Singapore, 4 May 2020 – City Developments Limited (CDL) emerged as the only Singapore company to win multiple accolades at the 5th Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (ASRA), bringing home a total of three golds and one silver at the virtual awards ceremony held on 29 April 2020. CDL clinched gold for Asia’s Best Integrated Report Award, the most prestigious award for sustainability reporting across the region, as well as gold for Best Carbon Disclosure and Best Sustainability Report (Digital), and a silver for Best Sustainability Report (Design).
CDL has been an early adopter and pioneer of sustainability reporting and was the first corporation in Singapore to publish a dedicated sustainability report using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework since 2008. Since then, it has continued to refine metrics and raise targets that are used to assess and manage climate-related risks and opportunities which are material to CDL’s business. Last year, CDL played a key role in spearheading the establishment of the GRI Regional Hub in Singapore and continues to support the GRI’s mission to raise the standards of sustainability reporting and disclosure in Singapore and the region.
Ms Esther An, CDL Chief Sustainability Officer, in her acceptance speech at the virtual awards presentation, said, “CDL is truly honoured to be recognised for its sustainability reporting efforts and conferred with Asia’s Best Integrated Report, one of the top accolades presented at the awards ceremony. Sustainability reporting has provided us with good guidance on the strategic integration of material ESG issues, target setting and tracking, stakeholder engagement and effective communication to a global audience.
Having produced 13 dedicated sustainability reports largely by our in-house capacity, we are continually raising the bar of each report’s framework and scope. A good sustainability report not only communicates operational ESG performance but must also articulate the leadership commitment and long-term strategy to future-proof our business by promptly and proactively offering comprehensive and meaningful data. Amid the many unforeseen challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the new climate economy, ESG integration and reporting will help companies enhance their business resiliency and readiness for sustainable growth.”
The ASRA 2019 saw 80 shortlisted companies from 13 countries competing in the finals across 19 award categories. The winners were selected from 461 entries received from 16 countries in Asia. More than 200 senior business leaders and sustainability professionals from 15 countries attended the exclusive awards ceremony hosted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Swedish Ambassador to Singapore H.E. Niclas Kvarnström and Chargé D'affaires of the British High Commission to Singapore Ms Alexandra McKenzie were the Guests-of-Honour at the awards ceremony. Attendees also included dignitaries from academia, embassies, trade associations and advocacy organisations.
Rajesh Chhabara, Managing Director of CSRWorks International and the Founder of ASRA, said: “The unprecedented global pandemic caused by COVID-19 is a stark reminder that businesses, governments and societies need to work together to build mutual resilience. 2 Adopting responsible environmental, social, and governance practices has become ever more essential to ensure corporate sustainability.”
CDL’s track record in effective ESG integration and sustained performance has been recognised by 12 leading global sustainability rankings and indices, including the 2020 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World by Corporate Knights in which CDL was ranked the world’s top real estate company as well as the top Singapore company. CDL was also the only company in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong to score double ‘A’s in the 2019 CDP Global A List for corporate climate action and water security. Last year, CDL was the winner for Asia’s Best Carbon Disclosure and Asia’s Best Online Sustainability Report at the 4th ASRA.
For more information on the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards, please visit: csrmatters.com/asra-awards
More information on CDL’s sustainability efforts can be found at www.cdlsustainability.com
