The Universiti Malaya Eco Campus, Sustainable Development Centre (UMSDC) successfully organized the UM Net Zero Campus Strategic Workshop on 14–15 August 2024. Guided by the Universiti Malaya Master Plan 2050, the university is committed to transforming into a carbon-neutral institution by 2030 and achieving net zero status by 2050. This strategic workshop brought together experts and key taskforce members from within and beyond Universiti Malaya to deliberate on this ambitious vision.
A critical component of the workshop was the revision and enhancement of the Universiti Malaya EcoCampus Blueprint (2016), aligning it with the development of the UM Net Zero Strategic Blueprint under the framework of the Universiti Malaya Master Plan 2050.
Additionally, the workshop served as a platform to empower data collection strategies for net zero aspirations, which will be integrated under the Data Warehouse initiative. This integration is pivotal in supporting Universiti Malaya’s vision of becoming a smart campus by 2050.
The UM Net Zero Strategic Blueprint, a key output of this workshop, is currently in its refinement stage and will be presented to the university’s higher management for approval. The plan emphasizes six core areas:
The plan is inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Net Zero on Campus: A Guide and Accompanying Toolkit for Universities and Colleges. It has been customized to suit Universiti Malaya's specific context and needs, ensuring practicality and relevance.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Ts. Dr. Muhammad Azzam bin Ismail, Director of UM Eco Campus, for leading the workshop and the development of the UM Net Zero Strategic Plan. Special thanks also go to the advisors:
We are also grateful to contributors from various faculties and departments, including the UM Climate Change Committee, UMPEDAC, UM Estates Department, Faculty of Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science, Centre for Transportation Research, as well as external collaborators like the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia.
With collective effort and commitment, Universiti Malaya is poised to lead the way toward sustainability and climate action within the higher education sector.
