COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS

At COP29, CDL’s CSO, Esther An had an intensive two-day programme sharing on topics such as greening the built environment, nature-based solutions to complement technologies, and energy solutions as key to fast-forwarding action towards sustainable cities and planet. A veteran in sustainability, Esther’s thought leadership from COP25 to COP29 has allowed the Company to establish a strong presence on the global stage. For more information, please visit our website here.

The Singapore corporate reporting and investment communities were invited to an engagement organised by the Company and Tsao Pao Chee, with Mr David Craig, Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). He emphasised the shift in recognising nature as a strategic risk management issue, highlighting the importance of viewing nature and climate together. Attendees gained insights into TNFD’s alignment with frameworks like International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), GRI Standards, and CDP and its role in advancing global sustainability goals. The session reinforced the importance of accelerating nature-related disclosures and aligning business strategies with global policy targets. For more information, please visit our website here.

Themed “Forward Faster Towards Business Sustainability to Achieve Decarbonisation, Digitalisation, Disclosure and Defence”, the 11th Hong Leong and CDL Group Sustainability Forum was held at the SSA and attended by over 65 directors, senior management and staff of the Hong Leong and CDL Group of Companies. Speakers shared insights about how corporates can embrace ESG business strategy to stay abreast of higher expectations from regulators, financiers, insurers and investors as well as professional support on Corporate Governance reporting, information technology application available. For more information, please visit our website here.

CDL’s CSO, Esther An was invited to give the Keynote Speech at UNGC Leaders Summit on 24 September, as well as the WWF panel “The Future of Nature and Climate-Related Disclosure in the US”. For more information, please visit our website here.

Heads of Departments and members of the CDL Sustainability Committee gathered at the SSA and were updated on important reporting requirements for SGX ListCos. Topics covered included: ISSB-aligned climate related disclosures and commencement of two scopes of work with external consultants (1) Identification of Sustainability Related Risks & Opportunities (SROs) & Material ESG Issues Validation; and (2) 4th Climate Change Scenario Study; updates on the new International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000; and updates on CDL’s rankings and ratings.

Hosted at the SSA, this roundtable session spotlighted Corporate Knights’ CEO Mr Toby Heaps as he delved into the topic of carbon reporting and strategies for closing the climate gap. The
event brought together key stakeholders and experts, including leaders from companies listed on the Global 100, to engage in critical dialogue on carbon and climate reporting, and towards
closing the climate reporting, investing and policy gaps. For more information, please visit our website here.

To engage our supply chain, we were the first real estate company to launch the CDL SME Supplier Decarbonisation Queen Bee Programme in partnership with EnterpriseSG, Global Green Connect, carbon accounting IT solution providers and financiers. This initiative supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in decarbonisation, carbon accounting and ESG enhancement, offering grants covering up to 70% of costs to ease upfront expenses. By participating, SMEs can reduce GHG emissions, strengthen sustainability commitments and gain a competitive edge. To date, 41 SMEs have successfully joined the programme.

This symposium explored the topics of responsible investing and sustainable finance and their role in mobilising capital to achieve environmental and social goals. The session featured remarks by speakers from The European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies (EFFAS) Board, as well as a plenary that zoomed in on the role of ESG in driving sustainable finance to advance climate action. For more information, please visit our website here.

Singapore: 70   •   International: 44   •   Academia: 14
In 2024, CDL’s CSO, Esther An spoke at more than 100 local and international platforms reaching out to public, private and people sectors. Thought leadership topics covered climate action towards a net-zero carbon future, nature-based solutions, sustainability reporting, strategic ESG/SDG integration, green building and smart technologies, ESG investing and green financing and more.

The network aims to empower female executives to adopt and champion sustainable lifestyles and practices at work, home and play. For more information, please visit our website here.

CDL celebrated International Women’s Day with a session at the SSA that mimicked the Singapore parliamentary debate on the topic “Empowering Women for Climate Solutions”. The debate was moderated by the ‘Speaker’, and involved exchanges between ‘ministry’ representatives from MCCY, MSF, MOE, MOM and members of the opposition. At the end of the debate, the audience participated in a democratic vote to pass the bill, and table it into parliament. For more information, please visit our website here.

