The Centre for Governance and Political Studies hosted a two-day workshop in February, 26-27, 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, focusing on urban climate change resilience. This workshop aims to address local climate change challenges, particularly those impacting communities within the city. It also serve as a follow up to the recent COP28 summit, incorporating discussions from the summit alongside a localized perspective relevant to Malaysia’s unique issues.

Kuala Lumpur, a cherished Malaysian city, faces a substantial challenge in urban climate change resilience (UCCR), as evidenced by recent flash floods that have revealed the city’s vulnerability. This concern is not exclusive to Kuala Lumpur, as it impacts several areas across Malaysia grappling with flooding issues. It is crucial to establish robust UCCR measures in Malaysia to address climate change effects and reduce their impact.

What is Urban Climate Change Resilience?

Urban Climate Change Resilience, is the combination of two concepts: Climate change and urban resilience.

The goal of UCCR is to create cities that are better equipped to withstand the challenges posed by a changing climate, ensuring the well-being of the population, the functioning of critical infrastructure, and the preservation of the city’s institutional systems. UCCR aims to strike a balance between climate resilience as well as sustainable urban development.

KLUCCR Workshop 2024 Schedule

FEBRUARY 26-27, 2024

Energy Transition in the City

This session will focus on the urban power grid and identify pathways towards energy transition for cities in Malaysia through the adoption of new technology and possible policy solutions. The session will also identify and address key challenges faced in regard to energy transition.

Planning for Climate Resilient Cities

This session will focus equipping participants with the necessary knowledge for planning for urban climate resilience and its engagement process as well as setting baselines to strive for. This session will also be equipping participants with the necessary knowledge regarding climate risk assessment and climate financing.

Disaster Management & Resilient Communities

This topic will be a community-centric, people-first discourse and will discuss issues of disaster management policies as well as creating resilient communities that are able to tackle these disasters while mitigating the various losses that come with disasters.

Meet our speakers

Dr. Renard Siew

Dr. Renard Siew is the Head of Corporate Sustainability at Yinson and a board advisor for Cent-GPS. He previously served as Co-Chair of the Climate Change & Disaster Risk Management Working Committee and UNEP-FI’s Collective Commitment on Climate Action. In 2020, he was appointed an SDG Champion-Climate Action by the World Economic Forum.Dr. Renard, who completed his PhD at the University of New South Wales in 2014, participated in COP28 and holds certifications from Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford.

Ms. Aznie Rahim

Ms. Aznie Rahim is the current Country Chair for Climate Action and Environment at G100: Mission Million, a global group of women leaders.She previously worked as a Principal Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Water, as well as the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment, and Climate Change from 2019 to 2023. She also served as Deputy Director and Head of Corporate Affairs at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations from 2014 to 2016. Ms. Aznie holds a Masters in Urban Planning and Environment from RMIT University and a Bachelors in Information Technology from Multimedia University.

Mr. Murali Ram

Mr. Murali Ram is currently the Malaysia Lead at Arup, a global sustainable development consultancy leading the sustainability, advisory, and planning team for diverse projects in Malaysia. Prior to Arup, he served as the Programme Director at Think City from 2014 to 2020 and worked as a Partner, Advocate, and Solicitor at Allen Chee Ram from 2013 to 2014.Murali holds a Masters in Sustainable Development from Sunway University, as well as Bachelor of Law (LL.B) degrees from University Malaya and National University of Singapore.

Mr. Yeong-chuan Lim

Mr. Yeong-chuan Lim is the Country President for Malaysia and Singapore at Honeywell, with a background in electrical engineering and an MBA. He has held various roles at Honeywell, including ASEAN Director of Business Development and Strategy & Marketing. Lim was also Co-Chair of the Energy Transition Committee for AMCHAM Malaysia. His previous experience includes positions at PADU Corporation, Booz & Company, Maxis, and Panasonic.He holds a BSc. and MSc. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from INSEAD.