KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19: At a recent forum on climate change organised by the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), the stress was on going beyond awareness of climate change and for companies and organisations to revisit their operations and sustainability plans.
Held in conjunction with the 14th International Greentech Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM), the forum themed, Race to Net Zero: Leadership in Climate Action, saw panel speakers sharing their insights on solutions and chanllenges in implementing climate change mitigation and adaption strategies.
Four speakers from the logistics, energy, government and banking sectors respectively shared their insights on solutions and challenges in implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, a press statement from MGTC said today.
From Pos Malaysia Bhd, Jarod Ho Hao Qin spoke of the organisation’s climate change mitigation strategies, such as electrification of its fleet vehicles, utilising renewable energy to reduce building
energy consumption, recycling operational waste, adopting sustainable packaging materials, upcycling used packages and installing electric vehicle charging stations at its branches.
They hope to achieve a 30 percent drop in emissions by 2025.
Mohammad Irwan Aman, General Manager Sustainability from Sarawak Energy Bhd disclosed the company’s Sustainability Strategy and Roadmap (2022-2025) to decarbonise its grid emission intensity and turn risks into business opportunities.
From the Government perspective, Kamisah Mohd Ghazali, Head of Resilient Environment from Iskandar Regional Development Authority shared the Low Carbon Society Blueprint for Iskandar Malaysia 2030
Climate Action Plan. These included strategic climate mitigation and adaptation actions such as its preservation and conservation initiatives and a case study on Segget River Rejuvenation.
Acknowledging the crucial role of financial institutions in climate action, CIMB Bank shared its Integrated Sustainability Roadmap & Commitments and how they embrace climate risk and manage climate impact financing.
Their representative, Tan Hong Tat, emphasized that achieving net zero ambitions will require a large-scale transformation of several key sectors, and that collaboration will be significant.
During the forum, MGTC conducted an online polling to gauge the level of awareness, gather opinion and thought as well as identify initiatives that have been done by organisations. Based on the feedback, 78 percent of participants claimed their organisations had undertaken climate risk studies, and 70 percent said climate change would affect their organisation.
In comparison, 24 percent said it won’t have as much impact. A majority of them expressed
concern about the threats posed by climate change to their organisations.
Among the areas they wanted covered in the National Adaptation Plan were flood mitigation, food security, access to data, emission reduction, governance, regulation, and responsible consumption.
The forum was co-organised by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and GIZ, a non-profit enterprise of the Federal Republic of Germany, with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change (NRECC) and Media Prima Berhad.
In his speech, German Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Peter Blomeyer, said cooperation would be key to making progress.
“With Germany and Malaysia collaborating to develop national adaptation strategies. Global solidarity is also necessary, with countries most affected by and least responsible for climate change. Germany stands ready with Malaysia to share knowledge and supply technologies to foster the transition to a sustainable economy.”
Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, Group Chief Executive Officer of MGTC, said the forum marked the beginnings for the development of the national adaptation plan with support from NRECC.
“Our instrumental partners, BMUV, GIZ and the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), will embark on this journey to ensure Malaysia has a holistic and integrated adaptation plan. MGTC will contact relevant stakeholders for engagement in this adaptation planning next year to intensify the education and awareness on understanding climate change adaptation through dialogues, technical workshops, and knowledge sharing.”
–WE