Officially opened by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the CDL EcoTrain is the first-of-its-kind repurposed train carriage with an aim to engage, educate and raise eco-awareness amongst children and youths through interactive displays, hands-on exhibits and workshops co-created with Just Keep Thinking. For more information, please visit our website here.

The SDG Open Hack! SG aims to encourage tertiary students to solve societal and/or environmental issues by way of the 17 UN SDGs while also hoping to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. In line with CDL’s commitment to partner with emerging innovation and ideation partners, CDL continued our support for the SDG Open Hack in 2024.

Held at the SSA, the send-off featured a dialogue between Ms Samantha Thian, One Young World ASEAN Coordinating Ambassador, as well as Mr Jean-Dominique Ieraci, High Commissioner of Canada, who shared about the Montreal, the host city of One Young World 2024. For more information, please read page 15 of our Q3 2024 Quarterly Report here.

After two years of supporting impact innovators at the Incubator For SDGs, Global Green Economic Forum continued the partnership on mentorship and impact investment at Republic Plaza while EB Impact moved into the Incubator For SDGs space in July 2024. EB Impact is a non-profit organisation focused on delivering training and programmes to Asia Pacific’s underserved communities to generate positive sustainable development impact.

Y4C is one of the Company’s flagship programmes in support of youth empowerment, social good and the UN SDGs. The festival provides Singapore’s youths with a platform to express their love for the environment. The seventh Y4C Festival was held at Heartbeat@Bedok and comprised the Y4C Concert, an Eco Marketplace, Eco-Educational Workshops and movie screenings of Zootopia and Big Hero 6. 2024 was also our seventh year of support for Go Green SG Week organised by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, to rally youths to accelerate climate action. DPM Heng Swee Keat delivered the opening remarks for the Concert. For more information, please visit our website here.

In the lead up to World Environment Day 2024, the Company jointly organised the fifth edition of the contest with East Coast GRC. To prepare contest participants, the Company and East Coast GRC organised “Storytelling @ Bedok Public Library” on 16 March 2024, and parents and children learned the benefits of storytelling and received tips on being an engaging storyteller. The best entries were curated in a video titled “We Love Our Planet – Protect our Ocean!”. The prize presentation by DPM Heng Swee Keat took place at East Coast Family Fiesta. For more information, please visit our website here.

Organised in partnership with East Coast GRC, the dialogue aimed to enhance public awareness of climate impacts in Singapore and drive home the importance of public-private partnerships. The session featured an engaging dialogue with DPM Heng Swee Keat and Dr Winston Chow, Co-Chair of the IPCC Working Group II and Professor of Urban Climate and Lee Kong Chian Research Fellow at Singapore Management University (SMU), moderated by CDL’s CSO, Esther An. For more information, please visit our website here.

This annual business case competition seeks to empower youths to become future sustainability champions by equipping them with the skills to integrate SDGs into business strategy and operations. It has attracted more than 4,100 youths since inauguration. Into its 14th year, 2024’s topic focused on SDG 13: Climate Action. The top three winning teams were crowned at the GCNS Summit 2024, which featured Guest-of-Honour Minister Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance. For more information, please visit our website here.

This fund has supported 114 student-led community investment programmes and impacted approximately 4,447 students since its launch. In 2024, the Fund empowered 162 students from SMU to implement projects that support the SDGs.

This competition engages youths to contribute ideas on climate action. In February 2023, the top winner from the 2022 challenge embarked on an Antarctic Climate Epic Expedition with over 100 other eco-champions to co-create solutions to tackle the climate emergency. Runner-ups received an educational trip with Earth Company in Ubud, Bali. For more information, please visit our website here.

This initiative recognises the exemplary work of individuals under the age of 30 that seek to advance environmental and social sustainability in Asia Pacific.

In 2024, members of the Company’s senior management team delivered lectures to local and overseas students at SMU, National University of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Nanyang Technological University, Punggol Secondary School, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Temasek Polytechnic, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and more.

