Sustainability and community in Iskandar Malaysia’s net zero future

Known as the busiest land border crossing in the world, the Woodlands checkpoint between Singapore and Johor Bahru sees over 300,000 travellers daily – shuttering to and fro by car, rail, buses, and motorbikes. 

This daily commute represents not only the interconnectivity of the two Southeast Asian cities, but also a visual reminder of the 34 per cent that the transport sector contributed to Iskandar Malaysia’s Emission Reduction Potential (ERP) in 2030 at 3,292 million ktCO2eq. 

Emissions are given as a single figure, measured in megatonnes or kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e or KtCO2e), by weighting non-carbon dioxide gases by their global warming potential (GWP). ERP refers to the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that can be avoided by implementing a new technology or policy.  

Senior Vice President and Head of Resilient Environment for the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Kamisah Mohd Ghazali, shared this figure at GovInsider’s Festival of Innovation as she presented her agency’s commitment to achieving net-zero by 2050. 

“Iskandar Malaysia is taking steps to ensure that our economic growth is matched with environmental responsibilities,” she said.   

Established in 2006, Iskandar Malaysia refers to a Malaysian initiative which designated the Southern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula stretching 2,300 square km as an economic development region. The area was more than three times the size of Singapore. 

As the main coordinating agency between stakeholders in the public and private sectors for planning, IRDA facilitates the development of Iskandar Malaysia across the jurisdiction of five local government authorities, three main districts, and a total population of over two million residents. 
 
The official agreement of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) between the Malaysian and Singaporean governments this year placed the majority of the Iskandar Malaysia region under the wider economic belt of JS-SEZ, aimed at enhancing cross-border trade and investment between the State of Johor and Singapore. 

With the upcoming activities, Kamisah’s role, however, remained straightforward – to ensure that these developments meet its sustainability targets with a total GHG reduction potential of 9,870 ktCO2eq by 2030 in Iskandar Malaysia across sectors of transport, industry and commercial.  

 
“JS-SEZ’s design is not just about bringing investment, it's bringing the right investment because we want to focus on sustainable development,” she said. 

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Driving a climate-safe future 

To guide its current sustainability goals, the Low Carbon Society Blueprint Iskandar Malaysia (LCSBPIM) 2030 Climate Action Plan, with nine mitigation actions, 25 sub-mitigation actions, and 61 mitigation measures identified. 

These actions cover areas like Green Transportation & Mobility, and Sustainable, Resilient & Liveable Cities to ultimately achieve its goal of reducing the intensity of GHG emission by up to 70 per cent in 2030 from its baseline year in 2010. 

Kamisah highlighted over 60 programmes the agency has completed since 2013 with 214 programmes on-going. 

This included the rollout of cross-border electric bus services last year to promote greener urban journeys in high traffic areas such as the Woodlands checkpoint. 

“The private sector plays a pivotal role in driving sustainability. It cannot be just the government’s responsibility,” Kamisah said. 

The cross-border Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, due for completion in 2026, was further expected to contribute to the development of a green infrastructure by accommodating up to 10,000 commuters per hour in each direction during peak periods. 

“The RTS link is a key initiative not only to provide seamless movements of people, but also to reduce the emission on the causeway. This symbolises a shared commitment to sustainable and integrated regional growth,” she added. 

Building stakeholder commitment 

Beyond public investment in infrastructure, Kamisah highlighted the key function of encouraging commitment from stakeholders towards environmental sustainability. 

She was referring to the Green Accord Initiative Award (GAIA) that recognised business organisations in Iskandar Malaysia who have contributed towards the adoption of sustainable design, planning, retrofitting, and operation in the built environment. 

Such voluntary decarbonisation efforts serve as a good incentive beyond monetary factors that help elevate an organisation’s brand, said Kamisah. 

The rejuvenation of the historic Segget River also served as a fundamental highlighted by Kamisah that economic growth needs to be matched with environmental responsibilities. 

Situated near the city centre of Johor Bahru, the Segget River underwent redevelopment from 2013-2017 due to pollution, odour, and flood risks. 

“The restoration of Sungai (River) Segget supports Johor Bahru’s urban ecology and also positions the city as the model of sustainable urban renewal blending environmental goals with social and economic revitalisation,” said Kamisah. 

She added that despite the initial opposition faced in the redevelopment project, IRDA’s revitalisation of Segget River eventually paid off as it attracted more businesses and tourists to the area. 

The power of community 

Community also plays a very important role, according to Kamisah, taking the view that sustainability goes beyond private, public, and government stakeholders but the whole community approach. 

She highlighted the grants provisioned from local authority under Iskandar Malaysia for a variety of projects so long it meets the criteria set of low carbon, safety, and well-being of local residents. 

Concurrently, IRDA's approach entails the support of community-based and -led programmes at the residential level which serves to lay the groundwork for younger generations with the concepts of sustainability, preservation and care for the environment. 

She highlighted that the Iskandar Malaysia Ecolife Challenge (IMELC) has expanded across 909 schools in Johor, having started at 23 schools in 2013. 

“IMELC has gone beyond what we initially planned, having reached out to half a million participants. This is our dedication to nurture environmental awareness,” Kamisah said. 

Across the sustainability milestones met and the ones to come under IRDA’s LCSBPIM 2030 Climate Action Plan, Kamisah shared that its school-based programmes have managed to reduce about 4.5 ktCO2eq. 

By partnering with educational institutions, local businesses, and international organisations, Iskandar Malaysia is building a platform for youth to engage in as it works towards its goal of reducing GHG emission by 70 per cent in 2030. 

“Empowering youth in Malaysia is vital component of the region's vision because it's a about not only sustainability but also inclusive growth.  

“We recognise the potential of young people to drive innovation because the way they think is different. It's good to embrace the young in their understanding because they are the future leaders of tomorrow,” she said. 

You can watch Kamisah's full presentation on-demand here.