CGM Global Summit 2025 – Reflections Through a Banker’s Lens (Series 9/9)
This session, “Finance as a Force for Climate Leadership,” featured Ian Monroe, President and Chief Investment Officer of Etho Capital, in conversation with Kok Wai Chong, Council Member of Climate Governance Malaysia.
“Climate action isn’t just a moral duty; it’s an investment opportunity waiting to scale.”
Ian Monroe’s session was a masterclass in how finance, technology and policy can jointly drive the clean-economy transition and why electrification is no longer optional, but inevitable.
1️⃣ The Clean Economy Has Reached Its Tipping Point Solar, wind and battery storage are now cheaper than fossil fuels. The S-curve of clean-tech adoption is accelerating, it’s already more economical to shut down coal plants than to keep them running.
2️⃣ Electrify Everything From homes to factories to transport- electrification improves efficiency, cuts pollution, and lowers long-term costs.
3️⃣ Integrate, Don’t Disrupt Malaysia’s agrivoltaics potential alone could meet 80% of our energy needs by pairing solar with farmland. Floating solar and solar walkways redefine how we use space.
4️⃣ Circular Economy in Action Firms like Redwood Materials are proving that over 95% of EV batteries can be reused or recycled. Malaysia can be part of this value chain through sodium-ion and LFP battery innovations.
5️⃣ Fossil Reality Check Each barrel of oil costs society USD 300+ in pollution and health impacts, while profits average just USD 5 - 20. The math is clear: the REAL profit lies in transition, not extraction.
6️⃣ AI as an Enabler AI-powered data centres, when paired with renewables and reused EV batteries, can run on 24/7 clean energy- the new frontier of sustainable innovation. Monroe’s advice: AI can support decarbonisation if deployed intelligently.
7️⃣ Call to Action – Climate Starts at Home Electrify personal spaces: homes, vehicles, appliances. Every individual action has a ripple effect that normalises sustainability. “One-and-done” changes, like installing solar panels or switching to induction cooktops, create long-term impact.
My Reflection – Through a Banker’s Lens
Ian’s session reminded me that finance holds the key to scaling climate solutions. We often speak of “electrifying the economy,” but perhaps bankers must also “electrify our portfolios.”
Every Ringgit Malaysia (RM) approved, every facility structured, every credit conversation is a chance to move funds from pollution to solution. BNM’s CCPT and the VBIAF frameworks give us the guardrails, now we must provide the momentum.
His call to “start at home” also struck a chord. Whether it’s adopting EVs, switching to induction cooking, or supporting clients transitioning to low-carbon models -the ripple starts small, but travels far.
Finance doesn’t just fund the transition. IT POWERS IT.
