WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.479 [MUSIC PLAYING] 00:00:46.230 --> 00:00:49.930 TU FAN: In the face of the challenges of climate change, 00:00:49.930 --> 00:00:52.920 and the depleting natural resources, 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:55.790 humans exploring physical solutions 00:00:55.790 --> 00:00:59.800 to sustainable development Green technology 00:00:59.800 --> 00:01:02.980 can be one of the good options. 00:01:02.980 --> 00:01:08.190 Since 2009, Malaysia has been facilitating application 00:01:08.190 --> 00:01:11.140 of green technology through implementing 00:01:11.140 --> 00:01:14.490 the national green technology policy. 00:01:14.490 --> 00:01:19.290 Over the centuries, humans have tried to change the weather. 00:01:19.290 --> 00:01:23.460 People have prayed and used strategies to get more rain 00:01:23.460 --> 00:01:25.570 and decrease the heat. 00:01:25.570 --> 00:01:29.240 While we have not intentionally tried to change the climate, 00:01:29.240 --> 00:01:32.330 we have unintentionally brought about changes 00:01:32.330 --> 00:01:36.010 that are affecting us today. 00:01:36.010 --> 00:01:40.540 Starting in the middle 1700s, the Industrial Revolution 00:01:40.540 --> 00:01:42.600 and the modern agriculture practice 00:01:42.600 --> 00:01:46.670 began to [INAUDIBLE] amount of human-created carbon dioxide 00:01:46.670 --> 00:01:49.980 emissions in the atmosphere. 00:01:49.980 --> 00:01:52.380 Global carbon dioxide emissions have 00:01:52.380 --> 00:01:59.160 been rising at an annual average of 2.7% during the past decade. 00:01:59.160 --> 00:02:02.290 Countries all over the world are used different techniques 00:02:02.290 --> 00:02:05.360 to reduce carbon emissions. 00:02:05.360 --> 00:02:09.360 These include establishing power markets, 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:14.670 creating policy and legislation, and a green technology. 00:02:14.670 --> 00:02:19.390 My research has focused on green technology in Malaysia, 00:02:19.390 --> 00:02:23.660 but do you know what green technology is? 00:02:23.660 --> 00:02:26.415 Green technology is a development and preparation 00:02:26.415 --> 00:02:30.370 of products, equipment, and systems 00:02:30.370 --> 00:02:35.350 that conserve natural resources, which minimizes and reduces 00:02:35.350 --> 00:02:39.410 negative environmental impact of human activities. 00:02:39.410 --> 00:02:43.120 What makes a technology green? 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:46.300 It minimizes environmental degradation. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:49.610 It has zero or low green gas emissions. 00:02:49.610 --> 00:02:51.640 It is safe to use, and it promotes 00:02:51.640 --> 00:02:56.470 a healthy environmental for all life forms. 00:02:56.470 --> 00:03:00.290 It conserves energy and natural resources. 00:03:00.290 --> 00:03:04.080 It relies on renewable resources. 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:07.880 Green technology is not a new concept. 00:03:07.880 --> 00:03:12.260 People have been trying to go green for decades, including 00:03:12.260 --> 00:03:16.610 using wave motors, wind turbines, solar power 00:03:16.610 --> 00:03:20.740 plants, and other [INAUDIBLE] energy ideas. 00:03:20.740 --> 00:03:23.760 In keeping with global trends, Malaysia 00:03:23.760 --> 00:03:26.520 has recently proactively promoted 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:28.520 and adopt green technology. 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:31.660 In 2009, Malaysia has established 00:03:31.660 --> 00:03:34.750 the country's ministry of energy, green technology, 00:03:34.750 --> 00:03:37.230 and the water, also called KeTTHa in Malay, 00:03:37.230 --> 00:03:42.330 and adopted national green technology policy. 00:03:42.330 --> 00:03:46.110 The main goal is to contribute to economic growth, 00:03:46.110 --> 00:03:49.320 and to reduce Malaysia's carbon footprint. 00:03:49.320 --> 00:03:52.330 The objective of the policy it to conduct 00:03:52.330 --> 00:03:54.790 industrial and government through supporting 00:03:54.790 --> 00:03:57.870 in putting buildings, green transportation, 00:03:57.870 --> 00:04:01.970 renewable energy use, waste and water management. 00:04:01.970 --> 00:04:05.830 The most important components of this policy 00:04:05.830 --> 00:04:09.070 include setting up institutions and launching 00:04:09.070 --> 00:04:10.710 fiscal instruments. 00:04:10.710 --> 00:04:15.400 Setting up institutions is a key strategy in the policy. 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:18.990 Since green technology involves many different sectors, 00:04:18.990 --> 00:04:21.810 it is important to have a structure that 00:04:21.810 --> 00:04:25.510 involves all the relevant stakeholders to ensure 00:04:25.510 --> 00:04:27.600 consensus and support. