Nature Is Our Life Support System: Key Takeaways from the Planetary Health Forum

What happens to nature ultimately happens to us. This was a central message of the Planetary Health Forum, “From Global Climate Evidence to Malaysia’s Strategic Action,” organised by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in collaboration with Climate Governance Malaysia (CGM) on 26 September 2026. Moderated by CGM Founder, Datin Seri Sunita Rajakumar, the forum brought together leading experts to explore how global climate evidence can inform action suited to Malaysia’s context, highlighting the interconnectedness of climate, nature, health and the economy and the need for more integrated solutions. 

Nature Is Our Life Support System

Professor Looi emphasised that environmental degradation directly affects human health and wellbeing, particularly in megadiverse Malaysia, where biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are vital. From disease outbreaks such as Nipah and COVID-19 to rising temperatures, heat stress and pollution, these risks highlight the need to prioritise prevention by addressing environmental drivers before they become health crises.

Rethinking How We Measure Value

Professor Mahendhiran described climate change as a systems challenge, with food, water, biodiversity, health and economic wellbeing deeply interconnected. He emphasised the need for Malaysia to move beyond a narrow focus on return on investment towards return on value, recognising economic, environmental and social outcomes together, particularly as crises such as COVID-19 have shown how environmental and health risks can quickly become economic risks. 

Sustainability Is Now a Business and Finance Issue

Dr Gary highlighted the importance of translating global climate evidence into the Malaysian context, noting that while Malaysia has extensive data on climate, biodiversity, rainfall and disasters, the key challenge is ensuring it informs decisions by businesses, financial institutions and policymakers. At the same time, international sustainability requirements and growing scrutiny of climate and nature-related risks are increasingly shaping market access, business decisions and financial resilience. Sustainability is therefore no longer simply a corporate social responsibility issue; it is increasingly a matter of market access, competitiveness and financial risk.

From Fragmentation to Systems Thinking

The panellists highlighted the need to move beyond fragmented approaches to sustainability, as policies and initiatives across ministries, agencies and sectors do not always operate as part of a wider system. Businesses, particularly SMEs, also face barriers such as cost pressures, limited understanding and skills gaps, underscoring the need for stronger collaboration between government, regulators, financial institutions and businesses to support action on cross-cutting challenges. 

Every Solution Has Trade-Offs

The panellists stressed that no solution is impact-free, calling for a full life-cycle approach that considers environmental impacts from raw material extraction through to use, recycling and disposal. This applies to technologies such as electric vehicles and AI, where benefits must be weighed against resource, energy and water demands, while circular economy approaches can help minimise unintended consequences. Professor Mahendhiran also highlighted the need for responsible energy and water management in new data centres, while Professor Looi emphasised that the “voice of the planet” should be considered alongside human and economic interests in policy and investment decisions. 

What This Means for Boards

For businesses and boards, the message was clear: environmental and social impacts are increasingly inseparable from business risk. Growing sustainability requirements, investor expectations, international market standards and financial-sector scrutiny mean companies must understand the impacts of their operations and supply chains, while boards look beyond short-term financial returns to consider natural systems, life-cycle impacts and the skills needed to navigate the transition. 

Turning Awareness Into Action

The forum highlighted that awareness alone does not necessarily lead to action. Effective climate communication should connect scientific evidence with people’s everyday experiences and values, with scientists engaging communities through schools, families, community and religious organisations, and direct experiences with nature. Ultimately, effective storytelling can help connect environmental challenges with their impacts on health, livelihoods and future generations. 

Looking Ahead

The forum reinforced the need for Malaysia to move from fragmented, sector-by-sector approaches towards integrated and evidence-based action, supported by cross-sector collaboration, responsible innovation and stronger public engagement. Recognising the interconnectedness of climate, nature, health and the economy is increasingly important for businesses and boards seeking to protect long-term resilience, competitiveness and value. Climate Governance Malaysia thanks the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, panellists and participants for the discussion and will continue bringing these connections into Malaysia’s boardrooms to support informed climate and nature-related decision-making. 

Disclaimer: This summary has been prepared by Climate Governance Malaysia (CGM) based on the event report provided by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM). If you have any questions, require clarification, or identify any information that may be unclear or inaccurate, please contact us at info@cgmalaysia.com.

Watch the full recording of the panel session here.