Two-day conference highlights the importance of mobilising capital, strengthening project bankability and building resilience across the real economy

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 SEPTEMBER – The Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3) concluded the JC3 Journey to Zero Conference 2026 on 29 September, bringing together more than 800 participants across the financial sector, government, businesses, investors 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 people.

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 implementation efforts. The conference also convened several masterclasses by subject matter experts on disclosure requirements, nature and adaptation financing, to further translate theory into practice.

Dato' Sri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, said, “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.”

Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), said that climate risk is not just 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 marked the introduction of several initiatives, including the announcement of 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 intends to recognise and accredit sustainability competencies, while raising standards and capabilities for 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 strengthening collaboration with six universities in Malaysia i.e. Monash University, Sunway University, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Universiti Tenaga Nasional. The JC3-University Collaboration Programme aims to deepen the financial sector’s capacity to address climate-and-nature-related challenges through applied research, talent development, and practical solutions.

It is a strategic initiative introduced to encourage collaboration that will bring 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 as well as accelerate financing for climate and nature.

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, who are currently undergoing the CFIL Accelerator programme, presented their climate and nature solutions to potential funders, and three outstanding projects were 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 was presented 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, with a clear problem statement, strong value proposition and practical solutions.

JC3 also recognised individuals, project teams and entities whose leadership and contributions have been instrumental in advancing key JC3 initiatives. The JC3 Leaders in Climate Action Awards were presented to four individuals – Joel Khaw Chuan Penn (RHB Bank), Moreen Joseph (UOB Bank), Nur Afifah Mohamaddiah (HSBC Amanah) and Teresa Wong (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) for advancing key climate initiatives; and two organisations - CIMB Bank and RAM Sustainability Sdn Bhd - for their efforts in driving meaningful climate action.

Collectively, the announcements reflect a broader shift towards addressing the practical barriers that can slow climate and nature action, including project readiness, access to financing, market capability and the availability of relevant data.

This 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 wider economy.

About the JC3

The JC3 is a platform established in September 2019 to pursue collaborative actions for building climate resilience within the Malaysian financial sector. The JC3 is co-chaired by Madelena Mohamed, Assistant Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia and Neetasha Rauf, Chief Sustainability Officer of Securities Commission Malaysia, with members comprising senior officials from Bursa Malaysia and 25 financial industry players. The JC3’s initiatives and priorities are undertaken by its five sub-committees, namely Risk Management; Governance and Disclosure; Product and Innovation; Engagement and Capacity Building; and Bridging Data Gaps. An SME Focus Group has been established to develop strategies and solutions that support transition by SMEs.