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:31.240 The national green technology and climate change council 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:33.990 coordinates green technology issues 00:04:33.990 --> 00:04:38.010 between the ministries, agencies, the private sector, 00:04:38.010 --> 00:04:42.910 and other stakeholders that implement policies, 00:04:42.910 --> 00:04:46.600 in addition, the agencies that assist and contribute 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:49.510 to development of green technology, 00:04:49.510 --> 00:04:52.290 like the Green Technology Corporation. 00:04:52.290 --> 00:04:55.330 As a focal point for green technology development 00:04:55.330 --> 00:04:58.090 in Malaysia, green technology cooperation 00:04:58.090 --> 00:05:00.335 provide facilities and the services 00:05:00.335 --> 00:05:05.540 in advisory, consultancy, urban energy management, 00:05:05.540 --> 00:05:07.120 and training. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:10.310 Malaysia green technology [INAUDIBLE] scheme 00:05:10.310 --> 00:05:12.800 is a most important fiscal instruments 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:17.140 to attract private entities to use green technology. 00:05:17.140 --> 00:05:20.570 This scheme is for both the users and producers 00:05:20.570 --> 00:05:22.160 of green technology. 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:27.360 It was initially started with 1.5 billion ringgits soft loan 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:30.920 and has now increased to 3.5 billion ringgits. 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:36.990 The scheme offers a 2% interest subsidy, and 60% of the loan 00:05:36.990 --> 00:05:39.600 will be guaranteed by the government. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:45.380 From 2009 to November, 2014 351 projects 00:05:45.380 --> 00:05:50.670 were covered by this scheme, including 243 energy efficiency 00:05:50.670 --> 00:05:56.100 projects, 17 green building projects, 91 waste and water 00:05:56.100 --> 00:05:57.490 projects. 00:05:57.490 --> 00:06:00.650 The majority of projects are located in Kuala Lumpur, 00:06:00.650 --> 00:06:03.420 Selangor, and the Johor Bahru. 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:07.050 Most of projects focus on electrical electronics 00:06:07.050 --> 00:06:10.620 subsector, and the biotechnology subsector. 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:14.290 Besides actions stipulated from the ministry level, 00:06:14.290 --> 00:06:18.220 we can also see some progress at a regional level. 00:06:18.220 --> 00:06:21.840 Iskander Malaysia is an important economic corridor 00:06:21.840 --> 00:06:25.190 in the southern part of peninsula Malaysia. 00:06:25.190 --> 00:06:28.440 It has recently begun low carbon programs. 00:06:28.440 --> 00:06:32.700 The Low Carbon Blueprint Iskander Malaysia 2025 00:06:32.700 --> 00:06:36.190 was endorsed by the product minister of Malaysia 00:06:36.190 --> 00:06:38.500 in the Summit 2012. 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:42.680 This blueprint was prepared by a group of urban planners 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:44.480 and researchers. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:48.440 Professor Ho Chin Siong from University Technology Malaysia 00:06:48.440 --> 00:06:50.450 is a main member of this team. 00:06:50.450 --> 00:06:53.550 HO CHIN SIONG: I think green technology policy 00:06:53.550 --> 00:06:56.110 is a very important policy, because you focus 00:06:56.110 --> 00:06:59.870 on the use of green technology in city building or city 00:06:59.870 --> 00:07:00.750 planning. 00:07:00.750 --> 00:07:06.460 So in our country here, we are trying to use energy efficiency 00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:07.650 technology. 00:07:07.650 --> 00:07:10.740 We are trying to use renewable energy technology, 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:12.290 and also recycling. 00:07:12.290 --> 00:07:15.100 The solid waste management office, urban planning 00:07:15.100 --> 00:07:19.230 have to reconsider how to promote 00:07:19.230 --> 00:07:22.630 green technology, or green energy, or green transport, 00:07:22.630 --> 00:07:25.044 or green industry in city planning. 00:07:25.044 --> 00:07:26.460 So I think this is the way forward 00:07:26.460 --> 00:07:29.150 for our nation [INAUDIBLE] 00:07:29.150 --> 00:07:31.610 TU FAN: Also Malaysia has made progress 00:07:31.610 --> 00:07:33.980 in promoting green technology. 00:07:33.980 --> 00:07:37.070 Interviews with government officials, researchers, 00:07:37.070 --> 00:07:41.880 and industrial firms, shows that many pieces as still missing. 