THE waste produced by Malaysians is accelerating at an alarming rate, as experts forecast current landfills are on track to reach capacity by 2050.
Tackling this issue requires policy enforcement and incentives to encourage waste reduction, and the concept of a circular economy forms a strong foundation for how this can be achieved.
In a circular economy, waste is reframed as a valuable resource.
The model focuses on sharing, leasing, repairing, and recycling existing materials to leverage their utility for as long as possible.
Circular thinking fosters greener cities with reduced traffic congestion, reduced waste, better air quality and improved water security.
Cities also become more resilient by minimising dependence on raw materials by keeping products in use and balancing local manufacturing with global supply chains.
Reducing resource extraction and greenhouse gas emissions are at the heart of circular thinking.
It is widely acknowledged that the built environment, transportation, and food systems have the greatest potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through circular economy strategies.
The biggest potential reductions in emissions are found through changes in the consumption side and product design measures.
Lau CL_Malaysia Country Lead_Arup
According to studies by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2021), when a circular economy is applied to industries like the built environment, mobility, food, electronics, and textiles, it could cut greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, India and China by 22–44% by 2050 when compared to business as usual.
The challenge of waste management presents us with an opportunity for innovative and sustainable solutions that have the potential to transform our cities into thriving green communities.
However, that requires alliances across communities, businesses, academics and governments.
In the built environment, the circular economy goes beyond regular green building practices in prioritising the reuse of existing buildings and infrastructure, a practice often referred to as retrofits.
Building for adaptability is thus essential. Creating areas and buildings that are easily repurposed guarantees their life and significance in a constantly shifting urban environment.
Driving green initiatives for a sustainable future
Prioritising green initiatives has the added benefit of improving the social and economic welfare of a city’s residents.
Green cities are fundamentally attractive to young talent and companies with strong ESG commitments.
They are, by nature, more liveable and resilient, spurring job growth, reducing healthcare costs and giving an important boost to the attractiveness of a city for tourism.
Green cities serve as incubators for innovation, fostering a robust environment for sustainable industries and technologies to flourish.
As these cities prioritise renewable energy sources, waste reduction and efficient transportation systems, they generate a demand for skilled workers across various sectors.
The cleaner air of green cities leads to improved public health and reduced healthcare costs.
By prioritising green spaces and sustainable transportation options like cycling and walking paths, cities can encourage physical activity, reducing the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and associated health issues.
Some of the most desirable tourist destinations in the world are green cities, drawing visitors with their commitment to sustainability and unique green infrastructure.
We have seen this in Singapore and Seoul, for instance.
Parks, botanical gardens, and natural reserves can serve as recreational spaces for both residents and tourists, as it does well in Hong Kong.
Greener, more competitive cities
In Kuala Lumpur, the primary targets of the Kuala Lumpur Climate Action Plan are reducing greenhouse gases through policies that decarbonise the transport and property sectors.
Recognised for its overreliance on private cars, Kuala Lumpur is improving public transport and promoting active mobility to drive modal shift.
In the property sector, many are striving to decarbonise old building stock through improved energy efficiency.
With the abundance of building stock in the city, we have an opportunity to address reduction of embodied carbon by building fewer new buildings and prioritising retrofits.
If we are to take advantage of this opportunity, having the right policy settings and financial support will be critical enablers.
Looking forward, cities will need to address sustainable and green initiatives to ensure they remain competitive on the world stage.
Arup’s recently released Redefining City Competitiveness report examines competitiveness indicators that predict a city’s ability to attract, retain and grow businesses, talent and investment, in the long-term.
The report is a measure of a city’s preparedness for the future in response to risks such as climate change, as well as how it positions itself to capture future opportunities and to compete globally.
The findings suggest that Kuala Lumpur cannot afford to continue with business as usual if we want to improve our attractiveness to investors.
Harnessing the circular economy is a viable avenue for Malaysia to position our cities for future success, by improving our resilience to climate shocks and stresses that will become increasingly important over time.
For more information about Arup’s “Redefining City Competitiveness” report, visit https://competitivecities.arup.com/ Lau Ching Luan is Arup Malaysia’s country leader.
