Meet Zulkifli Salleh

Q: Could you tell us about yourself and your experience in the industry?

ZS: I have a rather different career path to most of the sustainability/EHS specialists I’ve come across. Originally, my career began in finance before I transitioned into the sustainability and EHS domain roughly 20 years ago. I started working in a very niche sector in EHS consultancy.

I joined a boutique global firm dedicated to safety transformation. In this role, I was involved with substantial oil and gas projects within the region where I gained insights into the true essence of workplace safety—it's more than mere compliance; it's about instilling a personal commitment to safety in every individual.

Later, I moved to one of the world's leading sustainability firms, where I further refined my skills in various EHS and sustainability services. I have also held leadership roles in one of the Big Four consultancy firms where I gained deep industry knowledge and understanding of the challenges and aspirations of a broad range of key industry players.

Throughout my career, I have had the extraordinary opportunity to collaborate with leading global clients across a diverse array of industries, including aviation, technology, data centers, utilities, consumer foods, and energy.

Q: How has the environmental consultancy evolved in the APAC region in the last few years and what specific factors have contributed to the change?

ZS: The environmental consulting industry has shifted its focus, branching out from traditional environmental services to more sustainability-oriented offerings. Within APAC, numerous prominent global environmental and engineering firms have set up divisions dedicated to tackling climate change and providing sustainability services.

This transition is driven by the evolving demands of investors and a landscape of tightening regulatory obligations. Governments across the globe are amplifying the pressure on corporations through enhanced regulatory and reporting mandates.

Amidst this backdrop, calls from investors, the workforce, and civil society for greater corporate accountability are intensifying. The spotlight on sustainability has never been brighter, compelling businesses to adapt swiftly or risk the repercussions of inaction.

In response, the environmental consultancy sector has adapted, offering services that were unheard of just half a decade ago. For instance, within the realm of due diligence, a rising number of clients are seeking Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) due diligence services. We’ve also witnessed the growth of services such as carbon accounting, sustainability and climate risk reporting, decarbonization strategies, circular economy, and energy transition, among others.

As the 2050 deadline for achieving Net Zero approaches, I'm witnessing a growing trend among environmental consulting firms to offer advisory services on nature-based solutions. These solutions involve leveraging nature itself to yield benefits for both humanity and biodiversity.

Q: In your opinion, what are the most significant challenges your clients face today in achieving their sustainability goals?

ZS: Where to even start? Our clients are grappling with numerous issues today, with climate change looming as a primary concern for the majority. It's clear that climate change represents the single most significant challenge of our generation.

Enormous financial and human capital is currently being mobilised to address it, including a pivotal shift away from fossil fuels towards more sustainable energy sources. Yet, we're still a considerable distance from a comprehensive solution, leaving many companies at a loss for direction. At the same time, many companies are wrestling with the looming threat of drought and water scarcity. Water scarcity signifies a troubling deficiency in the available fresh water to fulfil basic demands. The numbers paint a concerning picture.

Based on the "2021 State of Climate Services" report by the World Meteorological Association, in 2018, some 2.3 billion people resided in water-stressed nations, with roughly 3.6 billion experiencing limited water access for at least one part of the year. Projections suggest this could escalate to over five billion individuals by 2050.

However, according to the United Nations, poor water management is often at the heart of these scarcities, which is a solvable and preventable issue. Adopting an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) can provide a comprehensive strategy for water utilization and stewardship, playing an essential role in securing sustained social, economic, and ecological prosperity.

There are opportunities with any given challenge. It is very satisfying to work with our clients, understand their aspirations and challenges, and apply our holistic understanding and multidisciplinary design and delivery expertise to help them gain clarity and confidence in decision-making to succeed. Ramboll’s solid background in design and engineering positions us well as a consultancy which provide advice that is grounded in practical experiences.

Q: What opportunities exist for your clients to turn sustainability challenges into business advantages?

ZS: Sustainability challenges bring economic opportunities for businesses that choose to do so. Sustainability will be the next source of competitive advantage. Other benefits of integrating sustainability into corporate strategy include attracting investors and lenders, improving financial performance, building customer loyalty and sustainable operations.

Crafting the appropriate sustainability strategy, which varies across industries and confers a competitive lead, isn't a one-size-fits-all process. At Ramboll, we can assist our clients in forging this competitive edge through an interdisciplinary approach based on hands-on delivery experiences to tackle our clients' issues.

Q: What are the biggest environmental challenges and opportunities for data centers today?

ZS: Data centers provide a valuable service in our digital world, acting as a central hub for data storage and processing. Yet, the environmental challenges they face are significant. This includes high energy and water consumption, waste management, land utilization, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Acknowledging these challenges, data centers are transitioning towards renewable energy sources and implementing advanced cooling mechanisms. These initiatives are aimed at bridging the gap between technological growth and sustainable operations.

Having said that, there are opportunities for data centers to reinvent themselves. Data centers are now working with environmental experts to align with the existing and new regulations. Such collaboration ensures that they not only understand the pressing need for reduced emissions but also embrace their role in leading the tech sector towards a greener future.

Our partnership with data centers plays a pivotal role in this transformation. By offering our global expertise in creating integrated and strategic infrastructure solutions for data centers that support a circular economy and ecosystem, we are helping data centers achieve their ESG mandates.

Q: What's your outlook on the future of data center sustainability, and how should we prepare for that?

ZS: Data centers are increasingly challenged by the growing adoption of AI technologies. The rise in AI-driven tasks has intensified the demand on data center resources, heightening concerns regarding energy usage and environmental impact. Ramboll is working with our data center clients in tackling critical issues related to energy consumption, water usage, and carbon emissions through an interdisciplinary approach.

Q: What attracted you to join Ramboll?

ZS: I was drawn to Ramboll because of its reputation as one of the top environmental and sustainability consulting firms globally. What stood out to me the most and distinguished Ramboll from other consulting firms is our ability to take an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability.

Addressing sustainability challenges often requires involvement from various stakeholders and factors affecting social, economic, and environmental issues. Collaborating with a diverse group of individuals enables effective problem-solving. Ramboll excels in this aspect, as we can support our clients by leveraging our expertise and skills across different markets to tackle their sustainability challenges from multiple perspectives.