THE ORGANISERS of the inaugural Penang Green Summit are looking to educate stakeholders on effective ways to mitigate climate change by improving access to sustainable measures and alternative energy sources.
Billed as one of the largest gatherings of green industry players and conservationists, the summit under the auspicious of the Penang Green Council (PGC), is aimed at educating the masses about how to cope with climate change.
Former state executive councillor Datuk Seri Phee Boon Poh sees climate change more as an emergency which needs pro-active action now rather than later.
His concerns stem from how climate change has began to bite into the lifestyle of the average person from flooding due to extreme rainfall.
There is also rising temperatures with record heat waves detected for the past several months with last year being the warmest with significantly higher temperatures recorded.
Penang has experienced prolonged droughts which has led compromised water supply while there were instances of supply interruption and the need for political intervention to import water from Perak.
This strongly warrants PGC's move to host a mega green summit, which is held at the Penang Waterfront Convention Center (PWCC) near the Penang Bridge.
It is believed to be the first major event to be held at the newly completed PWCC.
PGC is inviting all companies from both the public and private sectors 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 global goals of environmental social governance (ESG) standards, which are crucial and compulsory for the private sector in coping with the climate emergency.
PGC shared that Malaysia aims for net-zero carbon emission by 2050; Penang is leading in the ESG adoption, especially in industry and energy and has positioned sustainability as a business opportunity, not just compliance.
It is also hoping 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.
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 being groomed to undertake more regional leadership as the state aligns itself as an ESG compliant manufacturing hub in the Southeast Asia region.
PGC hopes to achieve the following in the summit from October 31 till November 1.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is scheduled to launch the summit, will also highlight 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 here. - August 23, 2025.