00:07:41.880 --> 00:07:45.230 First, information about green technology and the policies 00:07:45.230 --> 00:07:47.350 are still very limited. 00:07:47.350 --> 00:07:51.630 I conducted a questionnaire in 15 factories. 00:07:51.630 --> 00:07:55.760 It shows that one of the main barriers for industrial firms 00:07:55.760 --> 00:07:58.890 to use green technology is information. 00:07:58.890 --> 00:08:01.490 TEH KEE SIN: The government intention is good. 00:08:01.490 --> 00:08:03.840 But sometimes the SME are facing another challenges. 00:08:03.840 --> 00:08:08.210 When it comes to the green technology or green industries, 00:08:08.210 --> 00:08:13.480 sometimes when we want to get someone to justify that you are 00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:16.470 in the green industries, sometimes we cannot get 00:08:16.470 --> 00:08:19.862 the right person, to confirm and justify that we are in that 00:08:19.862 --> 00:08:20.362 field. 00:08:20.362 --> 00:08:26.380 Sometimes we may not be able to get the [INAUDIBLE] 00:08:26.380 --> 00:08:29.065 So this is another challenge that we are facing. 00:08:29.065 --> 00:08:30.690 HO CHIN SIONG: Some of this information 00:08:30.690 --> 00:08:33.309 may not have reached other industrialists. 00:08:33.309 --> 00:08:37.010 But I think the important part is, actually, this information 00:08:37.010 --> 00:08:41.620 have to be disseminated to a bigger group. 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:44.410 And then I think we strongly feel 00:08:44.410 --> 00:08:49.820 that the chamber of commerce industry association 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:51.650 should look closely, also trying to get 00:08:51.650 --> 00:08:56.530 to know more about this green-- I think the ministry themselves 00:08:56.530 --> 00:08:57.030 do know. 00:08:57.030 --> 00:09:01.860 They are trying ways and means to disseminate this information 00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:04.760 so that actually more and more people have opportunity 00:09:04.760 --> 00:09:07.020 to access to this green tech plan. 00:09:07.020 --> 00:09:10.790 TU FAN: Did you hear about that green technology policy? 00:09:10.790 --> 00:09:11.759 SPEAKER: What? 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:12.800 TU FAN: Green technology. 00:09:12.800 --> 00:09:16.430 SPEAKER: I myself, I like all these things. 00:09:16.430 --> 00:09:21.740 Green energy, now maybe they use more of these solar energy, 00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:23.840 green energy. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:27.160 I think these are the two main things they are using now. 00:09:27.160 --> 00:09:32.830 So solar energy-- actually, I myself am using it. 00:09:32.830 --> 00:09:35.760 Now they use it for as a hobby, but later 00:09:35.760 --> 00:09:37.780 on when I know more about it, maybe 00:09:37.780 --> 00:09:43.130 I will use it partially to reduce my company's electricity 00:09:43.130 --> 00:09:46.700 to replace other supplies to cut down the cost. 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:49.440 TU FAN: Secondly, there is a mismatch 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:51.960 between the needs of the firms, and the focus 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:53.530 of government programs. 00:09:53.530 --> 00:09:57.850 According to the questionnaire, industrial firms priorities 00:09:57.850 --> 00:10:02.350 were waste water, energy utilization, solid waste, 00:10:02.350 --> 00:10:04.670 energy supply, and then green buildings. 00:10:04.670 --> 00:10:07.760 However, most of the government incentives 00:10:07.760 --> 00:10:11.050 go to energy projects, mostly for solar. 00:10:11.050 --> 00:10:13.300 PRAKASH NAGALINGAM: We feel that too much emphasis has 00:10:13.300 --> 00:10:16.490 been given to solar, and we are trying 00:10:16.490 --> 00:10:20.950 to look into other areas like thermal energy 00:10:20.950 --> 00:10:24.323 and also the ocean thermal energy which 00:10:24.323 --> 00:10:26.120 will lead new energies as well. 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:29.410 Because initially the green technology concentration 00:10:29.410 --> 00:10:31.776 was only by the federal government. 00:10:31.776 --> 00:10:35.240 We didn't incorporate with the state governments. 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:37.740 As you can see, the green technology concept 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:38.850 is a federal concept. 00:10:38.850 --> 00:10:44.530 But these [INAUDIBLE] encouraged all the state governments 00:10:44.530 --> 00:10:46.990 to have their own green technology 00:10:46.990 --> 00:10:48.590 concept in state level. 