18th Green Edition Newsletter #326 - 31 October 2022
Dear Subscriber, |
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Let's Pledge to A.C.T. Before It's Too Late
The urgency to tackle climate change with affirmative actions is getting more obvious with each passing day. The clarion call has been sounded with natural disasters affecting more and more people throughout the world with greater ferocity and frequency.
With each passing day, we risk doing the irreversible for our future generations if we continue to live the way we are.
In championing climate change-related issues, the BMCC organised the Malaysia Climate Action Week from 17 to 21 October 2022.
Based on the theme of "A.C.T. Now! Adapt, Collaborate and Transcend", this year's Malaysia Climate Action Week offered 5 days of events and activities to inspire more companies to take action and work together to overcome the impacts of climate change. |
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Day 1: UK Smart Building and Renewable Energy Solutions Webinar |
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The curtain raiser for the Malaysia Climate Action Week was a webinar showcasing expertise from UK businesses. Guest speakers from the UK companies were Diba Salam RIBA ARB, Founder and Creative Director of Studio DS; Robert Easson, Founder and CEO of Easson Energy and Stuart James, Sales Director of Marlec Engineering Co Ltd. They shared valuable insights on topics including wind-off grid solutions, master planning smart cities and smart energy building management.
Organised by the BMCC in collaboration with Climate Governance Malaysia (GCM), the webinar also featured opening remarks by Dato' Seri Johan Raslan, Council Member of CGM, while Ir. Ashwin Thurairajah, Executive Director of GreenRE Sdn Bhd moderated the session. |
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Day 2: A.C.T. Now Conference |
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The conference, a highlight of the Malaysia Climate Action Week, drew almost 200 participants and brought together renowned sustainability practitioners and stakeholders to present transformational initiatives and actionable solutions in line with this year's theme of A.C.T. Now.
H.E. Charles Hay MVO, British High Commissioner to Malaysia attended the conference and in his speech, he said action against climate change remained an important work for the High Commission. He highlighted the importance of strong climate ties between Malaysia and the UK with the signing of the Climate Partnership in June 2022 to develop co-operation on climate and biodiversity.
Meanwhile, Mark Arthun, Chair of the BMCC, and Managing Director and Site Leader of Smith & Nephew Operations Sdn Bhd said the private sector's role was extremely crucial to support the government of Malaysia's aspirations on carbon neutrality and to achieve net emissions objectives. He added that these ambitions and plan could only be achieved with on-going efforts and collaborations by a wide network of stakeholders from both private and public.
The first panel session, which focused on creating ESG-engaged organisations, featured Mark; Shirley Loh, Regional Managing Director of Owen Mumford Sdn Bhd; Brian Fischel, General Manager of Reckitt Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam; and Dr Jayalakshmy Ramachandran, Associate Professor of Nottingham University Business School (NUBS) Malaysia. The session was moderated by Jennifer Lopez, CEO of BMCC.
The second session was moderated by Martin Haeger MBE, Board Member of BMCC and Director of HL Design Group. The speakers in the panel comprising Dato' Sri Azmi Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of YTL Construction (Rail Division); Datuk Seri Michael Yam, President of the Chartered Institute of Building; Ts Kenny Wong, Managing Director of Veritas Environment Sdn Bhd and Leo Leow, Country Director of Turner & Townsend Sdn Bhd shared their thoughts about exploring various ways the built environment sector could contribute to achieving climate goals.
Besides the panel sessions, Daniel Lee, Public Affairs and Government Relations Senior Manager of BMCC, who is also leading the BMCC Sustainability Interest Group, presented a summary report on the success stories of organisations committed to the BMCC Climate Action Pledge in 2021. There was also an eco-exhibition that showcased sustainablne products and services at the conference. |
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Youth Action Video Competition |
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The video competition for students, organised in partnership with the University of Nottingham Malaysia, aimed to celebrate and recognise youth's role in climate action by featuring their innovative ideas via video to bring positive impacts in their schools or colleges, community or among wider society in Malaysia. Students submitted a short video with a short essay explaining the video on "Innovative Ideas to Raise Awareness or Reduce Impacts on Climate Change".
