KUALA LUMPUR — The Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3) concluded the JC3 Journey to Zero Conference 2026 on Sept 29, bringing together more than 800 participants from the financial sector, government, businesses, investment community and academia.
The conference reaffirmed the critical role of the financial industry in advancing Malaysia’s sustainable and resilient growth agenda.
The two-day conference, themed “Building Climate and Nature Resilience for People and Business”, focused on advancing climate and nature resilience through investable projects and innovative financing solutions that deliver measurable outcomes for businesses and communities.
Discussions centred on sustainable growth, financing the energy transition, climate adaptation, nature-related risks and opportunities, carbon markets and project bankability. Across these themes, participants explored practical pathways to strengthen project readiness, mobilise financing and scale up implementation.
The conference also featured several masterclasses led by subject matter experts on disclosure requirements, nature financing and adaptation financing, providing participants with practical insights to translate theory into action.
Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said climate change was a present reality rather than a future risk, underscoring the need to mobilise capital, support innovation and strengthen collaboration to accelerate transition efforts.
“Climate change is a present reality, not a future risk. We must commit to mobilise capital boldly, support innovation actively, collaborate and co-develop solutions to accelerate transition efforts.
“We must finance resilience before the next major flood, super El Niño, or devastating landslide. Therefore, financial institutions need to build capacity and deepen understanding of nature-related risk to ensure that relevant considerations can be embedded into risk management and business decisions,” he said.
Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) Chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said climate risk was not merely an environmental issue, but also a national and economic one.
“Building resilience requires creating conditions for capital to be mobilised and supporting financing for climate adaptation and resilience.
“JC3 provides a platform for market participants to translate these efforts into better decisions, stronger businesses and meaningful action. Ultimately, we all need to grow, but growth cannot be for growth’s sake or at all costs. We have an obligation to the next generation to grow responsibly,” he said.
The conference also marked the introduction of several initiatives, including the Association of Sustainability Professionals (ASP), an industry initiative incubated and supported by the SC.
Aligned with the goals of the SC’s Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030, the ASP aims to recognise and accredit sustainability competencies while raising standards and capabilities among sustainability professionals.
Expected to be launched by the end of 2026, the ASP will support the development of a trusted and future-ready sustainability talent pool across various sectors.
JC3 and the financial sector are also strengthening collaboration with six Malaysian universities – Monash University, Sunway University, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Universiti Tenaga Nasional.
The JC3-University Collaboration Programme aims to strengthen the financial sector’s capacity to address climate- and nature-related challenges through applied research, talent development and practical solutions.
The strategic initiative brings together the financial industry, academia and policymakers to translate research and technical expertise into actionable insights, tools and innovations that can support better risk management and accelerate financing for climate and nature-related initiatives.
JC3 continues to strengthen the pipeline of climate and nature projects through the Climate Finance Innovation Lab (CFIL), a platform that helps move marginally bankable climate and nature-related projects towards funding.
At the CFIL Pitch-a-Thon, project proponents undergoing the CFIL Accelerator Programme presented their climate and nature solutions to potential funders, with three projects recognised for their innovative approaches and potential impact.
The Scalable Impact Award was presented to Tulen Fuels for its strong potential for future investment and growth, supported by a feasible approach to project development, scaling and implementation.
The Multiplier Effect Award went to QuinTerra for its ability to deliver interconnected environmental, social and governance benefits across communities, organisations and ecosystems.
AAE Solutions Sdn Bhd won the Engaging Initiative Award for delivering a compelling and engaging pitch, supported by a clear problem statement, strong value proposition and practical solutions.
JC3 also recognised individuals, project teams and organisations whose leadership and contributions have been instrumental in advancing key JC3 initiatives.
The JC3 Leaders in Climate Action Awards recognised four individuals – Joel Khaw Chuan Penn of RHB Bank, Moreen Joseph of UOB Bank, Nur Afifah Mohamaddiah of HSBC Amanah and Teresa Wong of Zurich Insurance – for their individual contributions.
Three project teams – the Climate Change and Principle-based Taxonomy (CCPT) Implementation Group, National Sustainability Reporting Framework (NSRF) FI Taskforce, and Sustainable and Transition Finance Guidance (STFG) – were also recognised for advancing key climate initiatives.
Two organisations, CIMB Bank and RAM Sustainability Sdn Bhd, were recognised for their efforts in driving meaningful climate action.
Collectively, the announcements reflect a broader shift towards addressing practical barriers that can slow climate and nature action, including project readiness, access to financing, market capabilities and the availability of relevant data.
The conference reinforces JC3’s commitment to translating climate and nature ambitions into tangible outcomes, including catalysing capital deployment, strengthening market capabilities and supporting resilience across the financial sector and the wider economy.
