Leading law firm Baker McKenzie, and its Singapore member firm Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow, is proud to be a founding partner of the Singapore chapter of the Climate Governance Initiative ('Climate Governance Singapore'), which was formally launched today in a virtual ceremony.
Climate Governance Singapore's vision is to raise the awareness of boards of directors to the impact of climate change, embed climate considerations into board decisions and to equip all board members with the expertise to navigate the risks and realise the opportunities arising from climate change.
A memorandum of understanding between Climate Governance Singapore and Singapore Management University was exchanged by Ms Claire Chiang and Dr Rajiv Lall at the ceremony, and witnessed by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms. Grace Fu.
Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow Principal Wong Ai Ai, one of Baker McKenzie's leading global climate change advocates, has been appointed as one of the Climate Governance Initiative's founding Steering Committee members. The Committee is comprised of leaders from corporates across a range of sectors. She and her fellow committee members will be providing governance and direction, and are responsible for the management of Climate Governance Singapore.
"As a Firm with a 40 year presence in Singapore, we are proud to partner with Climate Governance Singapore at this crucial juncture in the country's sustainable development journey, including the development of policies and work streams that will help to meet the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Baker McKenzie has deep expertise in climate change law and climate finance developments; I look forward to bringing the full weight of this expertise and our global network to Climate Governance Singapore, and working with the esteemed panel Advisory Board and Steering Committee members, SMU, and the Singapore Institute of Directors," said Mrs Wong.
The Singapore chapter of the Climate Change Initiative is being launched ahead of next month's COP26. Baker McKenzie has a long-standing history of participation and involvement at COP events, and the Firm is currently engaged on multiple levels advising companies and other entities on the implementation of the Paris Agreement, emerging compliance and disclosure regimes and innovative approaches to carbon markets and climate finance transactions.
Andrew Martin, Managing Principal and M&A Co-Lead, Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow, said: "As an ASEAN hub, and home to many regional and global leadership teams, Singapore will play a key role in driving the climate response amongst corporates, financial institutions and professional services firms. We are already seeing sustainability and climate considerations playing a much more central role for our clients when engaging in M&A and capital markets activity, with many forward thinking corporates already preparing for the regulations to come."
Singapore Management University (SMU) will act as Climate Governance Singapore’s knowledge partner to curate and manage a content library of useful research, deliver training programmes, and organise regular events to improve the awareness and preparedness of the stakeholder community to better address the challenges of climate change. The Singapore Institute of Directors will be supporting Climate Governance Singapore as a key partner organization, to lead the advocacy and engagement efforts amongst directors in Singapore on climate change at the board level.
Globally, the Climate Governance Initiative is an expanding network with 15 national networks, including in the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany and Malaysia. These chapters promote the World Economic Forum’s Climate Governance Principles and support effective climate governance in their jurisdictions.
Additional information on Climate Governance Singapore
A group of advisory board members have been convened prior to the launch of Climate Governance Singapore. The advisory board members will draw on their influence and networks, and enable access to business and thought leaders, to support the advancement of Climate Governance Singapore. The advisory board members will also advise on policies, strategies and development plans, as well as to review the progress and achievements of Climate Governance Singapore. The advisory board members include:
• Tan Chuan-Jin – Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore
• Claire Chiang – Senior Vice President, Banyan Tree Holdings
• Koh Boon Hwee – Chairman, Altara Ventures Pte Ltd
• Lee Chee Koon – Group Chief Executive Officer, CapitaLand
• Loh Boon Chye – Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Exchange Ltd
• Wong Kee Joo – Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Singapore
• Philip Yuen – Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte Southeast Asia
A steering committee comprising leaders from corporates across a range of sectors will provide governance and direction, and are responsible for the management of Climate Governance Singapore. The members of the steering committee include:
• Wong Ai Ai – Principal, Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
• James Walton – Clients & Markets Leader, Deloitte Southeast Asia
• Frances Chen – Head of Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Singapore
• Shai Ganu – Managing Director, Global Leader – Executive Compensation, Willis Tower Watson and Member of Governing Council, Singapore Institute of Directors
• Renyung Ho – SVP, Brand HQ – Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts
• Jeremy Goon - Chief Sustainability Officer, Wilmar International
For more information on Climate Governance Singapore: https://climategovernancesg.org/