Reducing and altering our consumption patterns towards sustainable alternatives will have a direct impact on bringing down the GHG released into our atmosphere.
Our daily habits – from the clothes we wear to the food we eat – has an energy footprint.
This essentially means that we are directly responsible for the issues we face from the impact of climate change. We are already seeing the negative repercussions – from devastating floods to rising temperatures, and never-experienced-before changes in weather patterns.
In summary, our future looks unsustainable.
This stark reality begets the next question, what must we do about it?
Without wasting any more time, we need to make urgent and drastic changes to our lifestyle and mindset, in relation to our consumption habits. Reducing and altering our consumption patterns towards sustainable alternatives will have a direct impact on bringing down greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) released into our atmosphere, which is causing Earth’s temperature to rise. Beyond that, we need to find alternative sources of generating energy.
“As we race against time to protect and preserve nature and its resources, Petrosains has embarked on a revamp of its science centres across the country to incorporate a sustainability narrative in its exhibition content and to get visitors, mainly the younger generation, to start thinking about future technologies and innovation that can be developed and used to safeguard our environment.
“This is aligned to its purpose as PETRONAS’ education initiative – by providing an immersive learning experience today for a progressive tomorrow,” said Petrosains chief executive officer Ezarisma Azni Mohamad.
Driving innovation
Revamping Petrosains centres across the country is aimed at sparking awareness among the younger generation to start thinking about sustainability, said Ezarisma.
The first phase of Petrosains revamp exercise featured the reopening of a popular ride in the centre in Suria KLCC, the Energy Capsule, which incorporates a new narrative focused on energy transition and needs, where the journey begins with the evolution of human civilisation and how it has always been intimately intertwined with our growing thirst for energy.
The ride features light and music experiences and multimedia elements for a fun and immersive experience.
Next up will be the Sustainability Gallery. Taking up some 2,760 sq ft in the science centre in Suria KLCC, this gallery will be ready in stages from January 2023.
Here, the exhibits will feature content related to pursuing a ‘green future’ against the backdrop of a reality check on our climate situation; ways to measure and reduce GHG emissions by larger businesses like PETRONAS to individuals performing daily routines, as well as knowledge-sharing on long-term global climate targets. The exhibits are designed to be self-explanatory and intuitive with gamification and interactive elements to make the visit and educational offerings memorable.
For example, the carbon capture and storage (CCS) exhibit is displayed as an augmented reality (AR) interactive game that simplifies the idea of absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and transforming them into calcium carbonate pellets. The game also features a camera that will allow visitors to ‘capture’ AR carbons in live view.
CCS involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) at emission sources, transporting and then storing or burying it in a suitable deep, underground location. It can also mean the removal of CO2 directly or indirectly from the atmosphere.
In the exhibition on circular economy, which defines the process as the continuous flow of materials using the concept of reuse, repair, remanufacture and recycle, visitors get to challenge themselves using an AR selfie motion sensor to test their knowledge on effective waste recycling.
While big corporates embark on significant efforts to reduce GHG emissions such as changing coal-based power plants to renewable energy and reducing industrial emissions, visitors are enlightened on the options available as individuals to reduce GHG emissions, with suggestions to use less energy, such as:
> Save energy by using energy-efficient appliances
> Use public transport, carpooling or live car-free
> Buy local groceries to shrink the food footprint
> Consume plant-based food
> Cook and eat at home
There’s also a climate action tracker, educating visitors on the current reality of global warming, where temperatures are expected to rise by 2.7 degrees come 2100, if we continue with current consumerist lifestyles and unsustainable energy demand.
The Sustainability Gallery exhibits are set to open in stages from January 2023.
Supporting the sustainability narrative exhibitions are themed live science shows conducted at the science centres, namely on digital, automation and robotics technology and clean energy solutions, where heavy topics are delivered in an engaging and captivating manner for visitors to digest and appreciate.
Imagine this: Using clothes today made of plastics that we used yesterday. It’s especially relevant given the grim reality that it takes more than 10 tonnes of water to produce a single pair of jeans and the fact that synthetic fabrics can take up to over 200 years to decompose.
Visit Petrosains today and make a pledge towards sustainable living – and learn how you can start!
A pledge for sustainable growth
Petrosains’ pledge to sustainability follows through from PETRONAS, which in 2020 became the first oil and gas company in Southeast Asia to declare a pledge towards its net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, or NZCE 2050 aspirations.
PETRONAS identified four sustainability lenses to achieve NZCE 2050, namely continued value creation, safeguard the environment, positive social impact and responsible governance. This in turn is aligned to its purpose to be a progressive energy and solutions partner, enriching lives for a sustainable future.
In November 2022, PETRONAS announced its NZCE 2050 pathway to accelerate and advance group-wide actions and commitment towards achieving net zero future ambitions with short-, medium- and long-term targets, to put the world on a more sustainable path as the conglomerate pursues business performance.
PETRONAS’ decarbonisation efforts, meanwhile, will be anchored on four levers: zero routine flaring and venting, energy efficiency, electrification, as well as CCS to reduce GHG emissions from its operations.
