KUALA LUMPUR: Higher
education institutes can offer mandatory courses to instill greater awareness
on green technology in Malaysians, says a Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL)
professor who specialises in the field.
Prof Dr Karl Wagner said
creating awareness was the biggest problem and that the government and
institutions of higher learning could collaborate with the media to provide a
good platform for green technology.
“Students are the
masterminds of the country’s future. They will and should have a chance to
understand what is going on,” he told Bernama.
He said the Malaysian
government could also issue something like the green journals once a month,
which could act as a marketplace for exchange of ideas.
UniKL could play a role in
helping to promote awareness as the university had a joint Masters programme
with German universities which offered various Masters-level programmes in
green-efficient buildings.
The German embassy in
Malaysia has also been very supportive in this regard, he said, pointing out
that UniKL had been working with the embassy, especially with the ambassador,
Dr Guenter Gruber.
“The German embassy is very
close to this aspect. This is our link to the government, we can say. He
himself (the ambassador) is a green person. So, whenever we meet, we ask
ourselves to do more such activities,” Wagner said.
Wagner said Malaysia has linked up with the German
embassy here and other institutions, such as the Malaysian-German Chamber of
Commerce Industry (MGCC), concerning green technology.
He said Malaysia has also
been quick to accept the need to promote green technology. Since 2009, there
have been numerous initiatives as well as rules and regulations regarding green
technology.
“There is one regulation
that is probably still missing – the regulation on energy efficiency – which I
have heard is going to be implemented from 2014 onwards,” he noted.
Energy efficiency refers to
the measurement of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases that are
spread into the atmosphere (CO2 emission). Carbon dioxide is a colourless,
odourless gas that a person breathes out or is produced when substances
containing carbon are burnt.
Green technology comprises
two aspects: energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE). Energy
efficiency is applicable to existing buildings and deals with, for example, how
to re-engineer fans or air conditioning systems to make them green in terms of
CO2 emission.
Renewable energy, meanwhile,
refers to solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy and heat arising from
industrial productions.
“This heat is turned into
energy, because all of these items are warm, and warm items always have a
source of heat and a source of renewable energy,” he said.
UniKL is also building green
mock-up houses in Bangi, Selangor, made of different building materials, so
that the students can try them out and decide which they prefer the most in
terms of building material, comfort and cost. (Bernama)
Interesting course which will cover the green technology, clean and sustainable technology will be the focus in the future and students should get equipped with these knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI think soon, more higher institution will start offering this Green Technology as mandatory course.
ReplyDeletePenekanan terhadap teknologi hijau adalah pendekatan yang tepat dalam menangani masalah alam sekitar dan pertumbuhan ekonomi, selaras dengan agenda utama kerajaan2 di seluruh dunia pada masa kini yang memberi prioriti kepada isu-isu alam sekitar khususnya fenomena perubahan cuaca dunia.
ReplyDeleteTeknologi hijau perlu juga seiring dengan pembangun
DeleteTeknologi hijau satu usaha yang baik untuk diusahakan.
ReplyDeleteUsaha kerajaan yang perlu disokong
Deletetrend di seluruh dunia hari ini lebih kepada penggunaan teknologi hijau.. pendek kata apa sahaja yang dilakukan wajib mengambil kira kesannya kepada alam sekitar.. oleh itu eloklah jika Malaysia juga bergerak seiring dengan negara2 lain dalam mengetengahkan konsep hijau dalam setiap pembangunan yang hendak dilaksanakan..
ReplyDeleteEnergy and the environment are essential for sustainable development. Biodiversity, for example, is essential for the functioning of ecosystems and supports the provision of essential ecosystem services.
ReplyDeleteThe poor are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and lack of access to clean, affordable energy services, and are also the most vulnerable in the face of climate change.
ReplyDeleteEnvironmental issues are also transboundary as climate change, loss of biodiversity and ozone layer depletion impact the entire global community and cannot be addressed by countries acting alone.
ReplyDeleteIn Malaysia, environmental issues and natural resource management are coordinated through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE).
ReplyDeleteTo enhance integrated land use planning, a National Physical Plan (NPP) 2005-2010 was adopted, and improved standards and indicators for land planning and natural resource management have been implemented.
ReplyDeleteThe National Biodiversity-Biotechnology Council (NBBC) was established to coordinate efforts for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of biological resources.
ReplyDeleteSince the December 2004 Asian Tsunami, there has been increased focus on the conservation and rehabilitation of coastal natural resources, especially mangrove forests, and more attention is being put on linking land management and planning with climate change.
ReplyDeleteMalaysia’s rapid development demands a proper environmental planning and design. Whilst the country recognizes its rich natural heritage and abundant energy resources and their contribution to strong and continued development, there is also increasing awareness about the need to safeguard the environment, to harmonize development and environmental goals and to incorporate the framework of sustainable development into mainstream development planning.
ReplyDeleteAs the magnitude and array of environmental problems become more complex and urgent, there is a need to find approaches and methodologies that can deal with these challenges effectively and efficiently.
ReplyDeleteUNDP supports initiatives that contribute towards ensuring sustainability. Toward this end, our work focuses on three core strategies which includes, the enhancement of environmental management of biodiversity and natural resources; mitigating Green House Gas (GHG) emissions (including the implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects) and reducing Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) consumption; and the incorporation of environmental considerations into the planning and development of non-environmental agencies.
ReplyDeleteUNDP also provides strategic and innovative policy advice on climate change and works with relevant government ministries and their agencies to strengthen their capacities to address the challenges faced by the country, especially as they relate to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged.
ReplyDeleteEfforts to improve planning and implementing energy efficiency (EE), renewable energy (RE) and green house data (GHG) data management in various economic sectors are also part of UNDP's work in this area. UNDP seeks to complement and support initiatives undertaken by the government such as through rural electrification projects using solar and hybrid technologies and other pilot initiatives that help the poor build sustainable livelihoods, especially in the islands, Sabah and Sarawak.
ReplyDeleteThis pillar supports UNDP's global thematic area on Energy and Environment for Sustainable Development.
ReplyDelete