00:10:48.590 --> 00:10:51.800 So once the state level has their own green technology 00:10:51.800 --> 00:10:55.060 concert, so this kind of mission can be discussed more 00:10:55.060 --> 00:10:56.600 in the particular states. 00:10:56.600 --> 00:11:01.430 So then you can see, now, I do agree with you, 00:11:01.430 --> 00:11:04.470 the advantage is pretty much low. 00:11:04.470 --> 00:11:07.110 TU FAN: To improve the wave implementation, 00:11:07.110 --> 00:11:11.450 there is urgent need to have a validation of the policy. 00:11:11.450 --> 00:11:14.460 Until now, there has no assessment 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:16.530 of the green technology policy implementation. 00:11:16.530 --> 00:11:18.155 PRAKASH NAGALINGAM: They can do so much 00:11:18.155 --> 00:11:20.340 in [INAUDIBLE] investment, I mean 00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:23.140 creating a scenario for the investment, 00:11:23.140 --> 00:11:25.090 for the green technology players. 00:11:25.090 --> 00:11:29.130 But then, as I can tell you that we are not really sure how much 00:11:29.130 --> 00:11:32.140 benefit [INAUDIBLE] by these people, 00:11:32.140 --> 00:11:35.890 and how much green technology has contributed to the policies 00:11:35.890 --> 00:11:36.910 of-- 00:11:36.910 --> 00:11:38.540 TU FAN: Adopting green technology 00:11:38.540 --> 00:11:41.990 will not be easy for developing countries. 00:11:41.990 --> 00:11:45.860 The most important reason is that green technology 00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:49.170 is a comparatively expensive approach. 00:11:49.170 --> 00:11:52.050 Even in developing countries, we still 00:11:52.050 --> 00:11:54.940 can see that the argument about if government 00:11:54.940 --> 00:11:58.000 should invest in green technology. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:02.230 But it is clear from the experience from Malaysia 00:12:02.230 --> 00:12:04.230 that government incentives are still 00:12:04.230 --> 00:12:07.860 very important to encourage green technology. 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:10.840 PRAKASH NAGALINGAM: People say that only developing countries, 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:13.890 I mean, concentrate too much on subsidies and incentives, 00:12:13.890 --> 00:12:16.180 but actually it's a [INAUDIBLE] scenario. 00:12:16.180 --> 00:12:17.955 Last time I went to Holland, Netherlands. 00:12:17.955 --> 00:12:20.080 As you can Netherlands is a very developed country, 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:23.080 and they really pay much attention to the environment. 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:25.782 The are very environment friendly people. 00:12:25.782 --> 00:12:27.640 But, they have, when it comes to transport 00:12:27.640 --> 00:12:30.450 industry, the government, in 2013, 00:12:30.450 --> 00:12:32.850 they came up with this incentive for green, 00:12:32.850 --> 00:12:37.560 I mean electric vehicles, and also plug-in electric vehicles. 00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:40.050 So when the incentive was introduced in 2013, 00:12:40.050 --> 00:12:43.070 the sales of EV rocketed. 00:12:43.070 --> 00:12:47.500 And the highest sale [INAUDIBLE] went to Mitsubishi Outlander. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.650 It's known as PHEW. 00:12:48.650 --> 00:12:52.580 It's actually a plug-in hybrid, electric vehicle. 00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:58.710 But when the incentive ended by 31st December, 2013, 00:12:58.710 --> 00:13:02.300 sales of electric vehicles in Netherlands 00:13:02.300 --> 00:13:05.720 dropped tremendously in 2014. 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:09.000 So as you can see, the lifestyle of people, the consumers 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:12.060 are very much related to incentives and subsidies. 00:13:12.060 --> 00:13:15.060 TU FAN: Secondly, for developing countries, 00:13:15.060 --> 00:13:19.050 having consensus will be equally critical for launching 00:13:19.050 --> 00:13:22.740 green technology actions across every area, 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:27.870 from construction, to transportation, to industrial. 00:13:27.870 --> 00:13:31.710 Malaysia has developed incentive policies, 00:13:31.710 --> 00:13:35.910 but local government needs to be involved for that knowledge 00:13:35.910 --> 00:13:38.690 to be diffused across the country. 00:13:38.690 --> 00:13:41.250 This is also an important law for 00:13:41.250 --> 00:13:43.590 other non-government institutions 00:13:43.590 --> 00:13:47.570 such as industrial associations. 00:13:47.570 --> 00:13:51.530 The way the funding of SME comes now, the funding of SME. 00:13:51.530 --> 00:13:53.030 TEH KEE SIN: No, we have no funding. 