Kuala Lumpur, 26–27 November 2024: The Green Cities Investment Forum 2024 (GCIF24), jointly organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation with support from Malaysia’s Ministry of Economy, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and the IMT-GT Joint Business Council Malaysia, spotlighted investment opportunities for Green City Action Plans (GCAPs) in four Malaysian cities: Penang Island, Langkawi, Kota Bharu, and Kuching (Padawan). These initiatives form part of ADB’s GCAP Technical Assistance support to 14 Malaysian cities.  

GCIF24 focused on fostering quality infrastructure investments, serving as a collaborative platform that engaged federal, state, provincial, and municipal councils to tackle critical climate challenges through innovative and actionable projects. The forum brought together 363 participants, including 74 government officials, and fostered peer learning, knowledge sharing, and networking among policymakers, academia, financial institutions, and the private sector. 

The event also featured booths from ADB, CIMT, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, JBC, Global Goodwill Ambassadors Foundation (GGAF), and Malaysian Green Technology And Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), along with exhibitions showcasing GCAP cities, technology suppliers, and private sector partners.

Discussions during the forum revolved around strategies for preparing and implementing GCAPs and exploring investment opportunities. Fireside chat sessions offered fresh insights into advancing urban sustainability and integrating green education initiatives under the Greening Education Partnership. The forum also addressed topics such as incorporating the blue economy into green city agendas, unlocking climate and ESG funding opportunities, and leveraging the role of startups to drive sustainable urban innovation and navigate emerging mechanisms like CBAM.  

GCIF24 underscored the pivotal role of collaboration, innovation, and financing in shaping resilient, low-carbon urban systems. Several MoU/agreement exchanges were also held during the GCIF to support the fast-track implementation of GCAPs. The event concluded with the adoption of a Town Hall statement highlighting the shared commitment of cities and private sector partners to fast-track the realization of sustainable and resilient urban development through actionable GCAP initiatives.  

Looking ahead, a larger Green City Investment Summit is planned for September 2025, building on GCIF24’s momentum to scale up collaborations and advance GCAP implementation across the country.