Scaling Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation at the Malaysia–Japan Environment Week 2025 in Kuala Lumpur
From October 15 to 17, 2025, Seneca Impact Advisors participated in the Malaysia–Japan Environment Week held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Co-hosted by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) and Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), the event brought together over 600 participants from government, business, academia, and civil society. The week-long program was designed to deepen bilateral cooperation on climate and environmental issues, with a strong emphasis on nature-based solutions (NbS), circular economy innovation, and regional adaptation strategies.
Seneca Impact Advisor’s involvement was anchored in its ongoing collaboration with MOEJ to identify and support bankable NbS projects across Southeast Asia. This year’s sessions in Kuala Lumpur followed earlier engagements in Bangkok and Singapore, and marked a significant step forward in showcasing how finance, policy, and on-the-ground action can align to scale climate adaptation efforts. Representing Seneca at the event was Gabriella Natasha, who moderated a highly dynamic session: Materializing the Paris-aligned Climate Actions in Malaysia – Roundtable Discussion on Adapting to Climate Change. The session was part of the MOEJ NbS Adaptation Business Formation Project, co-led with IDEA Consultants and represented by Hiroki Kawai, who played a key role in shaping the session.
The roundtable, part of the Session on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, featured a diverse panel of experts and practitioners. Gabriella guided the conversation with a focus on three core themes: the role of local engagement and stakeholder involvement, the challenges of measuring adaptation impact, and the financing models that enable adaptation projects to scale. The panel included Emiko Matsuda from MOEJ, Anizawati bt Ahmad from Malaysia’s NAHRIM, Yasushi Inoue from CTI Engineering, Hul Hunsopheary Co-Founder and CEO of Evola Cambodia, Jun Kit Mah from BioLoop Malaysia, and Tan Cheow Yam from Nestlé Malaysia. Together, they explored how adaptation can move from concept to implementation when supported by enabling policy frameworks and innovative business models.
Evola Cambodia, a company and project supported by Seneca and the MOEJ, was featured as a case study in bankable adaptation. Using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) technology, Evola converts food waste into high-protein animal feed and organic fertilizer, offering a nature-positive solution that strengthens food security and climate resilience. The project has attracted strategic interest from Japanese partners and aligns closely with MOEJ’s regional goals. Gabriella’s moderation helped highlight Evola’s commercial viability, its measurable impact on smallholder farmers, and its potential for replication across ASEAN.
Seneca’s participation in the Malaysia–Japan Environment Week reflects its broader commitment to enabling nature-based solutions through strategic finance and partnership development. The event provided a platform to deepen relationships with MOEJ, the broader Government of Japan and other regional stakeholders, while reinforcing the importance of integrating adaptation into national and regional climate strategies. As Seneca continues to support projects like Evola, it remains focused on identifying scalable models that deliver both environmental and economic outcomes.
