The client is a regional metropolis in ASEAN and has appointed 27 Advisory as the lead consultant for this study to develop a Low Carbon Society Blueprint for the regional development authority, including a Climate Action Plan and roadmap covering both climate mitigation (low carbon) and adaptation.
The scope of the work also includes applying a scientific approach to the carbon emission baseline, and future scenarios study besides promoting awareness among the state government, regional authority, local authorities and community at large of climate change and its mitigation and adaptation.
Full Story
The global concern over issues of climate change, global warming and the management of the environment calls for well-informed and coordinated actions by every nation, state and citizen in ensuring that future generations will inherit a world that is fit for human habitation and is conducive for future growth and prosperity and enhanced quality of life. Over the past years, it has been widely accepted that our planet is now a facing a “climate emergency”, no longer merely climate change, and that all countries must combat this significant challenge.
The client has been the pioneer of low carbon development since adopting a Low Carbon Society Blueprint in November 2012. The LCSBPIM 2025 is a research output of Japan’s Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) project called “The Development of Low Carbon Society Scenarios for Asian Region” funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The Partners of this major study were IRDA, University Teknologi Malaysia, Kyoto University, Okayama University and the National Institute of Environmental Studies, Japan.
In 2015, to further speed up the realisation of the Low Carbon Society Blueprint for the region, the Low Carbon Society Action Plans 2025 (LCSAP 2025) for the five local authorities within the designated region were formulated.
The study area is located at the southmost tip of Peninsular Malaysia, and it covers Johor Bahru, Kulai and Pontian districts, with a total land area of about 2,737 km2. The Low Carbon Society Blueprint aims to develop a Climate Action Plan and roadmap for the regional development authority, which covers both climate mitigation (low carbon) and adaptation.
Key Outcomes
The team begins with a detailed gap analysis assessment by reviewing existing policies and frameworks from the previously developed low carbon blueprint. The team then conducted a local assessment to understand the existing land use, transportation, energy system, economy, building, green space, water and wastewater management, municipal solid waste management, public awareness and urban governance, besides analysing the current and proposed future land use and other official development planning documents. This assessment provided a comprehensive analysis that showed the critical challenges faced, possible areas for improvement, and several green opportunities for the society with the designated region.
This is followed by international and local benchmarking exercises and analysis of various successful low carbon cities development worldwide, focusing on cities with good low carbon mitigation and adaptation initiatives and best practices. The benchmark looked at the low carbon city planning policies and targets and unique thrusts across various cities. The team then conducted a detailed comparative analysis to identify the commonalities and key success factors in these cities. The result is a list of possible strategies that can be adapted to the project.
Subsequently, the team proceeded with conducting several stakeholder engagement sessions and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with the stakeholders and agencies for detailed data collection to develop the Asia-Pacific Integrated Model (AIM Modelling) and Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA). During the FGDs, the consultant team managed to better understand the stakeholders perspectives on the key issues/challenges in developing the strategies and Climate Action Plans for the client.
The consultant team developed the GHG Modelling using AIM with 2010 as the baseline. The consultant team had projected GHG emissions for BaU (Business as Usual) and Countermeasure scenarios for both years 2030 and 2050 based on various projected factors and paste emerging trends in possible socioeconomic and technological change. For CRVA, the consultant team conducted the CRVA and determined present adaptive capacities and gaps concerning climate mitigation and adaptation for the five local authorities within the region.
This is followed by providing a framework for strategic sectoral climate mitigation action planning for the client. In addition, several scenarios were developed based on the findings from AIM Modelling and CRVA. The consultant team had also identified the climate change mitigation targets and adaptation goals by 2030 and beyond with a detailed climate action plan implementation roadmap, which aligns with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and New Urban Agenda (NUA).
