Under the theme “Insuring the Transition: Accelerating Action in the Asia-Pacific,” the first ever UNEP Asia-Pacific Transition Insurance Summit will convene insurers, reinsurers, brokers, investors, financial regulators, real economy actors and other stakeholders to explore the evolving role of insurance in supporting resilient and sustainable economies across the Asia-Pacific region.

Hosted by the Singapore Sustainable Finance Association, the Summit provides a timely platform for participants to stay informed and engaged on developments shaping the sector, including transition planning, engagement with the real economy, rising physical risks and emerging insurability challenges. Discussions will highlight practical perspectives from across the region and examine how insurance markets can respond to evolving risk landscapes while supporting resilience and economic stability.

Building on momentum from global discussions at the COP30 Global Sustainable Insurance Summit in Belém, the event will bring together regional and international perspectives to examine practical approaches to transition planning, engagement with the real economy, and strengthening resilience to climate-related risks.

Engl
Time (SGT) Session
09:00  Arrival, Registration and Refreshments
09:30 UNEP Antitrust Statement
09:35  Opening Remarks

  • Butch Bacani, Head of Insurance, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • Amita Chaudhury, Group Head of Sustainability, AIA, SSFA Executive Committee Member & Chair, UNEP FI Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) Board
09:40 Keynote Address

  • Laurence Tubiana, Special Envoy, COP30 Presidency & CEO, European Climate Foundation 
10:00

Insuring the Transition: Accelerating action in the Asia-Pacific

  • Emily Farrimond, Partner, ESG & Sustainability Lead, Baringa 
  • Graham Sinden, Head of Climate Risk, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)  
  • Amy Hogan, Executive Manager, Group Sustainability & Climate Action, IAG 
  • Ko Wen Chia, Head of Sustainability, Singlife 
  • Moderated by Butch Bacani, Head of Insurance, UNEP

Discussion topics

  • Importance of credible insurance company transition plans spanning underwriting and investment portfolios to strengthen long-term business resilience and support economy-wide transition in the Asia-Pacific
  • How insurers can support a just transition to climate-resilient net-zero economies in the region as risk managers, risk carriers and investors
11:15

Insuring the Real Economy Transition: Delivering real-world impact

  • Leonardo Meoli, Group Head of Sustainability Integration, Generali 
  • John Willis, Senior Director, Aligning Finance & Value, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) 
  • Vipul Shetty, Head of Energy Transition Solutions, Howden Specialty & Climate Risk and Resilience  
  • Peng Er Foo, Vice President, Group Sustainability, Capital and Investments 
  • Moderated by Kavitha Menon, Director, Singapore Sustainable Finance Association (SSFA)

Discussion topics

  • Insurer engagement with real economy actors to build resilience and drive decarbonization
  • Transition support needed by corporates from insurers as underwriters and investors
  • Just transition considerations in the Asia-Pacific
12:15  Lunch
13:00  Launch: UNEP FI Climate Pathways Navigator

  • Jesica Andrews, Co-Head, Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance Secretariat & Co-Lead, Climate Team, UNEP FI 
13:15 Insurance Council of Australia: Scope 3 Emissions Guidelines

  • Ange Nichols, Senior Advisor, Climate Change, Insurance Council of Australia 
13:30 Insuring a Resilient Transition: Managing rising physical risk

  • Eric Nietsch, Head of APAC Sustainability & Climate Product, MSCI 
  • Tatsuya Sudo, General Manager, Corporate Sustainability, MS&AD  
  • Dickson Wong, Director of Research and Development, Global Asia Insurance Partnership 

Discussion topics

  • Increasing climate-related physical risks and implications for insurability in the Asia-Pacific
  • Risk assessment, adaptation and pre-disaster resilience-building approaches
  • Innovative insurance solutions to strengthen resilience and close the protection gap in vulnerable sectors and countries
14:15

The Road to COP31: Building on the COP30 Global Sustainable Insurance Summit

  • Victoria Huber, Brazilian Insurance Confederation (CNseg)
  • Kristy Graham, CEO, Australian Sustainable Finance Institute

Discussion topics

  • Progress since the COP30 Global Sustainable Insurance Summit
  • Priorities and opportunities to strengthen the insurance industry’s role in building climate resilience, closing the protection gap and driving decarbonization ahead of COP31
14:45 Closing Remarks

  • Butch Bacani, Head of Insurance, UNEP
  • Winnie Tan, Senior Vice President for Sustainability, Great Eastern Holdings, and SSFA Executive Committee Member