PUTRAJAYA, Jan 21: The Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC), supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), organised the inaugural Green Leadership Conference held at a hotel here on Monday.
Themed ‘Green Jobs for the Future’, the conference partnered with HRD Corp and PERKESO to gather over 200 influential stakeholders from various backgrounds to explore the vast social, economic and environmental potential of green jobs and skills in Malaysia.
The conference also saw Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), and Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of Human Resources (KESUMA), discussing policy alignment, funding for green initiatives and strategies to bridge the green workforce supply-demand gap.
In a press statement issued Monday, MGTC said It was an avenue to empower individuals and businesses to build a future where green jobs thrive and sustainability is integrated into all facets of development. Guided by the National Climate Change Policy 2.0, under Strategic Thrust 1 (Strategy 3: Enhance Institutional Capacity and Data Systems towards Informed Climate Action), one of the key priorities is increasing human capital and promoting green jobs to meet the growing demand for skilled labour in low-carbon development and achieve Malaysia’s net-zero aspirations.
Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, GCEO of MGTC said the conference was aimed at highlighting “the nation’s commitment towards a just transition aligned with the Paris Agreement, leveraging youth talents and the private sector’s innovative spirit to drive sustainability and regional leadership.”
The conference, featuring many speakers, set the tone for pragmatic solutions to cultivate a green economy. Among others, Dr. Peter Bromeyer, Ambassador of Germany; Vanee Sivasamy, Senior Sustainability Manager, Zuno Carbon; Prof Dr Ramlee Mustafa, Faculty of TVET UPSI; and Lee Heng Gui, Executive Director Socio-Economic Research Centre, delved into topics ranging from novel training approaches to global green TVET systems.
The ministers also united to launch the Green Jobs Guideline, a document published to address workforce gaps in the green economy and ensure that workers are equipped for emerging job opportunities in sustainable industries. The guideline emphasises actionable strategies, focuses on overcoming challenges, and recommends developing green skills.
Spearheaded by MGTC’s Greentech Academy, the event is set to become an annual event that tracks Malaysia’s progress in green growth and workforce development. Its commitment to fostering dialogue and action embodies the spirit of national leadership in sustainability.
–WE