Kuala Lumpur, 11 September 2025 – CIMB Group Holdings Berhad has become one of the first Malaysian banks to publish a dedicated Nature and Biodiversity Report, underscoring its leadership role in aligning financial services with ecological resilience.
The report, titled Banking on Nature: Advancing Our Nature Journey, signals a significant milestone for the financial sector, as it integrates nature considerations into governance, risk management, and financing practices. CIMB’s framework aims to guide businesses and investors in navigating nature-related financial risks while seizing opportunities in nature-positive solutions.
Addressing Nature-Linked Risks Across Sectors
The report zeroes in on four sectors most exposed to nature dependencies and impacts: palm oil, forestry, power, and oil & gas. These industries face risks ranging from physical threats such as resource depletion and climate volatility, to transition risks associated with regulatory changes, and even reputational and liability risks as global expectations for sustainable practices intensify.
At the same time, CIMB highlights opportunities across these sectors to embed resilience, build long-term value, and participate in a growing ecosystem of green finance. Projects such as regenerative agriculture, sustainable forestry, mangrove restoration, watershed protection, and nature conservation not only enhance biodiversity but also generate high-integrity carbon credits. Such credits—already in demand among both local and international buyers—are fast becoming an attractive revenue stream, with states like Sarawak and Sabah exploring strategies to leverage their vast forest resources.
Voices from Leadership
Novan Amirudin, Group Chief Executive Officer of CIMB, emphasised that the report reinforces the bank’s role in mobilising capital to support ASEAN’s transition towards a low-carbon, nature-positive economy.
“CIMB is well-positioned to advance nature-linked financing that enhances food and water security, protects livelihoods, and accelerates ASEAN’s transition. By framing nature as both a risk and an opportunity, CIMB underscores the catalytic role of banks in mobilising capital towards sustainable solutions. This approach aligns business growth with ecological resilience and supports a just transition that benefits communities across the region,” he said.
Echoing this view, Luanne Sieh, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, stressed that nature loss is increasingly a material financial risk.
“Businesses and communities that depend on stable rainfall, fertile soils and healthy forests are already feeling the consequences. With the learnings from this report, we aim to help our clients identify risks early, mitigate them effectively, and unlock new sources of value,” she noted. Sieh also pointed out that regulatory momentum is building—from Bank Negara Malaysia’s TNFD LEAP pilot to anticipated ISSB S3 disclosure requirements—making nature-related risk management an urgent priority for companies and financial institutions.
Meanwhile, Dato’ Abdul Rahman Ahmad, Group Chief Executive of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), welcomed CIMB’s initiative, noting that it provides a practical framework for long-term investors.
“As a long-term investor, we see nature-related risks and opportunities as integral to portfolio resilience and returns. This report provides a clear framework for investee companies to embed nature considerations into their strategies.”
Strategic Implications
By stepping ahead of the curve, CIMB positions itself not only as a regional banking leader but also as a standard-setter in sustainable finance. The bank’s proactive embrace of nature-related disclosures and risk management reflects a growing recognition that ecological degradation is not just an environmental concern but a systemic financial issue.
For investors, the report represents a new roadmap to align portfolios with emerging standards, safeguard continuity, and capture opportunities in the green economy. For corporates, it offers guidance to meet rising regulatory and stakeholder expectations while unlocking alternative revenue streams such as carbon credits.
