Singapore's climate action ambassador Ravi Menon called climate change the "mother of all" supply chain disruptions at the Bloomberg Sustainable Business Summit 2026. Using El Niño as an example, he explained how climate events cascade through food systems, hydroelectric power, and energy supply chains. Menon also highlighted grid infrastructure and battery storage as key investment opportunities, arguing that private capital must complement public and philanthropic funding to drive climate action.
According to The Edge Singapore, Singapore’s climate action ambassador Ravi Menon said climate change is the “mother of all” supply chain disruptions and highlighted investment opportunities in grid and battery storage.
Speaking at the Bloomberg Sustainable Business Summit 2026, Menon, who previously served as the city-state’s central bank chief, described climate change as the deepest form of economic entanglement facing the global economy.
Climate’s cascading impact on supply chains
Menon used the El Niño phenomenon as an example of how climate change creates multiple, interconnected repercussions across modern supply chains.
“It [El Niño] hits the Mekong River system. You have food supply destruction, because of agricultural needs coming down, excessive floods,” Menon said.
“It affects hydroelectric power generation. That has knock-on effects on energy.” — Ravi Menon, Singapore’s climate action ambassador
The remarks underscore how a single climate event can simultaneously disrupt food production, water systems, and energy generation across multiple countries in Southeast Asia.
Private capital needed for climate action
Menon argued that private capital is essential to complement public and philanthropic funding in driving climate action forward.
He pointed to grid infrastructure and battery storage as areas offering meaningful investment opportunities for private investors. These sectors are critical for enabling the energy transition while addressing the knock-on energy effects of climate disruption he described.
The summit appearance follows a series of recent sustainability-focused engagements by Menon, including a July 24, 2026 address on geo-economics and a July 27, 2026 discussion on Singapore’s streamlined sustainability disclosures with a focus on climate.
Menon’s comments come amid broader regional efforts to address climate-related supply chain risks. A August 3, 2026 report by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) proposed measures including carbon tax support to help Singapore businesses maintain competitiveness.
Source: theedgesingapore.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
