Climate change and adaptation: Malaysia
09 January 2022
Climate change and adaptation have a crucial role in informing the Hub’s focus and research. The Earth is warming, rainfall patterns are changing, sea levels are rising, and heatwaves, floods, droughts, and fires are becoming more frequent. The impacts of the global climate emergency are already clear, and a large part of our work is focused on adaptation and resilience for climate change.
Moderated by Professor Dr Zainura Zainon Noor, our Malaysia Collaboratory Co-Investigator, and Dr Salmah Zakaria, Chair of the Water Committee, Academy of Science Malaysia, the third instalment of our climate change and water security webinar series provides a detailed overview of climate change impacts in Malaysia. Divided into two sessions consisting of three spotlight presentations and a roundtable discussion session with leading experts in their fields, this webinar emphasises the crucial need for accurate data, knowledge, and information.
In the first session, Professor Dr Fredolin Tajuddin Tangang (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Ir Dr Asnor Muizan Ishak (Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia), and Professor Dr Zulkifli Yusop (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia), share presentations on three topics: challenges and progress in climate projection in Southeast Asia; water resources management and challenges; and a climate change adaptation framework for Malaysia.
In the second session Dato’ Ir. Dr. Md. Nasir bin Noh (NAHRIM), Professor Dato’ Dr Mazlin Mokhtar (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Datuk Ir. Abd Kadir Mohd Din (Immediate Past President, Malaysian Water Association), and Dr Hezri Adnan (Malaysian Institute of Economic Research) answer key questions on: tools and data for climate change projection; social factors in adaptation and public readiness; impacts on the water industry; coping strategies and actions; and financial factors in climate change adaptation.
Water resources are closely linked to changes in the climate and Malaysia is already facing the impacts, experiencing extreme weather events like flooding, high levels of rainfall, water stressed areas, and increasing levels of water pollution. Climate change adaptation is a global challenge, and we must work as quickly as possible to find sustainable solutions.
Host: Professor Dr Zulkifli Yusop
Chair and Moderators: Jannah Tajuddin, Professor Dr Zainura Zainon Noor, Dr Salmah Zakaria
Speakers: Professor Dr Fredolin Tajuddin Tangang, Ir Dr Asnor Muizan Ishak, Professor Dr Zulkifli Yusop
Panellists: Dato’ Ir. Dr. Md. Nasir bin Noh, Professor Dato’ Dr Mazlin Mokhtar, Datuk Ir. Abd Kadir Mohd Din, Dr Hezri Adnan
