Malaysia Calls for Innovative Approach to Green Economy, Explores Global Guideline on Low-Carbon Industrial Parks

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), July 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has called for innovative approaches to the green economy and expressed its commitment to exploring collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on low-carbon industrial parks.
 
In a statement Thursday, the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) said Minister Nga Kor Ming, in his capacity as the UN-Habitat Assembly (UNHA) president, made the call during the World Cities Summit (WCS) 2025, which is being held in Vienna from July 2 to 4. 
 
In conjunction with the WCS 2025, Nga held a bilateral meeting with UNIDO director-general Gerd Müller at the Vienna International Centre, an iconic landmark which is home to over 20 international organisations under the United Nations (UN) system.
 
“During the meeting, the minister proposed the development of integrated international guidelines between UN-Habitat and UNIDO for green industrial buildings,” said the statement. 
 
Under this proposed framework, UN-Habitat would advocate for the adoption and implementation of these standards among local councils worldwide, while UNIDO would act as the accrediting body for buildings that comply with the criteria.
 
“The proposal, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from industrial buildings and promote the development of low-carbon industrial parks, was positively received by Müller,” the statement said.
 
Nga noted that sustainable development must be rooted in job creation and inclusive economic development, whether in urban or rural areas.
 
“UNIDO has a critical role to play in this transformation, particularly through its focus areas such as the circular economy, green manufacturing and agro-industry.
 
“The time to act is now. We must create jobs and empower local councils as part of our pathway toward green, inclusive cities, and we need to ensure that progress is anchored in innovation and measurable outcomes,” he said.
 
Another key outcome of the meeting was the mutual agreement to reactivate the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNIDO and UN-Habitat in 2017. Both parties agreed to intensify collaboration on climate-resilient initiatives and the empowerment of local councils, with a particular focus on rural areas.
 
Meanwhile, Nga also paid a courtesy call to the Lord Mayor of Vienna, Dr Michael Ludwig, together with the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, and the Ambassador of Malaysia to Austria and Slovakia, Ikram Mohammad Ibrahim.
 
-- BERNAMA