Managing emissions

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), cities account for 60 to 80 per cent of energy consumption and at least 70 per cent of the global carbon emission.

Carbon emissions in Malaysia are mainly related to urban settings. Malaysia’s response towards mitigating the issue is through low carbon cities (LCC), which provides an opportunity to reduce carbon emission with its sustainable urbanisation approach.

Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC) organised a webinar on Dec 23, 2020, to highlight the various aspects of LCC in Malaysia.

The ‘New Normal Webinar of Low Carbon City: Make it a Reality!’ webinar included presentations from low-carbon experts from various government agencies, professional bodies and local companies.

The speakers at the webinar were Datin TPr Mazrina Abdul Khalid (Malaysian Institute of Planners), Ar Mustapha Kamal Zulkarnain (Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia), Ir Santha Kumaran Erusan (Institute of Engineers Malaysia), Ar Serina Hijjas (Malaysia Green Building Council), Juanita Lourdes (Green Real Estate), Ir Phang Chen Faut (Malaysian Energy Services Companies Association), Nur Sabreena (Advanrail Sdn Bhd), Faizal Akmal (Rivil Sdn Bhd) and Pang Swee Lei (Pamarai Sdn Bhd).

Malaysia’s commitment to carbon emission reduction

Presenting on ‘Introduction to LCC Planning’, Mazrina shared on Malaysia’s journey towards reducing carbon emission, which began when it announced its commitment to reduce 40 per cent carbon emission by 2020, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 (COP 15) in Copenhagen.

In 2015, at COP 21 in Paris, Malaysia further expressed its commitment to reduce 45 per cent carbon reduction by 2030. Malaysia then reported at COP 23 in 2017 that its carbon reduction is on track to achieve its target.

Malaysia has developed the Low Carbon City Framework (LCCF) to guide cities in managing carbon reduction. She further explained that by implementing LCCF, Malaysia will deliver 10 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The building sector is responsible for about 40 per cent of energy-related global carbon emissions. In Malaysia, the residential and non-residential sector is projected to grow in the next decade.

“However, less than one per cent of Malaysia’s building stock is green certified,” Juanita shared.

Considering the projected urbanisation, cities tend to face environmental issues such as Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, loss of biodiversity, etc. She stressed that added greenery will be able to solve the ecological problems.

According to Serina, a green township’s development considers a more holistic planning approach; creating better linkages between communities, environment, and buildings.

And when it comes to greening a township, there are six core criteria, which are:

• climate, energy and water,
• ecology and environment,
• community planning and design,
• transportation and connectivity,
• building and resources, and
• business and innovation.

In Malaysia, the energy sector, which includes electricity and transportation, makes up 80 per cent of the total emissions.

Santha, presenting ‘Renewable Energy for Sustainable LCC’, stated that renewable energy was the main drive for low carbon. While Malaysia had started renewable energy initiatives, it was still in the early stages.

Mustapha, who presented ‘How are cities to cope after Covid-19 – The good news and the future’, said that apart from climate change and disaster risk management, urban design protocol now needed to consider handling control Covid-19 or other potentially infectious diseases.

He believed the green and smart buildings designs would be the secret weapon to combat infectious diseases in the future.

“Buildings will be the filter between us and the pandemic,” he said.

The webinar also further featured presentations from the remaining speakers, each sharing their green-certified services and innovations, contributing to LCC goals.— @green