Path To Sustainable Future Requires Collective Action -- Fadillah Yusof

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The path to a sustainable future is clear, but it requires collective action, effective international partnership and unwavering commitment, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof today. 

Fadillah, who is also Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, foresees a world that balances economic prosperity with environmental stewardship by driving energy transition and water sustainability, particularly in rapidly developing regions like Asia. 

"Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia, are also making significant progress (in the adoption of renewable energy)," he said in his special luncheon keynote address at the Asia New Economy Summit that was co-organised by KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, the ASEAN Economic Club and the World Digital Chamber. 

Citing Vietnam as an example, he said the country has seen exponential growth in its solar energy sector, becoming the largest solar market in Southeast Asia. 

Malaysia, too, has been pioneering the open grid access mechanism and the development of floating solar farms in its solar auction exercise to maximise land use efficiency, added Fadillah. 

Despite this progress, he pointed out that the region faces several challenges in its energy transition efforts which include the need for grid infrastructure enhancement to cater to the increasing  demand for renewable deployment, especially variable renewable generation sources that were intermittent in nature.

Apart from that, the scale of investment required for a comprehensive energy transition was immense. 

"Therefore, mobilising capital, particularly for developing nations, remains a challenge," he added. 

In the Asia-Pacific region, and particularly in Malaysia, Fadillah said water sustainability has become a pressing concern due to rapid urbanisation, population growth and the impacts of climate change. 

He said rapid industrialisation and inadequate wastewater treatment have led to significant water pollution problems in many Asian countries. 

Fadillah said that to address these challenges, Asian countries were adopting innovative approaches to water management such as Malaysia's "Sponge City" concept in Putrajaya that uses green infrastructure to manage stormwater and reduce flood risks. 

-- BERNAMA