Malaysia launches Climate Action Simulator to facilitate low-carbon planning

The Malaysian Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC), in collaboration with the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), is launching the Malaysia Climate Action Simulator (MCAS), a groundbreaking tool designed to empower users to simulate technically feasible low-carbon future scenarios up to the year 2050.

Funded by the UK Government’s International 2050 Calculator Programme and supported by technical partners, Mott MacDonald, Imperial College London, Ricardo, and CLIMACT, MCAS offers a dynamic visualisation of Malaysia’s carbon emission trajectory and facilitates a comprehensive exploration of diverse pathways to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across critical sectors, including energy, transport, building, industry, land use and waste.

MCAS is a versatile communication tool to increase public awareness about the critical role of technology, policy, and behaviour in reducing GHG emissions. It is also a valuable reference tool for businesses transitioning towards green technology solutions. Featuring an interactive and user-friendly web interface, MCAS empowers users to simulate different behaviours, navigate technological options, select potential pathways, and identify sector-specific roles.

It offers a common language for discussion on climate change mitigation measures, providing the means to plan and visualise decarbonisation pathways and make a comparative analysis. MGTC will actively engage potential users through events dedicated to introducing and demonstrating MCAS as an educational and awareness communication tool. This outreach will primarily target industry stakeholders, universities, research institutes, non-governmental organisations and the public.

Chief executive officer of MGTC, Ts. Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, expressed enthusiasm about the future of MCAS, saying, “MGTC has strategic plans to collaborate with universities in developing educational modules centred around MCAS and integrating it into the university curriculum. Additionally, MCAS remains open for further research contributions, aiming to facilitate more informed and rational decisions on various pathways to mitigate GHG emissions in Malaysia.”

Her Excellency Ailsa Terry CMG, British High Commissioner to Malaysia, said, “The UK is working closely with international partners like Malaysia to address the global climate challenges. Since 2012, the UK has committed £6M of International Climate Finance to the international community to support the creation of their respective 2050 Calculators. So far, we have helped create 19 national and six regional Calculators which have been used to develop NDCs and action plans, raise awareness and inform long-term strategies. The launch of MCAS is a culmination of our knowledge sharing and technical collaboration with Malaysia, and I am pleased that it plays a role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors in Malaysia. This is part of our ongoing ambitious partnership with Malaysia to address the shared challenge of climate change and energy transition.”

Mott MacDonald’s 2050 Calculator programme country manager for Malaysia, Danny Giam, said “Having overseen the delivery of the Malaysia Climate Action Simulator (MCAS) since the start of the programme, we’re excited to see it come to fruition. It will be an important enabler in Malaysia’s journey to achieve zero net emissions by 2050, and we look forward to seeing the tool further adopted by stakeholders in the near future.”