H.E. Charles, accompanied by Mark and Professor Sarah Metcalfe, Provost and CEO of University of Nottingham Malaysia presented prizes to the top three finalists of the Youth Action Video Competition. The winners were:
The BMCC congratulates all the winners for their participation. |
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Day 3: Eco-Site Visit and ESG Masterclass |
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Both events, organised by the BMCC in partnership with HSBC and Arup at Menara IQ, attracted 30 participants ranging from field specialists to sustainability experts from the construction, property, education, energy and manufacturing industries.
For the eco-site visit, the participants toured and learned about the green features of Menara IQ, the new head office of HSBC located in Tun Razak Exchange. Leading the tour, Cyril Duffy, COO of HSBC Malaysia and John McBeath, General Manager of Menara IQ, explained that the sleek, sophisticated tower incorporated various sustainable features such as double-decker lifts energised by regenerated power to make it power efficient, triple glazed windows and energy-saving chilled beam system to keep the building cool and air purifier that controls the air quality in the building.
This was followed by a masterclass on environmental, social and governance (ESG). It was conducted by Devni Acharya, Climate and Sustainability Services Leader (Southeast Asia) of Arup and other facilitators. The masterclass touched on the origin of sustainable practices, different frameworks, guidelines and data collection methods, different components of ESG as well as the different criteria to assess a company's sustainable practices. |
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Held in conjunction with the Malaysia Climate Action Week, the specially organised dinner was a token of gratitude for BMCC members, partners and other important stakeholders for their unwavering support and collaborations throughout the year.
Throughout the evening, several short films focused on climate issues and sustainability by filmmakers of Studio Birthplace were shown to guests. Studio Birthplace are dedicated to telling stories of our generations most pressing issues on the environment. Sean Lin, Executive Producer and Co-Founder of Studio Birthplace also explained to the audience about the work done by the company and the philosophy behind the studio's work. |
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Day 4: The Queen's Green Canopy Tree Planting |
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The BMCC is proud to collaborate with the British High Commission Kuala Lumpur to encourage companies to be part of the Queen's Green Canopy Tree Planting initiative. Each company can pledge to plant 70 trees per company to demonstrate their stance on climate change. This is also geared towards Malaysia's 100 million tree-planting campaign under the purview of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
HRH The Regent of Pahang Crown Prince Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah graced the event together with Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah, Kuala Lumpur Mayor and senior government officials from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
Our tree-planting partners, Animal Projects and Environmental Education Sdn Bhd (APE), and Yayasan Hijau Malaysia will facilitate the planting and maintenance of the contributed trees on behalf of companies throughout Malaysia.
To start the ball rolling on the tree planting initiative, the BMCC together with our members have pledged to plant nearly 500 trees. We thank all of our tree planting pledgers to date - HSBC, BP, Reckitt, Institute of Chartered Accountant of England & Wales (ICAEW), YTL Group, British Standard Institute, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings, University of Nottingham Malaysia, AstraZeneca, HLA Design and Halal Street UK.
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Day 5: Nocturnal Urban Forest Walk |
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Steven Wong and Wayneson Tay, guides from Shah Alam Community Forest, led 20 participants on a night walk into a natural forest reserve, which was home to diverse flora and fauna. Equipped with headlamps, the participants spotted animals such as non-venomous snakes, frogs, slow lorises and more.
The activity was intended to invoke a love for nature and develop a sense of collected responsibility to preserve our flora and fauna from rapidly diminishing due to human activities.
The Nocturnal Urban Forest Walk rounded off the week-long Malaysia Climate Action Week. |
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The success of this year's Malaysia Climate Action Week would not have been possible without the support from various partners. The BMCC wishes to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to our supporting partner, British High Commission Kuala Lumpur; sponsors and climate action partners - HSBC, BP, ICAEW, Reckitt, Smith and Nephew, and YTL Group; our education partner, University of Nottingham Malaysia; our technical partner for ESG Masterclass, Arup; our tree planting pledge partners - APE and Yayasan Hijau Malaysia; supporting organisations - CGM and UN Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei; and our venue partner, The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
Through the A.C.T. Now Conference, the BMCC recognised and showcased companies that adapted to climate risk by adopting resilient development strategies with their innovative technology and solutions.
With the conclusion of the Malaysia Climate Action Week, the Chamber hopes businesses will monitor, optimise and tailor their responses and actions against the effects of climate change on a regular basis while industry leaders are encouraged to strengthen their commitments to the climate cause.
