NCGS 2026 Day 1: Setting the Direction for Climate Governance

The first day of the National Climate Governance Summit (NCGS) 2026 brought together leaders from government, business, academia, civil society and the international community for a day of conversations on the challenges and opportunities shaping climate governance.

From the urgency of the climate and biodiversity crises to sustainability reporting, urban resilience, corporate climate risk, energy transition and international cooperation, Day 1 explored what stronger climate governance requires — and what it means for organisations, businesses and governments.

A Powerful Opening: People’s Emergency Briefing

NCGS 2026 opened with the Southeast Asia premiere of People’s Emergency Briefing, a documentary highlighting the urgency of the interconnected climate and biodiversity crises.

The screening encouraged participants to reflect on the scale of today’s environmental challenges and the importance of collective leadership, informed decision-making and immediate action. It also set the tone for the summit by reinforcing that climate change is not a future concern, but a present reality requiring coordinated responses across governments, businesses and communities.

Strengthening Sustainability Reporting and Corporate Governance

Opening the summit, Datuk Nor Azimah Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), reaffirmed SSM’s commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s sustainability reporting framework.

Her keynote highlighted proposed amendments to the Companies Act 2016, alongside practical guidance and capacity-building initiatives to help businesses strengthen corporate governance and sustainability reporting.

Following her keynote, CGM also recognised Datuk Nor Azimah for her leadership and continued contributions to advancing climate governance and sustainable business practices.

Business and Nature: Finding Common Ground

One of the standout conversations of Day 1 asked a fundamental question: Can business and nature thrive together?

The “Business vs Nature: Who Wins and When” panel brought together YB Hannah Yeoh, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), and Tan Boon Hua, President of Friends of Bukit Kiara, with Dato’ Tengku Marina as moderator.

Drawing from the Bukit Kiara experience, the discussion explored the realities of balancing urban development with environmental conservation. Creating a more liveable and climate-resilient Kuala Lumpur requires long-term planning and collaboration across government, developers and local communities, while taking existing policies, contracts and budgetary constraints into account.

The session reinforced an important message: sustainable development should not be about choosing between business and nature, but about creating the conditions for both to flourish through responsible governance and collaborative action.

Making Climate Risk a Boardroom Priority

The conversation then turned to the role of business leaders and boards in responding to long-term climate risks.

Dato’ Rizal Rickman Ramli, President & Group Chief Executive of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), challenged business leaders to consider whether boards are truly prepared for the climate risks ahead.

He emphasised that climate risk should no longer be treated as a sustainability issue alone, but as a core business and governance priority. Boards need to consider both physical and transition climate risks within enterprise risk management, while also supporting SMEs across their value chains with practical transition pathways.

The discussion highlighted that effective climate governance goes beyond setting net-zero targets. It requires board accountability, strategic oversight and decisive action to build resilient businesses for the future.

Accelerating Malaysia’s Energy Transition

Another key discussion focused on a pressing question: How can Malaysia accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels while ensuring a fair and practical pathway towards a low-carbon future?

The conversation featured Prof. Dr. Jomo Kwame Sundaram, H.E. Jacques Werner, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Malaysia, and Juan Carlos Moreno Gutierrez, and was moderated by Dr. Gary Theseira, Chair of Council, Climate Governance Malaysia.

Drawing on the Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) initiative and lessons from the Santa Marta Summit, the discussion explored how climate ambitions can move towards implementation through national action, financing and international collaboration.

Prof. Jomo highlighted the need for bold policy reforms to address Malaysia’s long-standing dependence on fossil fuels while unlocking the country’s renewable energy potential. He also pointed to Malaysia’s position as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of solar photovoltaic panels and the opportunity to increase domestic deployment.

H.E. Jacques Werner shared the Netherlands’ experience in renewable energy and emphasised the importance of international cooperation in accelerating practical climate solutions.

Climate Resilience Beyond Borders

Day 1 also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing climate challenges that extend beyond national borders.

In his keynote, H.E. Dr. Nevzat Uyanık, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Malaysia, highlighted how climate risks — from extreme weather events to supply chain disruptions — require stronger diplomatic partnerships and coordinated global action.

He emphasised the value of cross-border technology transfer, sustainable trade and knowledge sharing to accelerate clean energy adoption and climate adaptation. He also called for greater alignment between trade policies and sustainability standards to strengthen resilient supply chains and support long-term economic stability.

Continuing the Conversation

Beyond these key sessions, Day 1 featured discussions with a diverse group of speakers, including Professor Tan Sri Jemilah Mahmood, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, YM Raja Azlan Shah, Charlotte Wolff-Bye, Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan and Lim Wei Jiet, among others. Their contributions added further perspectives on climate governance, biodiversity, climate litigation, sustainable development and responsible leadership.

Explore Day 2 Recap

Visit NCGS 2026 websiteVisit NCGS 2026 Recording

Session Slides