The December 2021 floods affected 29 locations in Selangor. Among the severely affected areas was Taman Sri Muda in Shah Alam. — Filepics
Catastrophic floods and heat waves are no longer warnings –they are the face of climate change today.
In May 2023, The Star’s report titled “School uniforms now optional” said educational institutions could close if the Malaysian Meteorological Department declared a heatwave for temperatures exceeding 37°C for three consecutive days.
This is an example of the climate change impact on people.
Recognising the urgent need to adapt, the state government launched the Selangor Climate Adaptation Centre (SCAC) in May to confront climate change with science, research and data-driven solutions.
SCAC which includes state department heads and agency representatives (see chart), climate adaptation experts and academics, is chaired by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Experts shared with StarMetro how the centre should prioritise its efforts in addressing climate change via adaptation.
Addressing local issues
Khazanah Research Institute research director Dr Suraya Ismail said climate adaptation meant safeguarding people, businesses, households and public assets from global warming.
“Climate adaptation plans have been neglected nationally despite their importance,” said Suraya, highlighting the need to protect homes, businesses and rivers, and ensure buildings were pollution-free.
Protecting these assets must start at local council level, she said, stressing the need to safeguard the physical environment and infrastructure to support long-term economic investments.
Research projects warn that by 2100, rising sea levels could submerge Port Klang, Selangor’s trading hub, thus highlighting the urgent need for planning, she stressed.
Suraya: Climate adaptation involves protecting people and assets from climate change effects.
Yet, Malaysia lacks policies to tackle rising heat stress – a threat to urban health and infrastructure, said Suraya.
“Our industries are unprepared for climate impacts on their infrastructure and livelihoods.”
She said Malaysia’s relatively small greenhouse gas emissions (0.37% compared to the US’ 25%) required tailored adaptation objectives based on local capacity.
The focus, she said, could include sectors like energy transition considering cost implications and potential consumer impacts.
Suraya urged incorporating climate justice and economic equity by tailoring adaptation strategies to local development needs, including port access and agriculture.
“The SCAC must address inequities and varying climate risks across diverse groups and localities,” she said, adding that certain issues, including flash floods, were the result of poor urban planning rather than solely climate change.
Research suggests Port Klang, Selangor’s trading hub, could be submerged by 2100. — KK SHAM/The Star
Mindful planning
Geologist and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia South-East Asia Disaster Prevention Research Initiative (SEADPRI-UKM) principal research fellow Prof Dr Joy Jacqueline Pereira emphasised the need for thoughtful land use, planning and durable building materials, with rainwater and energy harvesting.
She called for empowering local councils to identify and solve issues instead of relying on external consultants.
Decisions at the local government level are critical, with SCAC harmonising state and federal policies, said Prof Pereira, who also chairs the Malaysia Research Network on Climate, Environment and Development (MyClimate).
“Urban flooding is increasing and will worsen without an adaptation plan,” she warned.
SCAC executive director Daniel Lee outlined the centre’s long- and short-term plans.
He said future policies would be shaped by studies on climate risks and vulnerabilities.
While private landowners might resist adaptation initiatives, persistent engagement and identifying high-risk areas for flooding was key, he said.
Developments with 30% green space and parks would serve as water retention zones which were crucial for adaptation, he said.
Lee also highlighted SCAC’s role in gathering local climate data with partners like National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (Nahrim) to support drainage and infrastructure planning.
A submerged home in Taman Sri Muda during the floods in 2021 (top) and several months after the incident.
Renewable energy
Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said there were plans to expand renewable energy and its efficiency.
She said the state government supported policies like carbon markets and energy transition to boost competitiveness and development alongside climate impact mitigation.
“These initiatives can generate revenue for adaptation efforts for the benefit of Selangor folk in the long-term,” she said.
The SCAC, Jamaliah said, was aimed at strengthening partnerships with international bodies and the private sector, collaborating with Malaysia Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) and accessing funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Sustainable Cities Integrated Programme.
SCAC also partners with the United Nations Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei (UNGCMYB), offering capacity-building and environmental, social and governance incentives for small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the state.
NGOs’ feedback
Climate impact such as floods and heatwaves cut across jurisdictions, hence a central body like SCAC helps prevent fragmented responses, NGOs say.
“Instead of reacting post-disaster, a dedicated centre like SCAC enables proactive, long-term planning,” C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group regional director Murali Ram said.
He commended Selangor’s push for coordinated climate adaptation, pointing out that local councils often depended on state funds for critical infrastructure works.
He referenced New South Wales in Australia, which developed a state-level climate adaptation plan using scientific modelling to reinforce infrastructure and emergency risk planning.
Murali says instead of reacting post-disaster, SCAC enables proactive, long-term planning.
Greenpeace Malaysia Climate and Energy campaigner Hamizah Shamsudeen described SCAC as a science-led initiative encouraging collaboration across sectors to create a resilient, low-carbon Selangor.
She said protecting natural carbon sinks was vital, and that infrastructure and urban planning must prioritise community health and safety.
Hamizah underscored the need for transparency and community involvement, warning that leaning too heavily on technology could overlook lived realities and exclude vulnerable groups.
She cited the contentious waste-to-energy project in Batu Arang where despite protests over environmental and health concerns, plans for multiple plants continue without resolution.
She called for a meaningful platform ensuring community voices guide policy and development affecting their lives.
