CGM's Malaysia Showcase at Climate Week New York

Malaysia’s tropical forest ecosystems are a vital carbon reserve, removing some 250 million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and supporting incredible biodiversity – but 3.9 million hectares have been cleared for palm oil plantations since 1990.

Although this has helped to meet global demand for products from lipstick to pizza dough and brought greater prosperity to the country, de-forestation has also depleted Malaysia’s forests as carbon sinks and havens for wildlife.

With the right investment and approach to conservation, though, Malaysian forests can make an important contribution towards the COP21 target of limiting increases in global temperatures to 2c above pre-industrial times.

This session is organised and curated by Climate Governance Malaysia, the local country chapter of the World Economic Forum's climate governance initiative for non-executive directors, whose goal is to support climate resilience in this mega-biodiverse nation.

This event is part of the Nature and Science and Climate Impacts and Adaptation programs of Climate Week New York.

Program

Welcome by Sunita Rajakumar, Founding Chair of Climate Governance Malaysia, non executive director.

Introduction to climate governance by Karina Litvack, founder of the World Economic Forum's climate governance initiative.

Contributions from non-governmental organisations active in forest conservation: South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership, WWF Malaysia and Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre. This session will be hosted and moderated by Dr Kalanithi Nesadurai (co-founder of CGM, non-executive director of FGV Holdings) and Ms Luanne Siah (Head of Group Sustainability at CIMB).

Contributions from businesses with strong sustainability and climate priorities: Cheng Jew Keng (Chief Operating Officer, Sunway Property and Facilities Management of the Sunway Group), Michael E. Long (Asia Head of Sustainability, Lendlease) and Rashyid Redza Anwarudin (Head, Group Sustainability, Sime Darby). This session will be hosted and moderated by Arsaalan (Oz) Ahmed (CEO of HSBC Amanah).

Closing note by Fraziali Ismail (Assistant Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia).

Visuals (aerial photographs of Malaysia) were contributed by photographer SC Shekar, read his blog post here.

Technical Partner: Islamic Markets