11 September 2025
The report outlines the Group’s tailored strategies for palm oil, forestry, power and oil & gas, addressing sector-specific nature risks and opportunities to promote nature-inclusive growth
Kuala Lumpur: CIMB Group Holdings Berhad (“CIMB Group” or “the Group”) has published its Nature and Biodiversity Report (“the Report”), a first among Malaysian banks. Titled Banking on Nature: Advancing Our Nature Journey, the Report underscores CIMB’s commitment to helping businesses understand the areas which may be exposed to nature-related financial risks, how they can mitigate these vulnerabilities and capture opportunities from nature-positive solutions. At the same time, the Report also outlines how CIMB is integrating nature considerations into its governance, risk management and financing practices to strengthen the Group’s overall resilience.
The Report focuses on four sectors most exposed to nature dependencies and impacts – palm oil, forestry, power and oil & gas. It examines risks ranging from physical and transition factors to reputational and liability exposures, while also highlighting sector-specific opportunities to build resilience and create long-term business value.
Novan Amirudin, Group Chief Executive Officer, CIMB Group, said, “CIMB is well-positioned to advance nature-linked financing that enhances food and water security, protects livelihoods, and accelerates ASEAN’s transition towards a low-carbon, nature-positive economy. 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, in line with CIMB’s purpose of Advancing Customers and Society.”
Luanne Sieh, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, CIMB Group said, “Nature loss is no longer just an environmental issue, it is 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 and insights gained from developing this Report, we aim to help our clients identify these risks early, mitigate them effectively, and unlock new sources of value. Our goal is to help clients map their dependencies, understand exposures, and identify opportunities that can protect business continuity and deliver long-term value to stakeholders.
Nature-related risks are quickly rising on the regulatory agenda. Bank Negara Malaysia has started a TNFD LEAP pilot with several financial institutions and corporates, underscoring that nature is increasingly regarded as a critical financial issue. This aligns closely with anticipated ISSB S3 disclosure requirements on biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services (BEES). By acting early, CIMB can help shape emerging standards while supporting our clients to better understand complex nature-related risks and position their businesses effectively.
The Report complements CIMB’s climate goals and highlights financing opportunities that enable a nature-positive economy. Malaysia’s rich natural capital, combined with growing investor and consumer demand for responsible production and resilient value chains, presents significant potential for innovative financing.
Key areas include sustainable land use, nature conservation, regenerative agriculture, mangrove restoration, sustainable forestry, and watershed protection, projects that are not only vital for ecosystem health but can also generate high-integrity carbon credits. These credits, representing verifiable emissions reductions, are increasingly sought after by both local and global buyers, with states like Sarawak and Sabah already shaping carbon market strategies around their forests.
Dato’ Abdul Rahman Ahmad, Group Chief Executive of Permodalan Nasional Berhad said “As a long-term investor, we see nature-related risks and opportunities as integral to portfolio resilience and returns. CIMB’s Report provides a practical framework for identifying and managing these factors, and we welcome initiatives that help investee companies embed nature considerations into their strategies.”
The publication of the Nature and Biodiversity Report positions CIMB among the first movers in ASEAN to translate global nature-related frameworks into practical financial sector application. It reflects the Group’s conviction that the financial system must evolve to account for natural capital, supporting a transition towards economies that are not only low-carbon but also nature-positive.
The full Nature and Biodiversity Report is available for download via CIMB’s microsite at https://www.cimb.com/nature-and-biodiversity
