Malaysia to cut down emissions by 40% (The Sun Daily)
Cutting down emissions by 40%
Posted on 8 September 2011 – 08:36pm
Last updated on 9 September 2011 – 07:46am
Last updated on 9 September 2011 – 07:46am
KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 8, 2011): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today announced plans for a Low Carbon Cities Framework and Assessment System to propel Malaysia towards a low carbon economy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by 2020.
Without specifying exactly when the system will be launched, Najib said it was his aspiration to develop both Putrajaya and Cyberjaya as shining examples of eco-friendly townships and replicating it in other towns and cities across Malaysia.
???The Low Carbon Cities Framework is intended to help achieve that goal, assisting local councils, town planners and developers to formulate action plans to cut carbon emissions ??? for example, through measuring the baseline carbon emissions of cities in order to develop tailor-made carbon strategies and solutions,??? said Najib.
The prime minister said this after launching the Second International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2011) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre .
To achieve this vision, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry will work closely with the Housing and Local Government Ministry to ensure that the framework and the Green Neighbourhood Guidelines will be effective tools to be applied at local council level nationwide.
Najib also urged the private sector to embrace this opportunity and get involved in the project.
???Ultimately, it is the citizens of the world who will play the pivotal role in our pursuit of a sustainable future. We need to think twice before we use plastic bags, waste water or throw away our rubbish ??? and we need to create space for greener, more sustainable choices such as recycling waste, car-pooling or taking public transport, walking, using energy wisely and buying eco-friendly products,??? he said.
He also called upon the nation???s financial institutions, business and agencies to work together more closely in support the development of green economy.
He was concerned that although 97 out of 125 applications to develop green economy have been awarded with Green Certificates under the Green Technology Financing Scheme, only 21 have received loan offers from participating financial institutions.
The approved projects is worth more than RM2 billion but Najib said there remains a gap between demand and supply and the results have been ???less positive???.
At the event, Najib also launched the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda Malaysia) official portal (www.seda.gov.my) during the event.
Seda Malaysia is the statutory body established under the Seda Act 2011 to manage and administer the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) and implement the government???s Renewable Energy Policy and Action and is expected to start by Dec 1 this year.
IGEM 2011 saw an increase in participants compared to last year with almost 600 exhibitors from 24 countries taking part. The exhibition ends Saturday.
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