Summit Day 1 - How Johor is Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future
The Green Legacy Johor Summit 2024 began on a high note at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre, gathering over 800 attendees to discuss Johor’s ambitious plans for environmental sustainability. With a focus on positioning Johor as a regional leader in climate action, Day 1 was marked by visionary speeches, interactive panels, and the discussions of groundbreaking green initiatives.
Visionary Leadership - Johor’s Bold Commitment to Sustainability
The summit’s welcome address by YB Datuk Seri Utama Ir. Hasni bin Mohammad, Chairman of Sustainable Johor, shared Johor’s transformative vision. Highlighting the Iskandar Malaysia Low Carbon Blueprint and the Pengerang Green Energy Hub, Datuk Hasni reaffirmed Johor’s leadership in green energy and sustainability efforts. He also mentioned the Johor Sustainability Centre, established under royal patronage, and praised Invest Johor for attracting sustainable investments that align with the state’s low-carbon development goals.
Youth Engagement and Empowerment
A significant aspect of Johor’s sustainability efforts lies in empowering younger generations. YB Tuan Ling Tian Soon, Johor Health and Environment Committee Chairman representing the Chief Minister of Johor, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Onn Hafiz bin Ghazi, highlighted the crucial role of youth in climate action. Quoting the Chief Minister of Johor’s speech, he said programs are in place to engage students in environmental projects, ensuring that the next generation plays an active role in shaping Johor’s sustainability journey.
The importance of youth involvement is further emphasized by recent grassroots initiatives like Skuad Johor Bersih (SJB), which has gained significant attention for its ‘small actions, big ripple effect’ approach to environmental conservation. Dedicated sessions focused on youth empowerment, with discussions exploring how young people can lead initiatives on climate awareness, local projects, and green entrepreneurship. These youth-led efforts are critical to the success of Johor’s long-term sustainability plans.
Green Energy and Innovation
The Pengerang Green Energy Hub was spotlighted as a cornerstone of Johor’s commitment to becoming a leading green energy center in Southeast Asia. The hub’s transformation, driven by collaboration with regional partners such as Singapore, is expected to fuel innovation in renewable energy and green technology. This forward-thinking approach sets a benchmark for other regions and highlights Johor’s ambition to lead in clean energy solutions.
The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is also set to play a crucial role, introducing stricter regulations for investors to ensure they comply with environmentally sustainable practices and adopt new technologies. This collaboration will drive advancements in renewable energy and position Johor as a hub for green investment in the region.
The Role of AI in Sustainability - Patrick Dixon’s Futurist Discussion
One of the most anticipated sessions of the day was led by Patrick Dixon, futurist and keynote speaker. In his thought-provoking talk, Dixon explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing decision-making and resource optimization in various sectors.
Dixon emphasized AI’s potential to dramatically reduce energy consumption in data centers—citing Google’s DeepMind as an example, which has saved billions in energy costs through AI-driven optimization. He also spoke on AI’s role in smart city planning, where it can simulate urban designs and optimize the deployment of green energy.
However, Dixon also raised concerns about the ethical implications of AI, stressing the need for responsible deployment and governmental safeguards to ensure that AI serves humanity without causing unintended harm. His predictions about AI’s exponential growth and its transformative potential left the audience with a lot to ponder about the future of AI in sustainability.
Panel Discussions - Corporate Strategy and Renewable Energy
Day 1 featured two critical panel discussions that delved deeper into the strategies driving Johor’s green transformation:
- Panel 1: Driving Business Growth Through Net-Zero Commitments
Moderated by Manohar Benjamin, Southern Region Assurance Partner at PwC Malaysia, this session included key industry leaders such as:- Ir. Nirinder Singh Johl, Founder & CEO of Asia Carbonx Change Pit
- Franc Molto, Managing Director of Surfactor Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd
- Ar Sarly Adre Sarkum, CEO of Green Building Index
The panel explored how businesses can align corporate strategies with global sustainability goals, with a focus on achieving net-zero commitments. Key takeaways from the panel included:
- Technology as an enabler for green transition
- Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) as a tool
- Holistic approach to sustainability
- Regulatory compliance as a sustainability driver
- Green Building Index (GBI) impact
- Panel 2: Enhancing Renewable Energy Reliability
Moderated by Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Sharifah Rafidah, from the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the second panel gathered industry experts to discuss the importance of enhancing renewable energy reliability, focusing on intermittency and grid integration. The panel included:
- Ir Mohd Razif Abdul Halim, Managing Director of TNBX Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)
- Tham Chee Aun, Founder and CEO of Ditrolic Energy (Malaysia)
- En Noor Hafifi Jalal, UEM Lestra Berhad (Malaysia)
Key takeaways included:
- The importance of grid interconnection for resource sharing
- Solar power’s intermittency challenge and grid integration
- Smart grids: the intelligent energy distribution networks
- The critical role of energy storage
- Predictive analytics for optimizing energy storage
- EV charging infrastructure as part of renewable energy solutions
- Demand response as an alternative to energy storage
Global Unity for Climate Action
The theme of global unity resonated throughout the day’s discussions. YB Tuan Ling Tian Soon emphasized the need for cross-border collaboration to address global climate change challenges. Johor’s strategies for achieving low-carbon development were highlighted as models for international cooperation, with public-private partnerships playing a critical role in driving sustainable growth.
Speakers further discussed Johor’s efforts to align its initiatives with global climate targets, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), signaling Johor’s commitment to international standards of environmental stewardship.
Final Case Study - Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
The final session of Day 1 included an in-depth case study on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which examined strategies for promoting sustainable consumption and waste management. The featured key experts, included:
- Muhammad Zaki Tamimi, Head of Business Development, JLG Zaquin Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)
- Prof. Dr. Agamutu Pariatamby, Senior Professor, Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University (Malaysia)
- Profesor Madya Ts. Dr. Ruzinah Binti Isha, Associate Professor, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (Malaysia)
They explored how EPR policies are driving the responsibility of producers to manage product waste throughout its life cycle. This session highlighted the importance of collaboration between government and industry to achieve waste reduction goals and foster a circular economy.
Conclusion - A Collaborative Future for Sustainability
The Green Legacy Johor Summit 2024’s opening day set the stage for a collaborative and strategic approach to sustainability. Johor’s ambitious plans for low-carbon urban development, renewable energy, and youth engagement were clearly articulated, creating a platform for global unity in the fight against climate change.
As Johor pushes forward with its sustainability goals, corporate responsibility has become a critical component of the state’s green transition. The Green Legacy Johor Summit 2024 is set to position Johor as a leader in environmental conservation and sustainability, building on the momentum from hosting the Asia Pacific Climate Week in the previous year.
