Penang Green Summit to address climate change

Billed as one of the largest gathering of green conservationists and stakeholders, Penang Green Summit under the auspicious of the Penang Green Council (PGC), aims to educate the masses about how to cope with climate change.

Former state executive councillor Datuk Seri Phee Boon Poh sees climate change more as a climate emergency which needs pro – active action now rather than later.

His concerns steamed from the how climate change has begun to bite into the lifestyle of the average person here from flooding due to extreme rainfall.

There is also rising temperatures with record heat waves detected for the past several months where last year, the earth recorded its warmest year globally, marked by an average near-surface temperature that was significantly higher than the pre – industrial era.

Penang has experienced prolonged droughts which has led to the water supply being compromised – there were instances of supply interruption and the state needed political intervention to import the precious commodity from Perak.

Hence, PGC’s move to host a mega green summit, which is held at the Penang Waterfront Convention Center (PWCC) near the Penang Bridge.

The two day summit that is scheduled to kick off on 31 Oct 2025 is believed to be the first major event to be held at the newly completed PWCC.

Objectives

PGC is inviting all companies from both the public and private sectors, regardless if they have already embarked on sustainability efforts or not, as the challenges and adaption ahead impacts everyone both in the regional and global context.

Among the objectives, is to produce a local action plan for the global goals of the environmental social governance (ESG) standards, which are crucial and compulsory for the private sector in coping with the climate emergency.

To empower the youth to be part of the collaborative efforts to adapt with the new age of climate unpredictability.

PGC shared that Malaysia aims for a net – zero carbon emission by 2050; Penang is leading in the ESG adoption, especially in industry and energy and that sustainability is positioned as a business opportunity, not just compliance.

It is also hopes to highlight the Penang Green Industry Programme (PGIP) – Launched 2022, it supports industries, especially small medium enterprises (SMEs) to align with ESG principles by providing training and assessments.

It also helps manufacturers benchmark readiness.

PGC also hopes to prepare Penang’s industrial ecosystem for carbon accounting, green financing, and global supply chain requirements.

And to offer a Penang Energy Framework for energy transition in industry and buildings, especially in harnessing green energy alternatives such as solar power.

Such initiatives are proven to improve air quality and in turn better public health when the intake of cleaner air prevents contamination in the body.

PGC wants to build on the momentum it has transplanted on ESG by helping the private sector to tap the potential available in green financing – ESG-linked loans, sukuk, impact investments for SMEs.

There is also a need for industries to understand compliance and transparency by producing stronger sustainability reporting & disclosures.

Penang’s public and private sectors are also been groomed to undertake more regional leadership as the state aligns itself as a ESG compliant manufacturing hub in the Southeast Asia region.

Themes and goals

PGC hopes to achieve the following in the summit:

– A global platform for knowledge – sharing, business networking and collaboration.

– Showcases various sustainability success stories.

– Position Penang as a regional leader in sustainable growth.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is scheduled to launch the summit, will also highlight that Penang’s leadership in demonstrating local action with global vision.

“With the theme Moving Towards Sustainable Energy, this summit is more than just a continuation as it’s an evolution. We are living in a time of climate emergency. Penang will not wait. We are stepping up,” Chow said in a recent media preview.

“ESG transformation is happening, and Penang is ready to lead,” said PGC general manger Josephine Tan.

“We have a model for sustainable industrialisation and energy transition at the sub-national level,” said Tan, who hopes to showcase the various initiatives at the event.

There are a few exceptional success stories to share too – among them the major tree replanting campaigns undertaken by both the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and its Prai counterpart – MBSP.