Kuala lumpur: Sustainable finance and investment are critical for accelerating the sustainability transition by addressing Scope 3 emissions, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. "Ambition without funding remains simply intention. Capital, when directed with purpose, becomes an accelerant," he said in his keynote address at the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei (UNGCMYB) Members Celebration Night 2026.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abang Johari emphasized the challenges in addressing Scope 3 emissions, which refer to indirect greenhouse gas emissions generated across a company's value chain, excluding emissions from purchased electricity. He highlighted the need for collaboration beyond organizational boundaries, stating, "The winners here are doing the hard work of engaging suppliers, supporting small and medium enterprises, and raising standards across entire value chains."

The Premier, who received the Sustainability Visionary Award at the event, noted that sustainability does not advance on vision alone. "It requires an enabling ecosystem, clear policies, credible frameworks, patient incentives, and institutions that understand how to bridge ambition with execution," he said.

In Sarawak, much of the work in sustainability has been carried out by the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability. Abang Johari praised the ministry's role, saying, "Through policy coherence, long-term planning, and close engagement with industry, the ministry has played a critical role in translating sustainability from aspiration into implementation."

The UNGCMYB Members Celebration Night 2026 is an annual event recognizing sustainability leadership across enterprises and individuals. It highlights organizations and leaders that have translated sustainability commitments into credible, measurable action aligned with Malaysia's development priorities.