The Sustainability Summit Asia 2018 | The Economist | 15 November 2018 | Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, Persiaran Lagoon, Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

The Sustainability Summit Asia 2018 will convene scientists, business leaders, government and NGO representatives, entrepreneurs and academics to discuss what needs to be done for Asia to embrace the circular economy, and in doing so to improve social services, offset the causes of climate change and achieve sustainable economic growth.

About the summit:

According to the OECD, Asia will continue to be the world’s fastest-growing region through to 2030. As its middle classes grow, it has the opportunity to leapfrog Western nations in developing a circular economy—a system that repurposes resources and materials to maximise usage and minimise waste. Vehicles and housing are already recycled, albeit mostly on a small scale by the rural working classes. The region’s entrepreneurial community is adopting “circular” initiatives in agriculture and mobility. And large-scale investment in renewable energy is moving major economies away from reliance on fossil fuels.

Yet there remains a fundamental conflict of interest between politicians, the corporate world and the general populace. Each key component of society must find a way to mutually benefit. Governments must create a cohesive framework where materials are repurposed on a national level, in areas from energy to social housing, and move away from obsessions with GDP growth. Regulators must create an environment that gives businesses incentives to go circular and work more effectively with enforcement agencies. The private sector has to change its production models and create economic value from circular initiatives.

Why Attend?
The Economist Events offers a truly global perspective on a country’s place in the world and its future outlook. With the newspaper’s characteristic clarity and wit, these summits offer fresh and challenging perspectives on the opportunities for the region.

Join us and you will:

• Network with more than 150 scientists, business leaders, government and NGO representatives, entrepreneurs and academics
• Engage in a day of high-level discussions to find out what needs to be done for Asia to embrace the circular economy, and in doing so to improve social services, offset the causes of climate change and achieve sustainable economic growth

2018 Speakers:

Yeo Bee Yin
Minister of energy, science, technology, environment and climate change, Malaysia

Ankit Agarwal
Co-founder, Help Us Green

Binish Desai
Founder, Eco Eclectic Technology

Grahame Dixie
Executive director, Grow Asia

Miranda Johnson
South-east Asia correspondent, The Economist

Tsuyoshi Kawakami
Principal fellow, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

Richard Kooloos
Director of sustainable banking, ABN AMRO Bank

Amanda Lacaze
Chief executive and managing director, Lynas

Libo Ma
Secretary general, JD Foundation and head, group corporate social responsibility, JD.com

Leeko Makoene
Founder, Made with Rural

Oscar Mendez
Co-founder, Conceptos Plasticos

Vincent Mortier
Group deputy chief investment officer and Asia ex-Japan supervisor, Amundi

Chandran Nair
Founder and chief executive, Global Institute For Tomorrow

Romolo Nati
Executive chairman and chief executive, Italpinas Development Corporation

Stefan Ranstrand
President and chief executive, TOMRA

Yasmin Rasyid
Co-founder and director, Poptani Asia

Jeffrey Sachs
Chairman, Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University and director, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network

Andrew Staples
Editorial director, The Economist Corporate Network

Martin Stuchtey
Founder and managing partner, SYSTEMIQ

Deepak Xavier
Head of Even It Up Campaign, Oxfam

2018 Sponsors and Partners:

FOUNDING SUPPORTER:
• JEFFREY SACHS CENTER

SUPPORTING ASSOCIATIONS:
• essence
• ICC MALAYSIA
• asli
• MNZCC
• Circular Asia
• CIRCULAR ECONOMY CLUB
• Pacific Community Communaute du Pacifique
• idea ink