The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) is using its first Climate Adaptation and Resilience (A&R) Conference to spotlight the capital market’s role in mobilising public and private finance for the nation’s climate defences.
The conference brought together more than 400 participants from ministries, government agencies, financial institutions, climate experts, and academia to explore new pathways for adaptation financing.
Minister of Plantation and Commodities and Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani delivered the keynote address on the government’s approach to managing climate risks.
Sessions focused on enabling policies, science-based investment strategies, and innovative models to improve the bankability of adaptation projects.
Examples included coastal flood protection, biodiversity conservation, and urban heat resilience, with insights on tailoring global approaches for Malaysia.
The event is part of the SC’s Coastal Flooding Adaptation & Resilience (COFAR) initiative, which strengthens the capital market’s role in financing adaptation efforts.
Under COFAR, the SC partnered with ICAEW Malaysia, SD Guthrie, and SEADPRI-UKM for the COFAR University Challenge, engaging 220 students from 29 universities to design financially viable flood-resilience solutions for Carey Island.
The challenge reflects the SC’s commitment to fostering technical, financial, and collaborative innovation to tackle Malaysia’s climate challenges.
An exhibition titled The Rising Waters ran alongside the conference, highlighting the escalating impacts of floods, Malaysia’s flood history, projected climate scenarios, and the urgent need for sustainable financing.
SC Chairman Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi said,
“Unlike mitigation projects, many adaptation initiatives struggle to attract financing as their benefits are often long-term, localised and not easily monetised, yet it is essential to protect communities and economic resilience.
This can only succeed if we work with partners across government, business, and society to align resources and expertise to build resilience at scale. Sustainability is a core pillar of the upcoming Capital Market Masterplan 4 (CMP4), which will also explore how blended finance can mobilise capital for climate adaptation and resilience,” he said.
Featured image: Minister of Plantation and Commodities and Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani together with Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) Chairman Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi
