Malaysia is committed to slashing 40% of carbon emission levels

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is committed to slashing 40% of its carbon emission levels by the year 2020. Minister of Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Datuk Raja Nong Chik said the reduction is based on emission levels recorded in 2005.

The bold step is further enhanced by Malaysia being one of five nations who made a statement of intent to limit carbon emissions during a United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, he said in his speech at the Green Cities International Conference 2010 held at the Perbadanan Putrajaya Complex in Putrajaya on Feb 23.

He added that urbanisation will put pressure on water resources and waste management and hopes that Putrajaya and Cyberjaya will lead the way in coming up with Green initiatives for other cities to follow.

He also said that the prime minister has instructed the ministry to convert the Lake Gardens or Taman Tasik Perdana in Kuala Lumpur into a botancial garden.

Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, president of Putrajaya Corp who was also present at the opening of the conference told reporters later that there are plans for food outlets in Putrajaya to compost their waste into fertiliser for the city's parks and gardens. This will help reduce the problem of solid waste as Putrajaya is said to have one of the highest solid waste per capita rating.

The conference was jointly organised by Perbadanan Putrajaya and the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) and features local and international speakers. There are two keynote speakers. Hiroaki Suzuki, the lead operations officer of World Bank, East Asia & Pacific Region who spoke about the World Bank’s new urban initiative to help cities develop greater sustainability called Eco2 and Debra Just, general manager, City Strategy and Design, Adelaide, Australia who will speak on the Green Action Plans of Adelaide.