By Prof Ir Dr Mohd Nasir Taib Co – General Chair MAPAN ESG Industry & Academic Summit 2026

The MAPAN ESG Industry & Academic Summit 2026, organised by the Malaysian Association of Public Advocacy for Nature( MAPAN), is timed to coincide with Malaysia ' s transition from voluntary sustainability reporting to a structured regime under the National Sustainability Reporting Framework( NSRF) and international standards such as IFRS and the ISSB.

For Bursa‐listed PLCs, GLCs and their supply chains, the next few years will determine who secures capital, customers and talent. Yet, as MAPAN’ s Patron, Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dato ' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, recently reminded the organising committee, the ESG conversation in Malaysia cannot simply copy‐paste Western narratives.

Our development history, social fabric and economic structure are distinct. ESG must be re-grounded in Malaysian realities, led by our own academicians and practitioners, and anchored in the wellbeing of the people who drive real change on the ground.

The two‐day summit is anchored by five strategic ESG plenary themes that together

“ How companies can move beyond compliance to leverage sustainable finance for growth and risk management."

offer a 360‐degree view of the transition ahead.

First, Green Financing explores how banks, investors, halal finance and carbon markets are reshaping capital access for ESG‐aligned businesses, and how companies can move beyond compliance to leverage sustainable finance for growth and risk management.

Climate Disclosures examines what NSRF‐aligned reporting looks like in practice, linking energy efficiency, carbon accounting and Scope 1 – 3 emissions to board oversight, legal exposure and investor expectations.

ESG Innovation showcases new business models in urban farming, sustainable tourism, and community‐based initiatives that transform ESG from a cost centre into a competitive advantage and social impact.

Supply Chain Integration addresses the practical realities of involving MSMEs and suppliers in the ESG journey, especially around Scope 3 emissions and customer ESG requirements in regional and global value chains.

The fifth, Circular Economy covers waste‐to‐wealth models, defossilisation, smart cities and low‐carbon townships – strategies that can reduce risk while opening new revenue streams.

Alongside the plenaries, delegates can participate in: Theory‐to‐Practice Case Labs where agencies and companies share real projects on low‐carbon MSMEs, just transition, smart warehouses, cold‐chain decarbonisation, information management and EV logistics.

The MAPAN ESG Impact Innovation Challenge will showcase solutions from startups, SMEs and corporate teams in green finance, climate risk and circular economy.

Exposure tours to selected state‐of‐the‐art facilities – including distribution centres, record management centres, integrated logistics hubs and eco‐featured manufacturing plants – to see decarbonisation and digitalisation at work on the ground.

A distinctive feature of the MAPAN summit

is its human‐first perspective. The Patron has repeatedly emphasised that sustainable development must begin with people – their health, dignity and capacity to live meaningful lives within planetary boundaries.

Reflecting this, a private hospital is supporting a wellness‐in‐ESG segment featuring a cardiology‐led perspective on sustainable workforce performance, reminding participants that health is the foundation of ESG, not an afterthought.

Discussions inspired by Indonesia and Bhutan will explore how community-centred models and concepts such as“ sustainable happiness” can shape Malaysia’ s ESG path.

As the patron emphasised, Malaysian ESG should not be driven solely by external agendas or metrics that do not fit our realities. The summit aims to nurture a home‐grown ESG narrative – rigorous, inclusive and fair – that protects our people and environment while enabling genuine prosperity.

Led by a scientific committee of senior professors from Malaysian universities and international partners, the summit features a global Call for Academic and Industry Papers.

Accepted papers will be included in the MAPAN 2026 Conference Proceedings( eISBN), with selected high‐quality papers invited to extended versions in edited book volumes.

Outstanding papers may be nominated for submission to partner Scopus‐indexed journals. For Malaysian academics balancing institutional KPI requirements with a real‐world impact, the summit offers a dual value proposition: publication pathways and direct engagement with regulators, financiers and industry partners implementing ESG.

The two‐day programme is HRDF claimable for eligible Malaysian employers, with packages for physical and online participation. C‐suite leaders, sustainability teams, finance and risk officers, supply‐chain managers, academics, researchers, and students are expected to attend, creating a rare cross‐sector networking opportunity. – @ green

Dr. Ts Lee Ching Hao

Prof. Dr. Haswira Nor Mohamad

Prof. Datin Dr. Rusni Hassan

Nabiha Nazli Vern Chong Sam Au Choon Wai Dr. Sri Sivasankari

Prof. Dr. Rozainun Abdul Aziz