Singapore

2026

Igniting capital, powering progress

September 10, 2026

Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre

Synopsis

Asia Pacific is a vital engine for the global economy, having contributed 60 per cent of global GDP over the past decade. However, this has come with increased emissions and profound imbalances, with climate change heightening vulnerability and multiplying disaster risks.  

‍

The region is thus contending with a ‘triple crisis’ as it has to manage climate impacts while contending with escalating debt and biodiversity loss, according to a recent report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. 

‍

In response, countries have stepped up commitments to climate action through improved Nationally Determined Contributions. Yet many in Asia need to move beyond ambitious target-setting to implementation of those plans, underpinned by credible financial and investment drivers, while countering the global trend of market recalibrating – and in some cases backpedalling – on climate commitments.

‍

This will require directing capital towards long-term climate adaptation and disaster resilience, while addressing emerging risks from nature loss, waste and water and food security.  At the same time, mitigating emissions through a coal phase-out and renewable energy expansion must continue.

‍

Strengthening governance for artificial intelligence, climate technology and digital economy adoption is also paramount, as policymakers and innovators increasingly rely on them to inspire sustainable solutions.

‍

Now in its ninth year, our flagship Unlocking capital for sustainability  summit will convene leaders from government, finance and industry to chart robust and resilient pathways for the region and the world.  

‍

Hosted by Eco-Business and UNEP FI, Asia’s premier sustainable finance forum will span six locations – Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore – focusing on implementation and the partnerships needed to accelerate this urgent transition. 

‍

Note: All Unlocking capital for sustainability Singapore sessions will be held at Level 3, Lab 12, Nicoll 1 unless otherwise indicated.

What we're talking about

Key Speakers

Jeffrey Siow

Minister for Transport, Second Minister for Finance, Singapore

Speaking on:

Jeffrey Siow

Minister for Transport, Second Minister for Finance, Singapore

Speakers

Jessica Cheam

Founder and CEO, Eco-Business

Cheam

Speaking on:

Meaghan See

Chief Commercial Officer, Eco-Business

See

Speaking on:

Jeffrey Siow

Minister for Transport, Second Minister for Finance, Singapore

Siow

Speaking on:

Edward Vrkić

Resident Representative, UNDP Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam

Vrkić

Speaking on:

Melissa Moi

Head of Sustainable Business, Group Corporate Sustainability Office, UOB

Moi

Speaking on:

Esther An

Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited

Speaking on:

Jackie Surtani

Regional Director, Singapore, Asian Development Bank

Surtani

Speaking on:

sort

Agenda

7:30

Breakfast briefing in partnership with Stockholm Environment Institute (invite only)

Registration: 7.30am - 8.00am

Programme: 8.00am - 9.00am

‍

Speakers

Moderators

8:30

Registration

Registration for Unlocking capital for sustainability is at Level 3 UCFS Conference room – Lab 12, Nicoll 1.

‍

Delegates must register at the IMPACT WEEK counter before going to the Unlocking capital for sustainability Singapore registration area. Each delegate will have two badges: one for IMPACT WEEK and one for Unlocking capital for sustainability Singapore.

Speakers

Moderators

9:30

Welcome remarks

Speakers

Moderators

9:45

Opening keynote address

Speakers

Edward Vrkić

Resident Representative, UNDP Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam

Moderators

10:00

Opening plenary – Financing adaptation and resilience: Closing Asia Pacific's investment gap

Asia Pacific generates around 60% of global GDP, yet disaster- and climate-related losses are rising faster than the capital flowing to prevent them, with adaptation and resilience still the most underfunded pillar of climate finance. What will it take to mobilise private and blended capital at the scale and speed needed to protect the region’s economies, infrastructure and communities?

‍

This opening plenary convenes leaders from finance, insurance and development institutions to unpack how adaptation can be structured as a bankable asset class, with clear value, risk reduction and return profiles. The discussion will explore the role of blended finance and risk-sharing instruments in de-risking early investment, and how development banks and institutional investors can better align incentives around resilient infrastructure.

‍

Water security will be used as a sharp case study, spotlighting investment models for resilient water systems – from flood protection and storage to smarter distribution and reuse – and what it takes to turn these resilience needs into scalable, investable opportunities across Asia Pacific.

Speakers

Melissa Moi

Head of Sustainable Business, Group Corporate Sustainability Office, UOB

Jackie Surtani

Regional Director, Singapore, Asian Development Bank

Moderators

10:45

Pricing the unpriced: Nature risk in Asia's capital markets

Nature loss is rapidly emerging as a material financial risk, yet capital markets and risk frameworks are still largely calibrated to carbon alone. Nature-dependent sectors across Southeast Asia now face mounting pressure on forests, coastlines and water systems, exposing banks and investors to physical, transition and liability risks that are not yet fully priced in. At the same time, expectations are rising – from TNFD adoption to evolving green and nature taxonomies – faster than the pipeline of investable, bankable nature-positive projects.

‍

This plenary convenes regional banks, institutional investors and nature-finance innovators to discuss practical steps to integrate biodiversity and ecosystem risk into credit, underwriting and portfolio decisions, and how that can reshape capital allocation across high-impact sectors. What do financial institutions actually need – in data, instruments and policy signals – to move nature from a disclosure and reporting obligation to a core investment thesis?

Speakers

Esther An

Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited

Moderators

11:30

Tea break

Speakers

Moderators

11:45

Plenary debate – This house believes the real failure in climate-health is policy paralysis, not corporate inaction

Climate-health impacts are often framed as a future risk, but for many communities and businesses they are already a present-day governance failure. Rising heat, extreme weather, poor air quality, and disease exposure are placing growing pressure on workers, residents, infrastructure, and local economies, yet the question remains: who is actually responsible for acting? The motion explores how companies are responding – and whether governments are doing enough to set the rules, standards, and protections needed for meaningful resilience.

Speakers

Moderators

12:30

In focus: Rethinking governance in an era of disruption

In an era defined by geopolitical uncertainty, market volatility and societal division, leadership is increasingly about creating clarity amid fragmentation. This board-focused discussion will explore how leaders can hold organisations together when external pressures are pulling them in different directions, from shifting stakeholder expectations and fractured supply chains to competing priorities across markets and teams.

‍

Thought leaders will examine what effective leadership looks like when consensus is harder to build and decisions carry wider strategic consequences and what leadership capabilities are needed to sustain performance, credibility and direction in an increasingly divided world.

Speakers

Moderators

13:00

Networking lunch

Speakers

Moderators

13:30

The Broken Substrate: A Power Chat on What Happened to Money and Who is Designing What Comes Next?

Note: This panel will take place at the main IMPACT WEEK stage at Level 4.

Speakers

Moderators

14:45

Ministerial fireside chat – Leading the transition in a fragmented world

Note: This session will take place at Forum 1.

‍

Speakers

Jeffrey Siow

Minister for Transport, Second Minister for Finance, Singapore

Moderators

Jessica Cheam

Founder and CEO, Eco-Business