PwC launches Asia Pacific Centre for Sustainability Excellence in Singapore

Centre aims to support organisations across Asia Pacific in achieving ESG excellence across decarbonisation, managing climate risk, sustainable finance and investment, sustainability report and assurance, etc.

PwC launched the Asia Pacific Centre of Sustainability Excellence (CSE) in Singapore which was officially opened by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment. Other VIPs, guest speakers and attendees included

• Jacqueline Poh, Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board
• Marcus Lam, Executive Chairman, PwC Singapore,
• Dr Peter Gassman, Global Strategy& Leader and PwC’s Global ESG Leader, and
• Fang Eu-Lin, ESG Leader, PwC Singapore

The CSE will play a critical role in PwC’s ESG ambitions in Singapore and across the region, where it will focus on supporting organisations in areas such as decarbonisation, climate risk, sustainable finance, responsible investment, nature-based solutions, sustainability reporting and assurance, ESG upskilling, and capability-building for the ecosystem. The CSE is also focused on supporting Singapore as a carbon services and trading hub, and will invest in other areas as issues evolve.

Marcus Lam, Executive Chairman, PwC Singapore, said: “Earlier this year, we announced that PwC Singapore would commit to a S$50 million investment over five years, in line with our global strategy - The New Equation. I am proud to announce that the Asia Pacific Centre for Sustainability Excellence is an important part of bringing this strategy to life. As a network, PwC’s strength lies in drawing on diverse and multidisciplinary talent from our community of solvers to provide human-led tech enabled insights and innovations to collectively problem solve. I hope that the launch of this Centre will enable many new innovations and help Singapore achieve new heights in sustainability excellence on the world stage. We are grateful to the Singapore Economic Development Board, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, and other government agencies for their strong support in our ambitions for Singapore and for the region.”

The CSE is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board, and it will be powered from the city state to leverage the strong climate ambition underlined by the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the country’s close connectivity with the diverse economies across Asia Pacific, and its growing prominence as a regional sustainability hub.

Jacqueline Poh, Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board, said: “The establishment of this Centre for Sustainability Excellence is part of Singapore’s growth as a vibrant hub for sustainability and carbon services. With strengths in many disciplines, PwC is in a great position to provide multidisciplinary solutions to companies. CSE’s suite of offerings in decarbonisation, nature-based solutions and sustainable finance will provide companies with the support they need as they transition to a low-carbon future.”

Locally, the groundwork to deliver on the CSE’s mission has already started within PwC Singapore, specifically in the following areas:

In addition to welcoming new senior talent in growing its ESG leadership, the firm has kickstarted its ESG upskilling programme for all 3,500 of its people, starting with its ESG Essentials curriculum to embed “ESG consciousness” in the firm’s DNA. This is part of a worldwide effort by PwC to upskill all its people in ESG knowledge. Supplementing the ESG Essentials is an eight-module ESG Upskilling Programme developed by PwC Singapore’s Sustainability and Climate Change practice for the firm’s partners and staff. Specialised training customised for the different lines of services will be subsequently rolled out as the firm continues to equip its people with further skills and knowledge to better help clients pivot towards a sustainable future by integrating ESG into their strategies, operations and reporting.