The Malaysian government has launched a climate action simulator intended to serve as a tool to explore the technical feasibility of low carbon planning.
Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment & Climate Change (NRECC) developed the tool in collaboration with the country’s Green Technology & Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), with additional support from overseas.
Malaysia Climate Action Simulator (MCAS) is said to be a groundbreaking tool for forward-planning and testing solutions up to 2050.
It offers a “dynamic visualisation” of Malaysia’s carbon emission trajectory, and facilitates a “comprehensive exploration” of diverse pathways to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across critical sectors, including energy, transport, building, industry, land use and waste.
The project received funding the UK government’s International 2050 Calculator Programme, and was supported by a number of technical partners. These included Mott MacDonald, Imperial College London, Ricardo, and CLIMACT.
Ailsa Terry CMG, British High Commissioner to Malaysia, said: “The UK is working closely with international partners like Malaysia to address the global climate challenges. Since 2012, the UK has committed £6m of International Climate Finance to the international community to support the creation of their respective 2050 Calculators.
“So far, we have helped create 19 national, and six regional calculators, which have been used to develop NDCs and action plans, raise awareness and inform long-term strategies. The launch of MCAS is a culmination of our knowledge sharing and technical collaboration with Malaysia, and I am pleased that it plays a role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors in Malaysia.
“This is part of our ongoing ambitious partnership with Malaysia to address the shared challenge of climate change and energy transition.”
MCAS is said to be a versatile communication tool to increase public awareness about the critical role of technology, policy, and behaviour in reducing GHG emissions. It is also a “valuable” reference tool for businesses transitioning towards green technology solutions.
Featuring an interactive and user-friendly web interface, MCAS empowers users to simulate different behaviours, navigate technological options, select potential pathways, and identify sector-specific roles.
It offers a common language for discussion on climate change mitigation measures, providing the means to plan and visualise decarbonisation pathways and make a comparative analysis.
Ts. Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, MGTC’s chief executive, said: “MGTC has strategic plans to collaborate with universities in developing educational modules centred around MCAS and integrating it into the university curriculum. Additionally, MCAS remains open for further research contributions, aiming to facilitate more informed and rational decisions on various pathways to mitigate GHG emissions in Malaysia.”
Mott MacDonald’s 2050 calculator programme country manager for Malaysia, Danny Giam, said: “Having overseen the delivery of the Malaysia Climate Action Simulator (MCAS) since the start of the programme, we’re excited to see it come to fruition. It will be an important enabler in Malaysia’s journey to achieve zero net emissions by 2050, and we look forward to seeing the tool further adopted by stakeholders in the near future.”
Image credit: metamorworks/Shutterstock
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