International Sustainability Week (ISW) 2026 opened today with a call for stronger collaboration across government, industry and other stakeholders to accelerate Malaysia’s transition towards a more sustainable and net zero built environment.
Held in conjunction with World Green Building Week 2026, ISW 2026 is organised by Qube Integrated Malaysia Sdn Bhd and co-organised by GreenRE Sdn Bhd. Themed “From Certification to Transformation, Building a Net Zero Future Together,” the two-day platform brings together the 6th International Green Build Conference (IGBC) 2026 and the inaugural GreenScape: International Green Innovation Exhibition, pairing policy dialogue and industry collaboration with the exchange of practical solutions for the built environment.
Officiating the opening ceremony, The Hon. Dato’ Sri Arthur Joseph Kurup, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, said: “It is no longer enough for cities to just do less harm; they must become climate-resilient and actively give back to the environment. The transformation of our built environment will not happen through a single policy or project. It will happen through thousands of decisions made daily by architects, engineers, planners, developers, financiers, policymakers, and communities.”
Datuk Seri FD Iskandar, Chairman of GreenRE Sdn Bhd and Co-Chair of ISW 2026, said: “A credible certification is increasingly a financial instrument. By translating environmental performance into credible, verifiable evidence, it can strengthen access to green and preferential financing, reduce operating costs, improve asset performance and ultimately enhance long-term asset value. GreenRE is aligned to ASEAN and Bank Negara’s taxonomies for sustainable finance. That is where certification becomes transformation, not simply recognising a green building, but making sustainability measurable, investable and valuable.”
Ms. Jessie Tan, Managing Director of Qube Integrated Malaysia, added: “Our core belief is that partnership is what turns a gathering into real impact. It takes government, industry and community stakeholders working side by side – and that is exactly what International Sustainability Week is built on. We designed ISW 2026 because the built environment sits at the centre of Malaysia’s net-zero journey. Buildings and cities account for a significant share of our emissions, and that means real transformation has to happen here.”
From Certification to Transformation
The opening of ISW 2026 sets the stage for a broader discussion on what the next phase of sustainability should look like for Malaysia’s built environment – moving beyond certification and commitments towards measurable transformation, greater climate resilience, decarbonisation and more liveable cities.
Day 1 of IGBC 2026 featured 12 local and international speakers across six sessions, examining the challenges and opportunities shaping the next stage of the built environment transition.
Among the key discussions were “From Net Zero to Net Positive: The Next Frontier of the Built Environment,” presented by Joan Ko, Global Environment, Climate and Sustainability Leader, ARUP, and a panel on “Climate-Resilient Cities: Designing for Adaptation, Equity and Long-Term Value,” bringing together perspectives on how cities can respond to climate risks while remaining inclusive and liveable.
The programme also featured Nadia Verjee, Executive Director, Expo City Dubai, who shared insights drawn from global platforms and models of international cooperation. The Hon. Datuk Dr. Haji Hazland bin Abang Haji Hipni, Sarawak Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, delivered a keynote address titled “Powering the Net Zero Transition.”
Together, the discussions highlighted that achieving a net zero built environment will require action across multiple fronts – from urban planning and building design to energy, infrastructure, technology and long-term investment.
Alongside IGBC 2026, GreenScape opened to the public, showcasing businesses, technologies and solutions supporting the transition towards a more sustainable built environment and providing a practical dimension to the discussions taking place at the conference.
Day 1 also saw REHDA Malaysia signing two separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) and the Malaysia Carbon Market Association (MCMA), reinforcing its commitment to advancing ESG adoption across Malaysia’s real estate and housing development industry. The MoU with MGTC will support collaboration on sustainability initiatives, green leadership, innovation and industry best practices, while the MoU with MCMA will focus on carbon markets, carbon management, decarbonisation strategies, research, data collection and publications.
Extending the Sustainability Conversation
There was also a series of side forums and partnership events running in parallel at MITEC. These included “Inside Expo 2025 Osaka: How a Mega-Event Became a Blueprint for Future Cities,” presented by Yoshikazu Tanaka, Director-General of Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau; a Meinhardt EPCM led session on “Green Engineering: Delivering Sustainable, Energy Efficient and Cost-Effective Buildings”; Cyberview-led “Cyberjaya CEO Sustainability Dialogue”; and an integrated public activation event by Pahang Aerospace City Development Berhad (PACDB).
These sessions extended the conversation on net zero beyond the main stage and into the practical realities facing businesses, cities and industry stakeholders. ISW 2026 continues tomorrow, 11 September, with the second day of IGBC 2026 focusing on how cities can become more inclusive, resilient and sustainable while supporting long-term economic growth.
ISW 2026 is strongly supported by the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Supporting partners include MATRADE, MGTC, REHDA, CIDB Malaysia, MCMTC, Vietnam-Malaysia Business Association, Peniagawati, and Malaysia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce.
Lead sponsors are Starken Drymix, Starken AAC, Ajiya Safety Glass and Asia Roofing Industries, and corporate sponsors are Beam Society and 1 Utama City Group. Tenaga Nasional Berhad is Energy Sustainability Partner, Strategic partner is the Malaysia Green Building Council, Carbon Partner is BSD Consultancy Sdn Bhd & Climate Asia, official media partner EdgeProp, and media partners Exchange Asia, Dailywire.asia and i-lifepost.
