As global climate pressures mount, Malaysia is stepping up with ambitious sustainability initiatives that will reshape how businesses operate. Listed companies must now navigate a new era of environmental accountability, with heightened expectations from investors and regulators alike. 

The three major initiatives shaping the landscape for listed companies in Malaysia include the National Sustainability Reporting Framework (NSRF) which integrates global standards for transparent sustainability reporting, helping businesses align with investor expectations. The National Climate Change Policy 2.0 focuses on managing transition and physical risks, pushing companies to reduce carbon footprints and adapt to new regulatory demands. Finally, the upcoming Climate Change Bill will signal legal accountability for emissions reductions. 

Businesses must act now to stay competitive. Discover more about these critical developments and their business implications in our comprehensive report.

As the world grapples with climate change, social inequality, and governance challenges, sustainability disclosures are now transitioning from voluntary to mandatory reporting. This shift is also driven by rising investor demands and global expectations for transparency.

In this issue, we explore "The Evolving Landscape of Sustainability Disclosures" and how regions in APAC, including Singapore, Australia, and Malaysia, are leading the way with new standards.

Learn how these changes can impact your business, ensure compliance, and leverage new opportunities with practical recommendations on enhancing sustainability disclosures.

As artificial intelligence (AI) revolutionises industries and disrupts traditional business models, corporate boards face a pressing issue: ensuring they have the right expertise to advise on AI implementation. However, only 30% of board directors feel equipped to oversee AI, a concerning statistic that underscores the need for action. 

To address this, boards can draw on the experience of governing sustainability a similarly transformative issue that demands a shift in business operations and leadership to guide their oversight of AI. Both areas require a nuanced understanding of regulatory compliance, ethical considerations, and risk management. 

Read our comprehensive report as we uncover how boards can effectively monitor AI and sustainability risks and opportunities, and how a collaborative approach between the board and management team can drive value creation and minimise these risks.

Welcome to the July issue of Boardroom’s Think ESG Newsletter. This month, we share more on the recently adopted EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive ("CSDDD") and its impact on Singapore companies.

We will shed light on the intricacies of the directive, identifying which Singaporean companies fall within its scope, and provide an analysis of current performance and areas for improvement.

Additionally, we will share more on why Singaporean companies not affected by this directive should comply with the regulation and consider mapping their supply chain in accordance. All this and also actionable insights for implementing an efficient process to manage supply chain ESG risks in this month’s report.

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Welcome to the June issue of BoardRoom's Think ESG Newsletter. This month we look at the evolving global ESG reporting landscape and what implications it has on Singaporean Companies.
 

Navigating the Evolving Global ESG Reporting Landscape

As the global focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting intensifies, companies worldwide are adapting to new and emerging standards. This trend is driven by major frameworks such as:

1. the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Integrated Framework
2. the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, and 
3. the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

These frameworks aim to create a unified approach to ESG reporting, ensuring that companies sustainability efforts are consistent, transparent, and comparable across different regions.

In Singapore, this evolving landscape poses both challenges and opportunities. The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has introduced mandatory climate-related reporting for listed companies, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has provided guidelines to help companies align with international standards. 

Companies must now navigate these local requirements while also considering global frameworks like the ISSB to ensure compliance and competitiveness.

The evolving ESG reporting landscape presents a complex but essential journey for Singaporean companies. Embracing these changes will not only ensure regulatory compliance but also position businesses as leaders in sustainability, driving long-term value and resilience in an increasingly scrutinised corporate environment.

Welcome to the May issue of BoardRoom's Think ESG Newsletter.

This edition, we shed light on the vital role that evidence-based Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data plays in driving meaningful change. We'll share more on how having an ESG sustainability reporting software can make an impact to your ESG initiatives and take it to the next level.

By harnessing the power of BoardRoom's ESG Access intuitive features on data collection, reporting and analytics, you'll be able to make informed decisions that not only benefit your business but also contribute to a more sustainable and responsible future. So, let's dive in and discover the incredible opportunities that await!

Our ESG expert, Tina Thomas, was recently featured in the May edition of the Global Supply Chain Magazine. In it, she joins Nitish Jain, a professor at the London School of Economics, to share more on the impacts that the ESG regulations in EU have on the rest of the world, with a focus on Malaysia. 

Click HERE to read the entire magazine.

Did you know that sustainability is rapidly gaining significance for consumers in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region? In fact, Nielsen's latest sustainability study reveals that 69% of global consumers consider sustainability more important than it was two years ago, with one in ten consumers actively prioritising eco-friendly brands.

With stricter regulations and growing consumer demands for accountability and transparency, it's crucial for companies to act now and adapt to the evolving sustainability landscape. This month we dive deep into the fascinating world of sustainability reporting across APAC, uncovering the adoption of International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) regulations and exploring all its implications. 

With businesses encouraged to shift to a more sustainable model, the adoption rate is still relatively low. To tackle this, the governments in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Australia are actively supporting businesses in their transition to a low-carbon and sustainable future by introducing initiatives in the form of ESG grants and incentives. 

While the specific offerings vary by country, these measures aim to foster a culture of sustainability among businesses and contribute to long-term environmental and social progress. Businesses operating in these regions are encouraged to leverage available resources and support to enhance their sustainability efforts and ESG reporting capabilities.

Our report this month details the essential grants and incentives that APAC businesses can leverage to enhance cost savings as they initiate their ESG journey.