As global energy markets face continued volatility amid geopolitical uncertainty, cities and the built environment must respond to shifting supply dynamics. Increasingly, buildings are no longer passive assets but are pivotal active infrastructure that can reduce energy demand, enhance resilience and accelerate the transition to low-carbon development.
Against this backdrop, the soft launch of International Sustainability Week (ISW) 2026, officiated today by Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Dato’ Sri Arthur Joseph Kurup, signals a growing transition in how sustainability is being approached from broad ambition to the practical delivery of sustainable buildings and future-ready cities.
ISW 2026 is co-organised by GreenRE Sdn Bhd, the green rating and certification organisation established by REHDA, together with main organiser Qube Integrated Malaysia. The regional platform is designed as a standards-led ecosystem connecting policy, certification and industry solutions within
a single coordinated framework, reflecting a stronger focus on implementation, measurable performance and real-world outcomes across the built environment.
Dato’ Sri Arthur Joseph Kurup emphasised that the role of buildings must evolve in response to emerging challenges.
“Sustainable practices and integrated urban development will form the bedrock of resilience and economic growth moving forward. ISW 2026 provides a structured platform to move stakeholders from discussion to delivery, ensuring the real-world impact of sustainable outcomes at scale,” he said.
A key highlight of the launch was the announcement of a major industry milestone: GreenRE has surpassed 500 million square feet of certified gross floor area (GFA), underscoring the rapid scaling of verified green building standards across Malaysia’s property sector.
Datuk Seri FD Iskandar, Chairman of GreenRE, said the milestone reflects the industry’s growing readiness to deliver sustainability at scale.
“Certification is the bridge between a green claim and a green reality. Reaching the 500 million square feet mark reflects the scale at which verified standards are now shaping the built environment — meeting the expectations of investors, tenants and regulators in an increasingly performance-driven market.
More importantly, it signals a shift in the industry — from commitment to execution — where sustainability is no longer aspirational, but embedded in how we design, build
and operate. As energy and climate pressures intensify, the role of credible, measurable frameworks like GreenRE becomes even more critical in ensuring that sustainability delivers real value, not just intent.”
Held in conjunction with World Green Building Week, ISW 2026 positions Malaysia within the broader global momentum to accelerate sustainable buildings and future-ready cities. The event will take place from 10 to 11 September 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur.
ISW 2026 represents the strategic evolution of the International Green Build Conference (IGBC), now in its 6th edition. Building on IGBC’s role as a leading platform for policy dialogue and industry leadership, ISW expands this foundation through the integration of GreenScape: International Green Innovation Exhibition, bringing together policy, standards and implementation within a single platform.
Under the theme “From Certification to Transformation: Building a Net Zero Future Together,” IGBC drives the policy and thought leadership agenda, while GreenScape showcases implementation-ready technologies and green financing models that make sustainability “bankable”.
ISW 2026 is expected to feature over 20 regional and international speakers, 100 innovation exhibitors and 1,000 conference delegates, drawing an estimated 5,000 visitors from Malaysia and across the region.
Confirmed speakers include Nadia Verjee, Executive Director of Expo City Dubai; Larry Ng, former Group Director at Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, and Joan Ko, Global Climate and Sustainability Leader of Arup Australia.
Collectively, these experts will address critical themes such as net-zero cities, climate-responsive urban development, governance and standards, and the role of data and infrastructure in delivering measurable sustainability outcomes.
The soft launch also featured a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) exchange with the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) as Supporting Partner, formalising a strategic collaboration to align Malaysia’s flagship sustainability platforms—International Sustainability Week (ISW) 2026 and the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM).
The partnership aims to broaden participation across the sustainability ecosystem by strengthening linkages between policymakers, industry players and solution providers, while enabling more coordinated outreach and engagement. The MoC was exchanged between Jessie Tan, Managing Director of Qube Integrated Malaysia, and Saiful Adib Abdul Munaff, Acting Group CEO of MGTC, and witnessed by Datuk Seri FD Iskandar, Chairman of GreenRE, Shareen Shariza Binti Dato’ Abdul Ghani, Chairperson of MGTC, and Richard Teo, Executive Chairman of Qube.
Reinforcing industry-wide support, REHDA Federal Territory also joins as Strategic Partner with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia as Supporting Partner. Other partners announced include Official Hotel Partners Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown, Imperial Lexis
Kuala Lumpur, and Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur, alongside Curio Pack as Official Freight Forwarder and EdgeProp as Official Media Partner.
Richard Teo, Executive Chairman of Qube Integrated Malaysia, concluded:
“The challenge is no longer awareness—it is execution. As cities globally, including Kuala Lumpur, move towards megacity scale, the built environment will define long-term resilience and sustainability. ISW 2026 brings together policy, standards and industry capability to accelerate delivery across the region.”
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