Sharpening the ESG focus 2026: Navigating risks, capturing momentum

Despite geopolitical fragmentation prompting some governments to recalibrate away from sustainability, investments in the space continue to grow – signalling strong market-led momentum.

Capital continues to flow into areas such as transition technologies and adaptation, supported by improving commercial viability, while financiers reprice physical climate risks due to their growing materiality.  

Asia Pacific, in particular, is leading the way in sustainable finance with debt issuance, excluding asset-based securities, reaching US$274 billion in the first seven months of 2025 alone – countering trends in markets such as the US and Europe.

Sharpening the ESG Focus – Eco-Business Intelligence’s annual outlook briefing – provides an essential “pulse check” for the region’s sustainability community, offering an early-year checkpoint on how global forces in geopolitics, finance and the environment are redefining corporate strategy and risk.

In the Kuala Lumpur-based edition, the briefing will provide an exclusive industry deep dive into Malaysia and Asia’s next phase of sustainability, including strategies to stay ahead of the curve, covering the following themes:

• Geopolitics and sustainability in a fragmenting world – How COP30 and the global geopolitical environment will impact Malaysia, and the region more broadly, as the country navigates emerging risks under a new environment minister.

• Carbon markets in Asia: From integrity crisis to strategic lever – Despite persistent governance issues, carbon markets remain an important tool for credible decarbonisation, from offsets to obligations. What will be the way forward in 2026?  

• The intersection between AI and sustainability – Emerging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and automated solutions to meet sustainability disclosure obligations and futureproof business resiliency.  

• Navigating physical climate risks – The growing materiality of physical climate risks on business, financiers and asset owners, and strategies to effectively price and manage these risks.

Pricing: RM150 + 8% SST

This event is eligible for HRDC funding. Register your interest to receive detailed instructions on how to process your claim.