High Level Talks on Zero Carbon City Kuala Lumpur

The 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in November 2021, solidified consensus around the new global goal of limiting the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. In order to achieve this goal, it is essential for each country to accelerate its efforts at various levels, including at the state, city, and district levels.

In addition, as COVID-19 continues to spread, cities are being forced to readjust and consider new measures to achieve sustainable development while also addressing challenges related to the spread of the virus. It is clear that adopting new approaches and new city designs through inter-city collaboration is critical.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the Kuala Lumpur Municipality (KL City) launched their city-to-city collaboration in 2019, aiming to transfer TMG’s know-how to establish a system that will realise and promote KL’s version of ‘zero-carbon buildings’. The project has provided support for surveying the energy consumption of KL's 1955 public buildings, estimating their reduction potential. The project also supported in selecting public buildings that should be prioritised for energy-saving renovations and formulating guidelines. In addition to the existing collaboration between the two cities, Saitama City, newly selected as a leading decarbonisation area, joined the program this year. In Japan, "smart cities" are being planned and developed to address a host of challenges (climate change mitigation and adaptation, new infectious diseases, population decline, and disaster prevention and mitigation), and Saitama City has experience in successfully developing “smart home community” blocks in the Misono area (blocks 1 through 3). By sharing its knowledge and know-how with KL City, Saitama City is supporting the realisation of a new carbon-neutral district conceived by the Mayor of KL City.

This webinar was held in a hybrid format connecting the venue in the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and online participants. Approximately 200 participants in total attended the seminar. In the session, KL City, TMG, Saitama City, and supporting organisations promoting advanced initiatives for achieving carbon neutrality shared the latest status. TMG, an award winner of C40 and the World Green Building Council for its low-carbon building programs, introduced the 2050 "Zero Emission Tokyo Strategy" and " Fast forward to “Carbon Half” (e.g., revisions of the ordinance on the decarbonisation of the building sector and resource recycling initiatives). In addition, Saitama City introduced how to promote societal transition and decarbonisation through "Smart Home Communities," a case study of urban development pioneered in the Misono District.