Showcasing Sunway University Research at COP29 in Baku
Showcasing Sunway University Research at COP29 in Baku
Five Sunway University researchers participated in COP29 (Conference of the Parties No. 29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan during 11-17 November 2025, to share the practical solutions that they have developed from the pioneering research projects on sustainable development that have been funded by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation since 2016. Dubbed the “finance COP”, thousands of participants from across the world gathered to find solutions to fund the necessary climate adaptation and mitigation projects necessary to achieve COP21 Paris Agreement goals.1
Jeffrey D. Sachs (President, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network; Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah Honorary Distinguished Professor, Sunway University), Woo Wing Thye (University Chair Professor, Liaoning University; Research Professor, Sunway University), Mazlin Mokhtar (Professor, Sunway University; Professor Emeritus, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Leong Yuen Yoong (Professor, Sunway University) and Minhaz Farid Ahmed (Research Fellow, UNSDSN-Asia; University Lecturer, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) participated in multiple speaking sessions across this year’s COP.
Geopolitical order for the near future
Professor Woo participated in the panel on Systemic Pathways to Resilience hosted by the Greece Pavilion. In his presentation entitled “Establish an Asia-Europe SDG Partnership (AESP) to create the Systemic Pathway to Resilience”, Professor Woo emphasized that the present global situation is extremely dangerous. First, the Holocene Epoch, which has fostered human civilization for nearly 12,000 years, is rapidly transitioning into the Age of Anthropocene due to human-induced climate change and biodiversity loss. Second, the era of the USA being the Global Hegemon is fading quickly because of the fast rise of other populous economies, notably China and India, resulting in steady escalation of military tensions.
Panel on The Systemic Pathway Resilience at the Greece Pavilion. From left to right: Petros Varelidis (General Secretary of Natural Environment and Water, Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece), Prof. Yannis Ioannidis (President, Association for Computing Machinery, & Professor, University of Athens), Sergio Fernandez de Cordova (Chairman, PVBLIC Foundation), Dr. Gene Leon (Executive Director, Development Bank for Resilient Prosperity), and Professor Woo Wing Thye (Liaoning University and Sunway University).
In Professor Woo’s assessment, the Cold War is the more immediate existential threat than Global Warming. He proposes that Asia and Europe avoid being pulled into proxy wars by forming the Asia-Europe SDG Partnership (AESP) to focus on assisting the Global South to accelerate progress on the SDGs, and to deepen economic integration among themselves and the Global South e.g. consolidating the various regional free trade pacts into a WTO-style multilateral trading system. The Cold War would not grow in absence of proxy wars, and the economic growth of the Global South would make AESP a desirable grouping for the main participants in the Cold War to join. He argued that AESP, by concentrating singularly on achieving the SDGs and maintaining neutrality in the Cold War, would inevitably crowd out the Cold War, while simultaneously addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.
The New Science Panel for Borneo
The Sunway University contingent participated in the Launch of the Science Panel of Borneo (SPB) project at the Indonesia Pavilion. Borneo island is one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. Borneo is the home to thousands of unique species and ecosystems. However, like the Congo Basin and the Amazon region, Borneo faces pressures from climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable resource use.
Left to right: Dr. Minhaz Farid Ahmed (UNSDSN-Asia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Professor Jatna Supriatna (Co-Chair of SPB and Universitas Indonesia), Professor Mazlin Mokhtar (Co-Chair of SPB and Sunway University), Dr. Ching Too A/L Kim (Secretary General, Ministry of National Resources and Environmental Sustainability of Malaysia), and Professor Wing Thye Woo (Liaoning University and Sunway University)
From left to right: Dr. Ching Too A/L Kim (Secretary General, Ministry of National Resources and Environmental Sustainability of Malaysia), Professor Jeffrey Sachs (Columbia University and Sunway University) and Professor Wing Thye Woo (Liaoning University and Sunway University)
Professor Jatna Supriatna (Universitas Indonesia) and the Sunway contingent have been working since 2022 to mobilize scientists in Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia for the Science Panel for Borneo (SPB) project. Professor Jatna and Professor Mazlin are the Co-Chairs of SPB, Professor Woo is the Strategic Coordinator, and Dr. Minhaz Farid Ahmed co-heads the SPB Secretariat.
There are now over 100 scientists from these three countries who are working together to conduct a systematic assessment of the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the situation on Borneo island, and to draw up a holistic plan for economic development that would be environmentally friendly and socially inclusive. It is important to protect the rainforest and expand it with land rehabilitation not just for biodiversity protection but also for the enlargement of the global carbon sink, for the emergence of new economic growth machines in Borneo like eco-tourism and carbon credit markets, for giving indigenous communities the choice of preserving traditional lifestyle, and for future discoveries of beneficial pharmacological products.
To complement the launch of SPB at the Indonesia Pavilion, Professor Mazlin Mokhtar organized a panel at the Malaysia Pavilion to discuss strategies on Uniting Scientists and Communities for a Sustainable Future. Dr, Ching Too A/L Kim (Secretary-General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability of Malaysia) and Professor Jeffrey Sachs (University Professor at Columbia University) were among the participants.