00:13:53.030 --> 00:13:55.310 Yeah, we don't have funding because we 00:13:55.310 --> 00:13:57.230 should be self funded, I think. 00:13:57.230 --> 00:14:01.840 So sometimes when we talk about the funding for the R and D. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:03.900 R and D is a long term investment. 00:14:03.900 --> 00:14:07.570 At the beginning stage you may not be earning benefit at all. 00:14:07.570 --> 00:14:10.520 So you have to come up with a lot of resources. 00:14:10.520 --> 00:14:13.580 For the green [INAUDIBLE] or green industry 00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:21.310 or even the [INAUDIBLE] We still have 00:14:21.310 --> 00:14:26.031 to-- the government [INAUDIBLE] whether it be the [INAUDIBLE] 00:14:26.031 --> 00:14:28.280 or whether it be the [INAUDIBLE] the government should 00:14:28.280 --> 00:14:29.328 take the lead. 00:14:32.650 --> 00:14:35.260 [INAUDIBLE] in terms of the green [INAUDIBLE] 00:14:35.260 --> 00:14:37.770 green technology, green industry, 00:14:37.770 --> 00:14:41.216 we are still so much behind some other countries in our region. 00:14:41.216 --> 00:14:44.200 You know, Japan, Taiwan or even China, 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:46.424 I think we are still pretty much behind them. 00:14:46.424 --> 00:14:47.340 So we hope [INAUDIBLE] 00:14:57.040 --> 00:14:58.980 Also blaming some of the ministry. 00:14:58.980 --> 00:15:01.810 [INAUDIBLE] that never [INAUDIBLE] That's why 00:15:01.810 --> 00:15:02.310 [INAUDIBLE] 00:15:10.870 --> 00:15:13.365 TU FAN: The size of government support, both federal 00:15:13.365 --> 00:15:15.960 and the local government, and the cooperation 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:19.640 from associations, public education and capacity 00:15:19.640 --> 00:15:23.830 building for the labor force are also important. 00:15:23.830 --> 00:15:27.000 No matter how difficult it is, people in Malaysia 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:32.610 have become aware that behavior change is much important. 00:15:32.610 --> 00:15:35.782 Without behavior change, nothing will happen. 00:15:35.782 --> 00:15:37.990 HO CHIN SIONG: We should not only look at mitigation. 00:15:37.990 --> 00:15:40.140 We have to look at adaptation. 00:15:40.140 --> 00:15:41.700 Adaptation means, we see that also we 00:15:41.700 --> 00:15:43.910 have to how to adapt to this climate change. 00:15:43.910 --> 00:15:45.320 So mitigation can be expensive. 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:47.290 Adaptation should come in together. 00:15:47.290 --> 00:15:49.070 And I think the most challenging part is 00:15:49.070 --> 00:15:51.090 that mind change, the mindset. 00:15:51.090 --> 00:15:56.630 How do you promote low carbon society to the local society 00:15:56.630 --> 00:16:00.670 so that they have the mind change, the mindset changing 00:16:00.670 --> 00:16:04.680 from very high consumption to a low consumption society? 00:16:04.680 --> 00:16:07.630 So by doing that they could cut down their waste. 00:16:07.630 --> 00:16:09.490 They could cut down their consumption, 00:16:09.490 --> 00:16:12.020 and they could actually improve their quality of life, 00:16:12.020 --> 00:16:15.960 even without having a very high consumption. 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:19.250 So I think mindset change is very important. 00:16:19.250 --> 00:16:21.670 That's why in our campaign we started, 00:16:21.670 --> 00:16:23.690 we call it, low carbon society. 00:16:23.690 --> 00:16:25.580 We didn't call it low carbon city. 00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:28.790 TU FAN: In developing countries, the government and the citizens 00:16:28.790 --> 00:16:32.690 are equally for ways to grow economically, 00:16:32.690 --> 00:16:36.680 but at the same time, protect environment and mitigate 00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:39.500 global climate challenges. 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:43.970 Critics of green technology is that it's 00:16:43.970 --> 00:16:47.540 a very expensive investment for developing countries, 00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:50.960 and that it's not easy to get access and adopt 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:53.580 because of knowledge barriers. 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:56.770 From 2009, Malaysia has taken steps 00:16:56.770 --> 00:16:59.610 to implement green technology. 00:16:59.610 --> 00:17:01.916 Each step has not been easy. 00:17:01.916 --> 00:17:06.010 The Malaysia experience with promoting green technology 00:17:06.010 --> 00:17:09.381 can provide insights for other developing and developed 00:17:09.381 --> 00:17:09.880 countries. 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:14.574 [MUSIC PLAYING]