PETALING JAYA: Paving their way to become sustainable cities, Seberang Perai, Iskandar Malaysia and Petaling Jaya have been selected as national finalists for the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) competition 2022, WWF-Malaysia announced.
OPCC is WWF’s initiative to assess cities in alignment with the Paris Agreement’s goal and review and acknowledge cities for their climate actions and ambitions.
The national finalists will also participate in the OPCC’s We Love Cities campaign, which aims to bridge better communication between city officials and the citizens they represent on climate and sustainability issues.
In a statement on Thursday, WWF-Malaysia executive director and chief executive officer Sophia Lim said: “We are proud to recognise all Malaysian cities that make an effort to mitigate the impact of climate change by developing climate action plans and bringing sustainability at the forefront of the country’s agenda.
“We encourage active participation and engagement of our citizens in supporting the cities’ plans.”
The finalists embarked on ambitious measures to reduce electricity consumption, promote energy-efficient buildings, upgrade open spaces to improve mobility, connectivity and accessibility, among others.
The biennial OPCC competition was first organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature in 2011 to mobilise global and local action among cities in the worldwide transition towards a climate-resilient, one-planet future and will be judged by global experts within the field of urban sustainability.
A total of 280 cities joined this edition of OPCC, with 70 being shortlisted in the finals.
Meanwhile, lights of the Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower went off for an hour from 8.30pm as a symbolic show of support for Earth Hour.
Earth Hour, the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment, returns with a message of solidarity for both people and planet, and invites people around the globe to unite in a moment of reflection on the interrelationship between the people and the planet.
“This year’s Earth Hour offers a moment of solidarity with all peoples suffering from wars and conflicts around the world; a chance for our global community to express what matters to them, to take positive action and to call for a world where people and planet are able to thrive together,” World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International Director General Marco Lambertini said in a statement on Thursday.
Lim urged Malaysians to pledge for nature and support Earth Hour in line with Malaysia’s national 100 million tree planting campaign 2020-2025.
“This year, Earth Hour is even more meaningful as it marks WWF-Malaysia’s 50 years of nature conservation efforts,” she shared.
More than 190 countries and territories stood in solidarity for people and the planet, with popular landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, Brandenburg Gate, Christ the Redeemer, Gateway of India and Empire State Building all part of the signature annual “switch off” moment.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
