Sunway Group and EU partner to drive sustainability initiative

In a landmark collaboration aimed at addressing the urgent challenges of climate change, Sunway Group and the Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia have entered into a strategic partnership to advance a wide range of sustainability initiatives. This significant alliance underscores the commitment of both entities to drive progress towards a net-zero future. The partnership, formalized through a Letter of Intent signed by Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia Chargé d’affaires a.i Timo Goosmann and Sunway Group executive director of chairman’s office Ong Pang Yen, was witnessed at a ceremony in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur.

The European Union, represented by Timo Goosmann, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the EU’s dedication to promoting sustainable practices globally. “The European Union is glad to partner with Sunway Group to raise awareness on sustainable practices in Malaysia. The EU has worked diligently to ensure that environmental sustainability becomes a common vision. At home, the EU has adopted the European Climate Law, which defines that Europe’s economy and society must become climate neutral by 2050,” Goosmann stated.

Commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals

Sunway Group’s Ong Pang Yen emphasized the alignment of this partnership with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG), particularly UN-SDG 17, which focuses on “Partnership for the Goals.” He remarked, “The partnership between the EU and Sunway reflects the spirit and importance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We look forward to working with the EU and its Member States to do as much as we can in making meaningful and purposeful progress towards achieving as many of the UN-SDGs as possible here in Malaysia and throughout the region.”

The strategic partnership aims to leverage mutual strengths, shared knowledge, and funding to foster a more sustainable and greener future. It will focus on various areas, including capacity building and joint initiatives that promote sustainable development.

Sunway’s Ongoing Sustainability Efforts

Since pledging to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 three years ago, Sunway has implemented several pioneering carbon reduction initiatives. These include the introduction of an internal carbon pricing strategy across all its business divisions, positioning Sunway among the first in Asia to adopt such a measure. Additionally, Sunway has launched a unique green lease partnership program through its Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) arm, promoting sustainable practices among tenants and lessors.

This year, Sunway is spearheading an innovative initiative to combat urban poverty through the Desa Mentari Community Observatory project. This project, involving a multi-sector team from the private sector, civil society, and educational institutions, aims to design a holistic and data-driven approach to improve the quality of life for residents in Desa Mentari, a public housing scheme in Subang Jaya home to nearly 30,000 people.

The EU, on its part, continues to collaborate with various Malaysian organizations to address climate change and environmental degradation. Its initiatives include supporting wildlife conservation, developing smart cities, and promoting sustainable business practices.

As Sunway and the EU embark on this strategic partnership, the focus remains on creating a sustainable future that aligns with global goals and addresses local challenges effectively. This collaboration is expected to set a benchmark for future sustainability initiatives in the region and beyond.