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2nd Singapore Green Dialogue (SGD) — Sustainability in a Fragmented World
The global sustainability agenda is entering a new and uncertain phase, shaped by growing fragmentation in international cooperation. Global consensus is weakening, momentum behind multilateral climate efforts has slowed, and major powers are adopting more inward-looking policies. Efforts to sign a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution have thus far failed. ESG considerations are now being politicised, with pushback from countries and businesses. COP30 in Belém illustrated what climate action now looks like: negotiators landed a deal that kept the Paris framework alive, but only by softening ambition and deferring hard choices to future meetings.
For ASEAN and Asian economies, this raises a difficult question: what does climate ambition on mitigation and adaptation mean when major emitters and fossil fuel economies are not pulling their weight? ASEAN’s aggregate contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions remains modest, yet the region sits at the frontline of climate impacts. Coastal cities, low-lying deltas and island states are already grappling with frequent floods, rising sea levels, and extreme heat. Three tropical storms in the last months of 2025 have displaced millions across Southeast Asia and claimed over 1,000 lives. Climate adaptation and resilience is urgently needed, along with the right economic choices to lock in development trajectories in the years to come.
The burden—and opportunity—of practical climate leadership is shifting towards Asia. Singapore’s role as a regional hub for policy dialogue, sustainable finance and climate innovation is more important than ever. The 2nd Singapore Green Dialogue will bring together policymakers, corporate leaders, investors and experts to address these tensions: how countries and companies should define meaningful climate action; how to prioritise resilience without locking in high-carbon pathways; and how Asian businesses can stay competitive amid diverging standards in the US, EU and beyond. By convening diverse voices from government, industry, finance and academia, the Dialogue aims to chart practical, actionable pathways for ASEAN and its partners to advance sustainability in a more fragmented global order.
Programme
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Time |
Programme |
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08:30am – 09:00am |
Registration |
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09:00am – 09:10am |
Welcome Remarks By Mr. Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) |
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09:10am – 09:55am |
Keynote Dialogue: Sustaining Commitments in a Turbulent World
Speaker: Dr. Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Republic of Singapore Moderator: Mr. Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) |
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09:55am – 10:55am |
Panel 1: The Cost of Compliance – Sustainability versus Competitiveness? How can businesses in Singapore and ASEAN maintain sustainability goals and build resilience while managing rising costs? Companies must increasingly contend with different regulations and buyer expectations across markets, with some countries continuing to prioritise ESG considerations while others do not. The European Union is continuing to push forward with frameworks such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). While some companies are working to comply with new EU regulations and maintain market access, others are looking to do more business with markets that have softer rules. This session explores how firms are balancing ambition with affordability, how businesses view evolving EU and other international standards, and whether efforts within ASEAN countries such as carbon taxes enhance or constrain competitiveness.
Panel Keynote: Ms. Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited (CDL) Panellists:
Moderator:
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10:55am – 11:25am |
Break |
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11:25am – 12:10pm |
Keynote Dialogue: ASEAN-Asia Climate Cooperation – Regional Leadership, Global Impact
Speaker: Dr. Bambang Brodjonegoro, Dean and CEO, Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) Moderator: Mr. Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) |
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12:10pm – 1:10pm |
Panel 2: Finding Climate Momentum – Progress, Gaps, Opportunities With global or multilateral consensus on climate action becoming increasingly uncertain, can the ASEAN region and other partner countries sustain climate ambition on their own? This session takes a long-term, strategic view of ASEAN and Asia’s climate leadership in a time of fragmentation, exploring what the region’s climate mitigation and adaptation priorities should be. The region sits at a crossroads — highly vulnerable to climate impacts yet still economically dependent on fossil fuels — and must now take greater ownership to maintain long-term momentum, strengthen collaboration, and define its own climate narrative.
Panellists:
Moderator: Ms. Cheryl Chen, President, S&P Global Foundation, and Council Member, SIIA |
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1:10pm – 1:20pm |
Closing Remarks By Mr. Simon Tay, Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) |
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1:20pm – 2:30pm |
Networking Buffet Lunch |
Registration
Thank you for your interest in our event. The registration has been closed. Should you have any queries, please reach out to events@siiaonline.org.
