15/07/2026

ESG WEDNESDAY | JULY 15, 2026

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CIMB unveils Greenhouse Gas Advisory Service

Sustainable finance moves into the mainstream PETALING JAYA: Sustainable finance is becoming increasingly mainstream in the banking sector, as rising demand for electric vehicles (EVs), green homes and other low carbon investments prompts financial institutions to broaden their financing and investment offerings. The trend is particularly evident in Southeast Asia’s EV market. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric car sales in Malaysia doubled in 2025, while Indonesia’s sales more than doubled year-on-year, reflecting rising consumer adoption of lower-carbon transport and growing demand for financing solutions that support the energy transition. For the Maybank Group, the shift has reinforced its confidence to significantly expand its sustainable finance ambitions for the next five years. Group chief sustainability officer Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin said the bank has committed to mobilise RM300 billion (US$73 billion) in sustainable finance across Asean between 2026 and 2030, with implementation remaining on track less than six months after the programme was launched. “We are not even in the first six months of implementation, but we are on track,” he told Bernama on the sidelines of the inaugural Maybank Indonesia Sustainable Finance Forum 2026 in Jakarta. Shahril said the stronger-than-expected demand was evident in the group’s previous five-year commitment, under which it mobilised RM176 billion in sustainable finance by the end of 2025, more than doubling its original RM80 billion target announced in 2021. “We know there’s demand. In the past, people used to think there was a liquidity issue. There’s no liquidity issue. Banks are more than happy to support sustainability and sustainable financing,” he said. In Malaysia, the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry increased the residential quota under the Net Energy Metering (NEM) Rakyat programme by 100 megawatts in May 2025 after the existing allocation was fully subscribed, enabling more households to install rooftop solar photovoltaic systems. Shahril said the changing demand has also broadened the scope of sustainable finance beyond traditional green projects, with Maybank’s Sustainable Product Framework now covering transition finance, EV financing, green homes, green mortgages, social finance and green bonds. He said the transformation has also changed the role of banks, with relationship managers now expected to guide clients through climate and sustainability issues rather than simply arrange financing. “In the early days, the challenge was often how relationship managers communicated with clients, as they needed to be able to offer solutions. It’s not just ‘take this’. You must be able to explain the effects of climate change and the social impacts of a project,” he said. He said Maybank had invested heavily in capacity-building programmes and sustain ability certification for relationship managers, strengthening the group’s con fidence in its ability to deliver the ex-panded commitment. The broader trend is also reflected in Indonesia, where Maybank Indonesia mobilised about Rp17 trillion in sustainable financing under the group’s previous 2021-2025 com mitment. – Bernama

installations as well as circular economy practices. These measures help to lower operational costs, improve productivity and strengthen competitiveness, while lowering emissions. Customers may opt to undertake identified improvements with one of CIMB’s GreenBizReady associates, and can finance the initiatives through Sustainability Linked Financing (SLF), where customers who achieve pre-determined GHG emission reduction targets could enjoy financing rebates of up to 0.50% per annum, making the climate transition both achievable and commercially beneficial. SLF is a flexible financing solution where the cost of financing is linked to a company’s sustainability performance. While SLF are typically only offered to larger corporates due to their bespoke nature, CIMB aims to extend SLF benefits to SMEs and MTCs through the Advisory Service under the GreenBizReady proposition. The Bank has committed a total allocation of RM3 billion until 2030 for the SLF programme, with the aim to create a more inclusive and accessible sustainable finance landscape. By integrating advisory support, decarbonisation solutions and financing incentives under GreenBizReady, CIMB enables smaller companies to advance from awareness to implementation, strengthening long-term business resilience. portfolio and reflects the enhancement of a 10-year-old asset through improvements in energy management, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and responsible building operations. Conferred by GreenRE, the certification recognises buildings with strong environmental performance across key sustainability pillars, including energy The Asindoor environmental quality. At The Ascent, these efforts included energy management policies and a medium-term energy-saving plan, LED lighting upgrades in common areas, energy-efficient lift operations, indoor air quality audits and management in compliance with requirements set by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), as well as water monitoring through sub-metering systems. Recycling and waste segregation facilities were also put in place, while naturally ventilated elevated car parks and office spaces designed to maximise external views contribute to greater energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and well-being. The recognition reflects WCT Holdings Bhd’s broader commitment to sustainable development across its property portfolio. It also aligns with the country’s sustainability agenda under the 12th Malaysia Plan, which sets the nation’s aspiration to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. As businesses place greater emphasis on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices, green-certified office buildings are becoming more important for organisations seeking environmentally responsible workplaces.

data, to enable the corporate to meet their own disclosure requirements. Recognising that SMEs and MTCs are now required to act but may need the expertise and resources to begin, CIMB’s GHG Advisory, structured based on NSRF, aims to help them prepare to meet these increasing regulatory and supply-chain expectations. CIMB Group co-CEO of Group commercial banking Ahmad Shazli Kamarulzaman said: “We recognise that while many businesses need to start measuring their carbon emissions, technical complexity and compliance costs often present a barrier. “Our GHG Advisory Service aims to simplify this process by translating complex climate and emissions requirements into practical, business-focused actions with sectorspecific guidance and tools to measure and manage their carbon footprint. “We can help businesses to identify operational improvements and opportunities that support decarbonisation, cost savings and business growth, including protecting against shocks such as escalating fuel and energy prices due to geopolitical uncertainty such as the Iran war. “In line with our Forward30 strategy, we are committed to making the low carbon transition more accessible and actionable for businesses, while empowering them to build long-term resilience and competitiveness.” Adopting a cost-first approach, CIMB’s team of experts help to identify practical solutions with strong commercial outcomes, including energy-efficiency solutions, operational optimisation, solar power and battery

KUALA LUMPUR: CIMB Bank Bhd and CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd launched its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Advisory Service, a new offering under the multiple award-winning GreenBizReady proposition. The Advisory Service is designed to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and mid tier companies (MTCs) kickstart and advance in their decarbonisation journey, while meeting regulatory and supply chain requirements, in a practical, business focused manner. Malaysia’s National Sustainability Reporting Framework (NSRF) mandates all listed and non-listed companies with annual revenue of RM2 billion and above to adopt climate related disclosures, including Scope 3 emissions from their supply chains (e.g. SMEs). Additionally, the Companies Commission of Malaysia’s (SSM) recently published a Consultative Document, proposing mandatory GHG Scope 1 and 2 disclosure requirements for non-listed companies, including those with annual revenue exceeding RM15 million. As such, regardless of whether SMEs are required to publicly disclose their emissions, those within the supply chains of larger corporates will be asked to provide emissions o Bank aims to help SMEs and mid-tier firms accelerate decarbonisation journey

This supports the Bank’s target of mobilising RM300 billion in sustainable finance by 2030 while expanding its advisory, carbon and nature finance offerings. The Ascent, Paradigm PJ achieves GreenRE Gold certification

PETALING JAYA: The Ascent, Paradigm PJ, a 32 storey Grade-A corporate office tower developed and managed by WCT Land Sdn Bhd, the property development, investment and management division of WCT Holdings

Bhd, has been awarded the GreenRE Gold certification under the Non-Residential Building category in early 2026. The recognition marks a significant sustainability milestone for WCT’s office

GreenRE Sdn Bhd executive director Ashwin Thurairajah presents the certification to WCT Holdings chief operating officer - property development Chong Wah Hing.

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