Why one of Southeast Asia's largest pension funds is 'doubling down' on sustainability

Aug 15, 2025

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In this episode of the All Things Sustainable podcast we bring you the latest in our special series featuring major pension funds around the world.

We sit down with Shahida Jaffar, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Malaysia's Employees Provident Fund (EPF). EPF was established in 1951 to safeguard the retirement future of the Malaysian workforce; it reported about 1.31 trillion Malaysian ringgit (US$310 billion) in total investment assets and more than 16 million members as of June 30, 2025.

In the interview, Shahida explains EPF's evolving sustainable investment strategy; the role nature plays in the organization's approach to sustainability; and how the pension fund balances priorities — like the need for returns, net-zero commitments and ensuring that the energy transition is just.

"In the market right now, there's polarization in terms of those who are pursuing sustainability even stronger and those who are pulling back," Shahida tells us.

"In the case of EPF, we're doubling down."

Read research from S&P Global Sustainable1 about companies' nature risks and dependencies: How the world's largest companies depend on nature and biodiversity | S&P Global

Learn about S&P Global Sustainable1's Nature & Biodiversity dataset.

Listen to our podcast interview with Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM): Why the world's largest asset owner is leaning into ESG | S&P Global

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