The CDL Microforest, Singapore’s first research-based regenerative tropical microforest in its dense city centre, was launched on 10 March 2025 by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at City Square Mall. Developed with ecological and biological experts from NUS, the 2,800 sq ft microforest aims to reduce the urban heat island effect, boost biodiversity, and promote ecological resilience. Serving as a living laboratory, it supports research on urban cooling through greening.

In December 2024, in partnership with NParks, Ocean Geographic (OG), the Jane Goodall Institute of Singapore (JGIS) and 21 other community partners, CDL launched our first nature-action exhibition, themed “We Love Our Planet”. The exhibition highlights the critical role of nature and biodiversity in ensuring ecosystem resilience and addressing the climate crisis. It also aims to create greater awareness of the planet’s plight, how climate change is a major threat to the survival of humanity and biodiversity and to inspire more to care for our nature, our life source. The opening ceremony was graced by Dr Sylvia Earle, world-renowned marine biologist and oceanographer, along with NParks Management representatives as well as young winners from CDL’s “We Love Our Planet” Storytelling Contest.

The CDL Green Gallery’s outreach in 2024 comprised:
• 33,899 in-person visitors
• 1,474 virtual visits via its virtual exhibition site

CDL made history and brought together renowned legendary conservationists Dr Jane Goodall and Dr Sylvia Earle for the first time in Asia. The event was attended by around 1,400 guests, and raised approximately S$150,000 from ticket sales, which went towards environmental conservation efforts by JGIS and OG.

The event highlights included:

• Personal reflections and aspirations by Dr Goodall and Dr Earle, who shared their challenges and hopes for the planet
• Children’s worries and wishes expressed by winners of CDL’s “We Love Our Planet” Storytelling Contest
• A net-zero pledge aimed at fostering a brighter and more sustainable future
• An engaging dialogue between the two remarkable women, moderated by CDL’s CSO, Esther An and NTU Asian School of the Environment Senior Lecturer, Dr Shawn Lum
• A musical performance by Singaporean musician, Ms Inch Chua
• Special Guest DPM Heng Swee Keat presented the tokens of appreciation to Dr Goodall and Dr Earle.

For more information, please visit our website here.

A longstanding advocate of youth empowerment, the Company has partnered with Peace of Art SG for the third edition of the annual Sustainable Christmas Market, which raises funds for underprivileged children at the Singapore Red Cross Young Hearts programme.

Held at the SSA and organised by The Matcha Initiative and The Transmutation Principle, AlterCOP 29 was a remote alternative to COP29, aimed at fostering regional and local collaboration, and keeping people informed about the UN Conference of Parties (COP) happenings in real time. Over 1,700 attendees came through the SSA and Annex and joined panels, workshops and masterclasses on the following subjects: Climate Change & Climate Justice; Waste & Circular Economy; Resilience & Adaptation; Green Finance & Investments; Energy & Decarbonisation; Human Capital, Youth, Bridging the Generational Gap; Biodiversity, Carbon Markets & Nature Based Solutions; Sustainable Cities & Tourism; Resource Management; Transport & Supply Chain. CDL’s CSO, Esther An gave the welcome remarks on the first day and joined the panel “Energy Transition & Decarbonisation in Singapore and the Region” with Senior Minister of State Dr Koh Poh Koon on 15 November. For more information, please visit our website here.

Over 50 staff joined a guided intertidal walk at Changi Beach, followed by a biodiversity workshop at the SSA to learn about Singapore’s natural environment and importance of conservation. For more information, please read page 14 of our Q2 2024 Quarterly Report here.

‘The Remains of the Antarctic’ unveiled over 8,000 photo submissions taken from the 2023 Antarctic Climate Expedition (ACE) by 120 expedition ambassadors. These pictures hope to educate and inspire everyone to preserve the remains of this region and the health of our planet. The launch event featured a sharing by OG’s Founder Mr Michael Aw, along with interactions with ACE Ambassadors to help participants understand the importance of ocean and Antarctic conservation.

