CDP Report: ASEAN Corporations Start Caring For Environmental Preservation, But Need To Pay Attention To This

Director of Southeast Asia & Oceania CDP John Leung. (Photo: Doc. CDP)

JAKARTA - The World Environment Reporting Platform or Cloudera Data Platform (CDP) is collaborating with the Indonesia Business Council for Sustainable Development (IBCSD) and supported by the Indonesian Issuers Association to hold the CDP Southeast Asia Annual Event 2023 event in Jakarta, today.

In the event, the CDP reported an increase in momentum for reporting and environmental action by the private sector in Southeast Asia (ASEAN) with an increase of 47 percent in the entire region.

Throughout 2022, 482 companies across Asean reported climate data to CDP, but only 123 companies reported on water and 35 companies reported on forests.

The CDP also reported that only 20 or 4 percent of companies in Asean revealed three themes, namely climate change, forests, and water security.

Director of Southeast Asia & Oceania CDP John Leung said that his party had conducted the latest analysis and findings based on CDP environmental data as well as gave awards to companies that lead in environmental actions in the Southeast Asia region, including organizations in Indonesia that have shown leadership in achieving a common goal, namely net zero net zero which has a positive impact on nature (nature positive).

"The impact of climate change is accelerating around the world and can quickly become irreversible. In fact, achieving net zero emissions and the positive impact on nature may be realized, but we must act immediately now to overcome this crisis," he said in his official statement in Jakarta, Thursday, March 16.

"Asia Tenggara as the area that houses several countries with the fastest economic growth in the world, and especially because of its biodiversity wealth, will play a very important role for the future of our planet," he said.

In addition, said John, this report also highlights companies in Asean who actually understand the urgency of existing situations and can estimate the financial impact of the risk of climate change, forests, and water security.

The environmental impact of supply chains is still considered less important by companies in Asean. The involvement of supply chains is still considered only something 'good to own', not as'must' or a must.

It is known, only 31 percent of companies that report they involve their suppliers in fighting climate-related issues.

"Globally, to achieve net-zero emissions, collective action from governments, investors, companies and the public is needed so that we can prevent the worst impact of climate change," John explained.

CDP data shows that forest and water degradation poses a real material risk to businesses, but this is still underestimated and ignored.

According to John, there will be huge costs for the region if no actions and steps are taken locally and globally.

"So, although we are very optimistic about the growth in reporting and openness regarding environmental impacts in Southeast Asia, we are also encouraging all stakeholders to commit and act more ambitiously and show better leadership for Southeast Asia and the world," he concluded.