Within the EU’s support to the implementation of the GCoM in Asia, module 2 of the IUC training programme for Malaysian cities took place in Kuala Lumpur from 22-24 April 2019. The workshop was organised by CityNet, the Kuala Lumpur Regional Training Centre and the EU’s Joint Research Centre (JRC).
The Workshop focused on GHG Emission Reduction and Low Carbon Society and was attended by more than 20 representatives from Malaysian cities involved in module 1 training (held in March 2019). It addressed the following key points:
- Basic Principles and Climate Actions on GHG Emission Reduction
- Climate Action Plan in Asia Pacific
- Low Carbon Solution Policies
- Strengthening Infrastructure to Support the Implementation of Low-Carbon Strategies
Setting the discussion tone, the workshop started with a keynote from Prof. Dr. Ho Chin Siong from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia establishing the understanding of climate change impacts and emission reduction potential in Asian cities. The highly practical workshop also featured lectures from the European Union’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), the World Resources Institute China and C40 Cities that showcased the GHG inventory tools that could be adopted by participating cities. EU’s JRC expert Eleonora Lo Vullo exüplained the methodologies for building the GHG Baseline Emission Inventories (BEIs) and worked interactively with all participants while setting the targets and sectors according to the individual activity data and emission factors of the cities represented.
The Asian Development Bank and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy further enriched the discussion by addressing the visions and strategy to develop a low-carbon society through illustrations of low-carbon infrastructure cases from various Asian cities that look into the local circumstances and needs specifically focusing on access to alternative energy and sustainable mobility.
To kick-start the workshop, international participants had the experience to take part in the Kuala Lumpur Car-Free Morning on 21st April from 7am to 9am. It is the city of Kuala Lumpur’s initiative held on every first and third Sunday of the month that features closed roads for people of all walks of life to cycle, run, skateboard, rollerskate, rollerblade or simply walk.
During the workshop, CityNet operated a pavilion to promote Urban SDG Knowledge Platform activities and to reach out to new partners. Also, a survey was conducted to understand the cities’ needs regarding Smart Innovation and Urban Development to build up the program for the coming workshop on “Smart Cities”.
Closing the workshop on behalf of the Kuala Lumpur Mayor, the Director of Infrastructure Planning Department Sulaiman Mohamed said that Kuala Lumpur City Hall will try their best to provide more trainings to ensure that the Asia Pacific region would be able to keep themselves the latest, most updated initiatives of urban solutions and innovations.
One of the participants, the Environmental Officer (Secretariat Environment and Disaster Management Committee) of Bharatpur Sushila Regmi Adhikari expressed her positive remarks about the workshop being the best platform for participants to share best practices and urban challenges with other cities from different countries.