The CDL Green Gallery concluded its three-part climate exhibition series, and the final exhibition, “Melting Ice, Sinking Cities,” which delved into crucial themes of climate resilience and environmental conservation. Esteemed speakers gathered to share their insights on climate threats facing not only Singapore but also the polar regions, oceans, biodiversity and humanity. For more information, please read page 13 of our Q1 2024 Quarterly Report here.

Since its opening on 5 June 2017 till the end of 2024, the SSA has hosted more than 1,200 sustainability-related training programmes and advocacy events, attracting more than 43,100 attendees. In 2024, the SSA has continued promoting sustainable lifestyle practices through more than 170 events and trainings, reaching out to over 8,600 participants. Recordings of our SSA sessions are posted on the CDL Sustainability YouTube channel. For more information on SSA events, click here.

To encourage more sustainable practices, the Company actively engages tenants and homebuyers through initiatives such as our Green Lease Partnership Programme, City Green Tenant Bonus Programme, Green Living Guide raising supplier awareness through a Supplier Code of Conduct and CDL’s 5 Star EHS Seminars.

Assisi Hospice Fun Day: Fundraising campaign through stalls, and provided donations-in-kind, including F&B and hotel vouchers towards the event’s lucky draw and game prizes.

Assisi Hospice Mid-Autumn Celebration: Annual festive celebration organized for in-patients and their family members, as well as daycare patients.

• At the CDL Challenge “Race for Rice” led by our Group CEO, more than
  1,500kg of rice were donated to Food from the Heart, benefitting 750
  needy households
• S$267,442 was raised through the concerted efforts of the Company’s
  stakeholders; funds raised went towards the improvement of the
  Hospice’s three core services of in-patient care, home care and day
  care centres
• At the Mid-Autumn Celebration, CDL sponsored a buffet dinner,
  mooncakes, pomelos, lanterns and lantern-making workshops to usher
  in celebrative cheer

• WeCare@NWCDC Service Week
  (since 2015)

• In 2024, CSC conducted food distributions on a quarterly basis, benefitting some 330 needy households
• At year end, CSC organised a holiday party for families and their children, sponsored McDonald’s meals for them and gifted 70 children with Christmas gifts, booked a movie theatre at CSM and treated them to popcorn and drinks while they watched Disney’s “Moana 2”
• The Company has been awarded the People’s Association Community Spirit Award 2024 – Merit Award, in recognition of the Company’s contributions towards the community

• Since 2014, CSC has been reaching out to the elderly residing in rental flats in the Chai Chee neighbourhood through collaboration with Kembangan-Chai Chee Senior Activity Centre. In 2021, Filos Community Services was appointed as the Active Ageing Centre for Kembangan-Chai Chee in line with the Healthier SG movement. CSC has since been working with the new community partner in befriending 22 elderly through the monthly food distribution and two outings organised in 2024.

• In 2024, 15 volunteers from the Company, together with 86 youths from the Boys’ Brigade, reached out to 100 elderly staying in Bendemeer, and cleaned 25 homes of elderly residents

• CSC engaged the children through games, storytelling, as well as art and craft activities during the Children’s Day and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations
• CSC organised a Christmas party for the children and their siblings at M Hotel Singapore and treated them to log cakes, Christmas bread pudding, gingerbread and Christmas cookies.
• CDL’s Group Chief Operating Officer Kwek Eik Sheng, Group General Manager Chia Ngiang Hong, and Group Chief Financial Officer Yiong Yim Ming, lent a helping hand in the games and activities and distributed goodie bags

• In 2024, CSC organised lunch and distributed red packets to 100 elderly from Henderson Senior Citizens’ Home, Kembangan Chai-Chee Senior Activity Centre and NTUC Health Active Aging Centre (Bukit Merah View)
• They were treated to a sumptuous feast and entertained with an afternoon of games and classic Chinese songs performed by CDL volunteers; hosted by Mrs Kwek Leng Beng and supported by CDL senior management, it was a time of re-connection with old friends whom the Company has befriended for over two decades