Welcome Remarks by Mr Jimmy Toh, SIF Governor, at the Water At The Core: Financing Archetypes for Climate Resilience in Southeast Asia Event at Ecosperity Week 2026

Distinguished guests,
Partners and friends,

Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to join you today at Ecosperity Week. One of the strengths of Ecosperity is its ability to bring together different stakeholders from across sectors to exchange perspectives and explore practical solutions. SEAPAW shares this same goal – galvanising action among diverse stakeholder groups to drive climate resilience in Southeast Asia. There is a familiar saying: we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. We must do more to fight climate change collectively and this is why we are gathered here today.

While we may come from different sectors and perspectives, we are united by a common concern. How do we move from ambition to implementation, and from isolated efforts to collective impact? This mission of convening communities and driving collective action is central to the work of the Singapore International Foundation (SIF). SEAPAW is one of the ways through which SIF brings together global communities to build a better world.

Southeast Asia and Water Risk  

Today’s discussion is especially timely because Southeast Asia is among the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change. Increasingly, these risks are being experienced through water — whether through floods, droughts, coastal pressures, or growing stress on water systems. Water is therefore not simply a sectoral issue. It is one of the clearest ways climate risks materialise across societies and economies. It affects infrastructure, food systems, public health, livelihoods, and long-term economic resilience.

At the same time, Southeast Asia is not short of innovation, expertise, or committed actors. Across the region, governments, businesses, researchers, financiers, and communities are already developing meaningful responses to climate challenges. The greater challenge now is how to connect fragmented efforts, scale practical solutions, and create financing pathways that can support long-term adaptation and resilience.

A Whole-of-Society Challenge and Need for Collective Action  

Climate resilience is not only an environmental issue. It is also an economic, developmental, and societal issue. It affects how cities are planned, how infrastructure is financed, and how communities prepare for increasing uncertainty. Climate resilience therefore requires a whole-of-society response. Governments play an important role in setting direction and enabling policies, but meaningful progress also depends on the contributions of businesses, civil society organisations, and communities, each bringing their own strengths and capabilities. 

At the same time, climate risks do not stop at national boundaries. Water systems, supply chains, ecosystems, and economies across Southeast Asia are deeply interconnected. Climate resilience therefore requires coordinated action within countries and stronger cooperation across borders. No single government, sector, or institution can address these challenges alone.

As various stakeholders often understand risk, value, and responsibility differently, there is a need for platforms that build trust, mutual understanding, and shared purpose. Initiatives such as SEAPAW can help by creating space for stakeholders across disciplines and geographies to exchange perspectives and identify practical pathways for collaboration. Together, we can work towards more coordinated responses to climate adaptation challenges.

SEAPAW’s Focus and Today’s Discussion  

Over the past two years, SEAPAW has convened expert working groups focused on advancing practical and scalable adaptation solutions relevant to Southeast Asia. Last year, SEAPAW positioned water as a unifying lens for climate adaptation. This year, the focus shifts into financing resilience outcomes. Adaptation is not only a technical challenge – it is also a financing challenge. The region needs financing structures that can translate promising adaptation efforts into projects that are scalable, investable, and capable of delivering long-term resilience outcomes.

Today’s session will therefore explore financing archetypes in two broad areas – source-to-sea water systems and sustainable digital infrastructure. Drawing on the work of one of SEAPAW’s expert working groups, the discussion will examine how capital, incentives, and partnerships can be better aligned to support climate adaptation across the region. I would also encourage all of you to stay tuned for another working group outcome – a flood damage reduction roadmap – which will be introduced at Singapore International Water Week in June.

More broadly, today’s discussion reflects a wider reality. In an increasingly interconnected world, many challenges cannot be addressed by any one country or sector alone. Lasting solutions require stronger people-to-people ties, trusted partnerships, and sustained regional cooperation.

I suggest a simple acronym and framework: PIE. P for practical ideas and initiatives; solutions that are grounded, scalable, and adaptable to local contexts. They include innovative financing models, blended finance, public-private partnerships, community-based projects, technology adaptation, and nature-based solutions. The focus should be implementable actions that create tangible outcomes.

I for impact; every initiative will ultimately make a meaningful difference but beyond financial returns, we should ask how it strengthens resilience. Does it improve access to clean water? Does it protect vulnerable communities? Does it support long-term sustainability? Clear measurement of impact will help to build confidence among governments, investors, and communities.

E for engagement; even the best plans cannot succeed without strong partnership and public support. Government, financial institution, businesses, communities, and young people all have a role to play. Engagement builds trust, encourages co-ownership, and translates policy and financing into implementation on the ground. Another one of my roles is Chief Executive of the People’s Association (PA), which runs community engagement in this country. That is another avenue where you can approach me.]

SIF’s Broader Role in Building Partnerships for Good  

This year, SIF marks 35 years of building people-to-people relations between Singapore and the world, we remain committed to fostering cross-border collaboration for shared good. Beyond climate adaptation, SIF will continue to work with partners across culture, health, education, and youth development. These efforts are similarly grounded in the belief that stronger connections between people and communities can help create more resilient, inclusive, and connected societies. I would like to invite everyone here today to explore opportunities to partner with SIF and PA – both within and beyond the climate space – as we continue building networks to drive social impact across the region.

I thank all our partners, speakers, panellists, and participants for contributing your expertise and perspectives to this important discussion. I encourage all of us to continue working together to translate ideas into implementation, and resilience into sustained long-term action.

Thank you, and I wish everyone a productive discussion ahead.