Putrajaya on right track to become low carbon green city by 2025

"This is in line with the Putrajaya Green City 2025 (PGC2025) initiative by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent and a cooler Putrajaya by two degrees Celcius," he said.

Zaini was speaking to reporters after delivering a keynote presentation at the 5th Energy Research Institute Network on Smart and Eco-Friendly City Seminar here Tuesday.

PGC2025 is a study to assess the current state of the city in terms of its greenhouse gas emissions and to propose suggestions in terms of broad targets or counter measures to reduce emissions by 2025.

The study estimated the greenhouse gas emissions for Putrajaya in the seven sectors namely, commercial, public amenities and facilities, government offices, residential, passenger transportation, freight transportation and solid waste.

In tabling the 2010 Malaysian Budget, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced developing Putrajaya and Cyberjaya as pioneer township in green technology as a showcase for the development of other townships.

Zaini said the initiative to create a low carbon city should not just be for Putrajaya, but a thorough study must be conducted to extend it to other cities like Kuala Lumpur.

He added many people did not realise they were leading a lifestyle which increased the amount of carbon emissions into the environment.

"(The) People have forgotten the practice of car pooling. Almost everyone drives to work today, and this indirectly contributes to global warming and traffic congestion," he noted.

More than 70 participants from East Asia Summit attended the one-day seminar which will cover topics related to current low carbon technologies, hybrid solar system, district cooling system, smart energy system and geothermal.