Professor Jatna Supriatna, Professor Mazlin Mokhtar, and Dr. Ahmad Minhaz lay out the work agenda of SPB. The are seven research clusters, each dedicated to a critical area of focus:
- Economic Development: Equity, Stability, Sustainability, and Inclusivity: Promoting economic development that is equitable, secure, sustainable, and inclusive, ensuring that development programs do not compromise Borneo’s rich biodiversity.
- Flora of Borneo: Cataloging and conserving Borneo’s unique botanical wealth, understanding ecological roles, and promoting sustainable use.
- Fauna of Borneo: Prioritizing the conservation of iconic species through habitat protection and community-based conservation programs.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Promoting sustainable agricultural practices that minimize environmental impact while ensuring food security and economic benefits for local communities.
- Water and Minerals of Borneo: Advocating for sustainable management of water and mineral resources to ensure their long-term availability and health.
- Social Well-Being and Cultural Diversity: Ensuring that development projects respect and preserve cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and community rights.
- Geography and Geology of Borneo: Understanding geological processes and advocating for policies that integrate geological knowledge into environmental and development planning.
By fostering synergies among sectors, SPB will enhance efficiency in resource planning and implementation, ensuring that every effort contributes meaningfully to the sustainability goals.
A Way Forward for Decarbonising Southeast Asia
Professor Woo Wing Thye and Professor Leong Yuen Yoong co-lead the ASEAN Green Future project (coordinated out of Sunway University) to investigate pathways for decarbonizing technical systems and re-carbonizing natural ecosystems in Southeast Asia. The project involves research teams from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. This project was invited by the Malaysia Pavilion to present its findings in the panel Can Southeast Asia Achieve a Near-Zero Emissions Power System by 2050?.
From left to right: Dr. Ebun Akinsete (Athens University of Economics and Business), Prof. Leong Yuen Yoong (Sunway University), Prof Nico Theodossiou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) and Prof. Phoebe Koundouri (Athens University of Economics and Business)
Professor Leong highlighted Southeast Asia’s significant growth potential and the clauses in the European Green Deal which specify that the EU would start imposing tariffs from products from countries that do not have a credible commitment to achieving net-zero emissions in a timely fashion. To avoid damages from climate change and protectionism from the EU, ASEAN states need to accelerate their transition to a low-carbon future by prioritizing investments in renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. By doing so, ASEAN can mitigate climate risks, prevent protectionism, stimulate economic growth, and ensure energy security for its future.
Professor Leong Yuen Yoong was invited by the Malaysia Pavilion to participate in the panel From Roads to Runway: Malaysia’s Blueprint for Decarbonised Transport with experts from the Ministry of Transportation of Malaysia and the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation.
Professor Leong called for a holistic approach to creating a sustainable transportation future. This means a masterplan for the entire transport ecosystem (including freight and public transportation) that builds resilient infrastructure, prioritizes equitable access, reduces congestion, improves public transportation, and enhances safety by reducing pollution and accidents.
From left to right: Kalyani Inampudi (Independent ESG and Carbon Consultant ), Professor Leong Yuen Yoong (Sunway University), Dr. Harikrishna Kulaveerasingam (SD Guthrie Berhad) and Azreen Turaz (FGV Holdings Berhad).
She highlighted Malaysia’s unique opportunity to establish two new green industries to support sustainable transportation. Firstly, the abundance of organic waste from plantations positions Malaysia to develop a robust biomethane industry. Secondly, the country’s strategic location on international shipping routes makes it ideal for establishing refueling ports in key locations like Penang, Klang, Kuantan, Sandakan, and Miri, facilitating the adoption of biofuels in maritime transport.
Professor Leong also suggested accelerating the creation of a regional high speed rail network for medium-distance travel. She outlined several strategies, including harmonizing technical standards, leveraging on regional connectivity initiatives, and exploring innovative financing mechanisms, to facilitate seamless cross-border rail operations and attract investments.
Professor Leong also joined experts from FGV Holdings Berhad and SD Guthrie Berhad on the panel Sustainable Palm Oil and Global Food Security: Feeding the World Responsibly at the Malaysia Pavilion. She emphasized the need to shift from chemical-intensive practices to regenerative agriculture by focusing on soil health and biodiversity. By prioritizing sustainable practices and aligning with international standards like the MSPO, Malaysia can ensure the long-term viability of its palm oil industry and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change and food insecurity.
Professor Leong further contributed to the discourse on marine conservation by participating in a panel discussion at the Greece Pavilion, titled RACC16 Statement: Oceans in Crisis – Impacts and Responses. She highlighted the pressing threats facing Southeast Asia’s marine ecosystems, including habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and poor governance. To address these issues, she advocated for a dual approach: decarbonizing the maritime sector, and restoring natural ecosystems and protecting coastal environments. Only by understanding the intricate relationships within marine ecosystems and implementing sustainable practices, can Southeast Asia’s marine biodiversity be safeguarded.
1 UNFCCC is one of the three environment-related pacts that the world community had signed at the historic Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. The other two environmental pacts are the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). COP16 of CBD had met in Cali, Colombia in October 2024, and COP16 of UNCCD met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2024.
COP21 in Paris in 2015 (also known as the Paris Agreement) was a landmark summit because it had succeeded in winning unanimous global agreement to keep global warming well below 2°C, ideally to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and to require all Parties to submit nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions and enhance resilience. UNFCCC COPs had subsequently focused on improving global benchmarks on fighting climate change and technical and financial programs to assist developing economies to mitigate and adapt to climate changes.
