst escalating environmental challenges. The conference looks into issues highlighted at COP28 that current efforts are insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5°C, necessitating immediate action.
“Malaysia has witnessed a significant surge in sustainable investments driven by supportive policy frameworks and initiatives such as the SRI Roadmap and SRI Taxonomy. The introduction of the Maqasid Al-Shariah Guidance further fortifies Malaysia’s commitment to sustainability, highlighting the crucial role of mobilising investments for human wellbeing and environmental preservation,” said Tengku Zarina Tengku Chik, Chief Executive Officer of Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC).
There were 68 sustainable and responsible investment funds in Malaysia with net asset value of RM7.7 billion as of December 2023, a significant increase from just seven SRI funds in 2020 with net asset value of RM1.46 billion, according to the Securities Commission Malaysia’s annual reports.
“For Malaysia, let me affirm that we stand ready to play our role in supporting the energy transition within and beyond our borders through commitment and collaboration, both local and global,” said Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.
He added that Malaysia has committed its Nationally Determined Contributions to an unconditional reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity by 45 percent in 2030 (as compared to 2005 level) while expanding the GHG coverage to seven types from the initial three.
“Against a backdrop of an imminent climate crisis, the theme for today’s conference, ‘Investing in Human Wellbeing and the Planet’ is one that every organisation in Malaysia should embrace urgently. As we face an increasingly uncertain climate and a rapidly changing world, it is more important than ever to shift our collective consciousness towards a deeper understanding of humanity’s role in this crisis,” said Nik Nazmi.
He added, “To fully realise a sustainable future for Malaysia, we need a whole of-nation approach encompassing federal and state governments, industry, and the general public to catalyse the growth of the green economy, create a resilient community, and nurture a sustainable planet.”
The SIDC Sustainable and Responsible Investment Conference 2024 convenes industry players, policymakers, business leaders and stakeholders. The conference facilitates dialogue, identifies shortcomings and strategises actionable steps to support Malaysia’s commitment to sustainability.
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SIDC Sustainable and Responsible Investment Conference, since 2020
The SIDC Sustainable and Responsible Investment Conference 2024 is in its fifth year running since its inaugural conference in the year 2020. In the last 5 years, the conference has reached and involved over 2,500 participants, 170 industry panellists and speakers, 20 key sponsors and 5 key themes driven by the evolving environment in sustainable and responsible investment.
First organised four years ago in 2020, in which SIDC SRI Conference highlighted the importance of sustainability conversations at the Board level, followed by the conference in 2021, with conversations further expanding the leadership and top management’s role in creating actionable plans, and the need to drive the sustainability agenda. In 2022, SIDC SRI Conference delved into alignment of COP26 global agenda with the introduction of the SRI Roadmap, and how the sustainability awareness and culture need to be expanded to the whole organisation. In 2023, the conference looked into the alignment of SDGs, SRI Framework, taxonomies as well as the COP 28 agenda – focusing on sustainability strategies that will accelerate people, planet and prosperity commitments. This year, the SRI Conference focuses on looking forward to a future where sustainability becomes an inherent part of our existence, ensuring the well-being of humanity and the planet.
