Towards contributing to the national target of achieving a 45% reduction in carbon emissions intensity of GDP by 2030 based on the 2005 level, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) commissions Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s UTM-Low Carbon Asia Research Centre (UTM-LCAR), which is parked under the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment, to prepare the Kuala Lumpur Low Carbon Society Blueprint 2030 (KL LCSBP 2030).
The RM 2 million project, which is based on the ‘science to action’ (S2A, science-to-policymaking-to-action/implementation) approach, commenced in May 2016, with the final draft KL LCSBP 2030 scheduled to be delivered by November 2017. The KL LCSBP 2030 aims to help KL reduce its carbon emissions intensity of GDP by 50% by 2030, using the 2010 baseline.
To ensure a society-centric and people-friendly KL LCSBP 2030 is prepared, three focus group discussion (FGD) sessions have been planned at various stages of the project. The first FGD kicked off on 22-23 August 2016 at the Institut Latihan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (IDB), drawing a total 195 participants from various government agencies; the private sector; non-governmental organisations (NGOs); residents’ associations (RAs); and various technical departments within DBKL.
The FGD was officiated by Y.Bhg. Datuk Seri Hj. Mhd. Amin Nordin Bin Abd Aziz, KL Mayor and graced by Profesor Dr. Durrishah Bte Idrus, UTMKL Campus Director. Professor Dr. Ho Chin Siong, Director of UTM-LCAR gave an introduction of the project to the participants, who were subsequently divided into six groups to focus on deliberating strategic sectors that are vital to reducing carbon emissions in KL.
Findings from the FGD session are expected to provide a concrete and clear policy framework for guiding the formulation of LCS policies and determination of implementation programs to be included in the draft KL LCSBP 2030.