02 CONTENTS
@ green | April-May, 2025
@ green says ...
Malaysia ’ s unchecked urban expansion
Malaysia’s skyline is rising, but at what cost? With every new condominium and shopping mall, we lose yet another patch of green. The irony is unmistakable - while we champion sustainability, our actions tell a different story. Government policies promote net-zero ambitions , yet deforestation and excessive urbanisation continue unchecked.
Developers, driven by profit, claim to meet demand, but how much of this demand is real, and how much is created artificially ? Many high-end condominiums remain unoccupied, and malls struggle to retain tenants.
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P04-05 |
LOCAL NEWS Driving climate disclosure US tariffs threaten solar
Yet, forests, wetlands, and even urban parks are sacrificed for projects that serve speculative interests rather than societal needs. The environmental cost - rising temperatures, flash floods, and biodiversity loss - is dismissed as collateral damage in the race for economic growth.
P16-17
Column The Times Are A-changin! It is a time of immense technological advancement , environmental pressures, social shifts, economic inequalities, and geopolitical complexities.
P06-07 |
FOREIGN NEWS Equinix signs first Japan PPA South Africa backs SAREM
Government bodies are complicit as well. While Malaysia has pledged sustainability on international platforms, approvals for largescale developments continue without thorough environmental scrutiny.
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P18-19
| Column Lessons from Japan The concept of a “ maintenance culture” encompasses not only routine repairs but also proactive measures.
Farming with less harm The company blends science, digital tools, and education to drive environmentally responsible farming.
Although policies exist , enforcement is weak and often influenced by corporate lobbying. Green certifications and sustainability pledges mean little when deforestation remains rampant.
P10
P20-21 | @ DIGITAL
Launching the next chapter IGEM 2025 aims to host 500 booths, attract 50,000 visitors from 50 countries and deepen its impact on Malaysia’s green economy.
Building an AI nation Malaysia aims to evolve from being an AI consumer to an AI producer through NAIO
The irony deepens when businesses tout their commitment to “going green” while simultaneously contributing to environmental destruction. A mall with a green roof cannot offset the loss of a natural rainforest .
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| LOCAL NEWS Tech ties deepen
A condominium with energy-efficient features does not justify the destruction of a mangrove ecosystem.
P12-13 |
COVER STORY Rising to the challenge Malaysia is institutionalising climate governance through landmark policies like the National Climate Change Policy 2.0.
P23 |
FOREIGN NEWS Google trial, OpenAI testifies
Malaysia must move beyond symbolic gestures . Policymakers must prioritise sustainable urban planning, enforce stricter environmental impact assessments, and hold developers accountable . Unchecked expansion is not progress . It is self-destruction masked as development . If we continue at this pace, our green future will be nothing more than a marketing slogan lost beneath layers of concrete.
P24 |
OPINION Minding the gap The leap from research to commercialisation isn’t just about having a great invention – it’s about having the right mindset, the right partners , and a roadmap.
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| Feature Highway through the heart The construction of Avenida Liberdale through the protected Amazonian area risks long-term environmental degradation.
It is time to ask: what kind of legacy are we building ?