KUALA LUMPUR: States that have yet to start their low-carbon initiatives should see the effort as an investment in greener cities and healthier communities, rather than an added expense, says Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability minister said there are returns that will come in the form of green technology.
“We need to raise awareness and encourage participation, even from small industries like shopping malls and schools, which are already doing that in some states,” he said on Thursday (Feb 12) at the 2025 award ceremony for low-carbon cities.
Some states and industries that have already begun initiatives were recognised today at the Low Carbon Cities 2025 Award Ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
The ministry is emphasising its goal of establishing 200 Low Carbon Zones nationwide by 2030, a target first announced in 2019.
Citing data from the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation, Kurup said low-carbon initiatives in 2025 have already made a real impact, achieving reductions in greenhouse gases equivalent to replanting over 10 million mature trees and removing nearly 88,000 cars from the roads for the year.
He said the total carbon absorption from these initiatives exceeds 80,000 tonnes, showing that even small steps taken by local authorities contribute significantly to national sustainability.
Separately, Kurup said his ministry will look into the issue of residents in Gelang Patah, Johor, experiencing hotter temperatures and water shortages, following a recent protest on data centres in the area.
"The ministry will have to look into this. Because data centres, as we know, have high energy requirements.
“If we go into our new energy transformation roadmap now, we need to adopt greener and more renewable energy sources.
“We need to make sure that the solutions are in line with green energy to achieve carbon neutrality. This is the long-term plan," he said.