Moving forward, the BMCC is encouraging more companies to register their pledge to plant 70 trees per company at https://bit.ly/pledge-qgc2022. With the Malaysia Climate Action Week confirmed to return in October 2023, we expect more partners to come on board to support this programme and make it even bigger and more successful!
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Sarawak Aims to Become a Regional Renewable Energy Powerhouse |
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The government of Sarawak is currently focusing on its power exports to make the state into the centre of renewable energy for Southeast Asia. Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said as Malaysia’s largest renewable energy provider, Sarawak can play a vital role in accelerating the region’s energy transition by sharing its resources with its neighbours.
Johari said Sarawak’s Growth Agenda supports a resilient and sustainable energy future for a common regional prosperity. Sarawak has immense hydropower potential, adding that an initial study capped its estimated capacity at 20,000 megawatt (MW). Further studies then narrowed down their most prospective hydropower sites to 12 locations with a potential of 8,000MW, of which they have developed 3,452MW with another 1,285MW due to be commissioned by 2027.
The premier added that the state has successfully transitioned from 92% fossil fuels in 2010 to 70% hydropower by 2015, complemented by thermal resources. This shift has decarbonised the state’s grid emission intensity by 72% between 2010 and 2020 and continues to drive sustainable socio-economic growth in the present day. |
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Malaysia Chairs ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change |
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Malaysia has been appointed as chairman of the ASEAN Working Group on Climate Change (AWGCC) 2022-2025. The appointment reflects the recognition given to Malaysia as one of the leading countries for the climate change agenda in the ASEAN region. The AWGCC was established in 2009 to enhance regional cooperation and action to address the adverse impacts of climate change on socio-economic development in ASEAN member countries. |
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BSI Services Malaysia | The Journey to Carbon Neutrality |
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What are the implications of carbon neutrality for your organisation and how will you manage the necessary transition? In the context of carbon neutrality, standards play a vital role in building and managing a best practice-led journey - from broad-ranging standards encompassing carbon neutrality at the strategic, organisational, and product-level, to highly specific standards such as those denoting competency requirements for reporting. In this report, BSI provides high-level guidance on the key areas any business should consider in their approach and implementation of a carbon neutrality journey, providing standards insights and best practice examples.
Download the report here. |
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Sime Darby Property | Urban Farming at Serenia City |
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Sime Darby Property is collaborating with BoomGrow Productions Sdn Bhd to introduce its first urban farm in Serenia City. It is part of the property developer's "The Greener Good" sustainable farming initiative to shape resilient and healthy communities by making safe and sustainable produce accessible for its residents. The collaboration also supports Sime Darby Property's 2030 Sustainability Goals to achieve a minimum of one urban farm in each of its townships by 2030.
BoomGrow, a leading tech farming company, will develop a pilot urban farm located at the Serenia City Sales Gallery by utilising precision farming methods such as "machine farm" technology to produce safe and nutritious vegetables for the communities within and around the township. |
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Arup | Mobility Resilience Webinar |
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With the increasing urban population in Southeast Asia, how can we design and plan to transform outdated transport practices through innovative means, solve first and last-mile barriers to increase equity and reduce transport emissions to create safer and healthier cities?
Join our webinar on 3 November 2022 at 10:30am to explore further. |
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S P Setia | Rolling Out Green Initiatives with TNB |
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S P Setia is working together with Tenaga Nasional Berhad on a project to install solar panels on main buildings belonging to the property developer. The project will provide 10MWp of electricity at seven commercial buildings - S P Setia headquarters, Setia City Mall, Setia City Convention Centres 1 and 2, Setia Ecohill Club 360 as well as Setia Alamsari and Setia Tropika Welcome Centres.
Close to 500 solar panels will be installed as part of S P Setia's green agenda to address the challenges of climate change. The project is estimated to reduce the company's carbon footprint by about 9,000 metric tonnes a year. |
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Climate change: Summer 2022 smashed dozens of UK records - BBC |
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ESG funds face UK watchdog crackdown in anti-greenwash drive - The Edge |
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€74m Irish-British initiative to research climate change - RTE |
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Stay up to date with the Chamber’s latest news and activities through this newsletter or follow us on our social media platforms. |
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British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce Berhad 201801018075 (1280091-P) E04C0, 4th Floor East Block, Wisma Golden Eagle Realty, 142-B Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur Copyright © BMCC 2022 |
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