News – Sustainable Development Solutions Network

Showcasing Sunway University Research at COP29 in Baku

admin vince — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 03:47:00 +0000

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.

Universities for Impact: Sachs highlights Critical Perspectives in Education, Cooperation and Complexity

Kong Phui Yi — Thu, 02 May 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Jeffrey Sachs, the Jeffrey Cheah Honorary Distinguished Professor on Sustainable Development at Sunway University, President of SDSN and Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary General, has called on universities to embrace their role as unique solution-builders for society’s complex problems.

Professor Jeffrey Sachs addressing Delegates at the Times Higher Education Asia Universities Summit 2024 held at Sunway University in Malaysia on May 1, 2024.

New Programmes

In the face of short term urgencies, Sachs emphasised the unique place of universities to “gather knowledge, to search for truth, to create innovations in technology and in social institutions, and to look ahead”. To support the training of students in creating the desired technologies and pathways, Sachs pressed for the setting up of new programmes to enable students to concentrate on sustainable development in their studies.

“Sunway University is one of the great pioneers of that in Asia and the world,” Sachs remarked, referring to the provision of a dual track option (in-person and online instruction) for students throughout the world to qualify for a Masters in Sustainable Development Management (MSDM).

Interdisciplinary Engagements

“We need interdisciplinary research, which bring together earth scientists, engineers, economists, psychologists, and other specialists in the behavioural scientists, ethicists, philosophers.” Sachs reported that, from his prolonged engagements in the past quarter century with researchers leading interdisciplinary efforts from Harvard University, Columbia University and Sunway University, a large number of researchers have now acquired the ability to speak in the languages of other disciplines.

Universities are setting up interdisciplinary research centres to convene experts for policy-oriented research. “The problems of sustainable development are so complex, so interconnected, so systems based, that we need the universities to engage in actual problem-solving research”. These solutions require researchers to consider particularities at various scales, that of a locality, of a country and of a region.

Regional Conveners

Academics naturally create knowledge networks as part of their research. These cross-country and domestic collaborative relationships can over time be harnessed to convene key experts for solutions building from multiple sectors. Sachs explained, “universities play an inimitable role in convening stakeholders across sectors, from the government sector, the academic, scientific and research sectors, the business sector and civil society.”

Sachs highlighted the work of the ASEAN Green Future project at Sunway University, which brings together research teams in the ASEAN countries to work on the individual national transformation to green energy, and on the unification of national electricity transmission systems, so that each of the countries and the region as a whole achieves decarbonisation of their power generation systems.

Learning and Networking for the SDGs

Sunway University hosts the SDG Academy of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN-SDSN), which has the largest global online repository of publicly accessible interdisciplinary high-quality courses on a wide-range of sustainable development issues.

Sachs also highlighted the work of the Networks Team operating out of the Asia Headquarters of the UN-SDSN hosted at Sunway University, which mobilizes universities in the Asia-Pacific region to initiate and collaborate on SDG-focused research projects, teaching programs, and policy activism.

Universities are Pivotal to Meet the Complexity of Current Times

“The complexity of our situation is beyond normal politics, beyond normal government … [This extreme complexity requires] the universities to play a novel, innovative and central role [in problem solving].” He is much encouraged by that universities across Asia are embracing the challenge of achieving the SDGs in the near future.

Sachs ended his message by calling for the Summit of the Future, which would be held at the United Nations in September 2024, to set a common intellectual framework for collective wellbeing.

Sachs was speaking on the topic of Sustainable Development Goals in Asian Universities as part of the Times Higher Education Asia Universities Summit, which was held from April 29 to May 1, 2024 at Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur.

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) engages SDSN Malaysia Sub-State-Level Dashboard for University Community Outreach Tool

admin vince — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 07:49:02 +0000

On 16 March 2023, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) invited the SDSN Malaysia to brief staff on the use of Malaysia’s first District Level dashboard for its university-wide community outreach programme. Since the SDGs for Malaysian States dashboard was launched in 2022, the team at SDSN Malaysia has embarked on further localising the dashboard to Sub-State with Kedah as its pilot. Kedah, a state in northern peninsular Malaysia, is home to UUM, one of Malaysia’s largest public universities.

SDSN Malaysia UUM Focal Points Assoc Prof Masnita Misiran @ Bakun and Dr Saadi Ahmad Kamaruddin played key roles in organising the briefing.

Misiran and Kamaruddin are from the Centre for Testing, Measurement and Appraisal (CeTMA). CeTMA’s role in UUM’s sustainability transformation involves setting localised campus indicators, convening multidisciplinary taskforces of UUM academics to develop sustainability solutions initiatives, and moblising a whole-of-campus approach.

Mdm. Rohani Abdullah (Deputy Director of CeTMA), Dr Saadi Ahmad Kamaruddin (Deputy Director of CeTMA), Mr Amirul Haziq bin Abd Kadir (MySTEP), Assoc Prof Masnita Misiran @ Bakun (Director of CeTMA)

22 coordinating administrators and academics from UUM’s Community Outreach Programme or MEKAR programme (Membina Kesejahteraan Rakyat) attended the briefing. The MEKAR programme formalises UUM’s role in the state’s community development as it strategically involves all 3 UUM Colleges, and therefore all of its 16 schools. Briefing the MEKAR coordinating officers familiarised them with the Sub-State Malaysian SDG Dashboard, thereby paving the way to its use preliminary tool for intervention design.

MEKAR is an initiative to undertake university-to-community knowledge transfer in a formalised way.

Danesh Prakash Chacko from the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development conducted the briefing. Participants were familiarised with the methodology and were given a demonstration of the Kedah Sub-State website. Chacko focused on the SDG performance for the state of Kedah, showed participants an overview of Kedah’s Major SDG Challenges. The dashboard is hosted on the ArcGIS ESRI platform, which provides visual representations of data in the form of interactive maps. This includes visualisations which compare pre-and-post COVID-19 assessment for selected SDGs.

“You can click on this [each district] and it will give you information,” explained Chacko as he demonstrated the interactive maps.

Chacko raised the ability to identify Districts to target interventions, “for the action plan you can focus on Districts like Yan, Kuala Muda.” The dashboard may spur participants’ thinking when development perceptions do not align with assessments seen. “Sungai Petani is an economic hub full of industries, why is there [high] absolute poverty?” reflected Chacko.

The dashboard methodology was conveyed to participants, specifically, participants were given an overview of trend, rating and score.

Kamaruddin served as moderator for the 2 hour-long briefing with Kong Phui Yi, SDSN Malaysia Network Manager, as support during Question and Answer.

“Hopefully at the end of the programme we can align community projects with the SDG performance for Kedah, ” was Kamaruddin’s vision for the session. Kamaruddin introduced SDSN as an organisation and the function of the SDG Dashboard to the participants. “Experts who are doing sustainability efforts in Kedah can troubleshoot lots of problems in Kedah [using the dashboard],” reflected Kamaruddin.

Participants asked about the methodology to measure SDG achievement. Chacko gave an explanation of trend, score and rating, pointing participants to the Methodology section within the dashboard website.

A participant, Dr Darwinda Pero, from UUM’s School of International Studies asked about interventions for the State Assembly Kuala Nerang, located in the northern district of Kubang Pasu. Kong highlighted a plan of action for Kuala Nerang, “[Firstly] you can look at entrepreneurial support for women, skills, bringing their products to market and small business support.”

“Secondly, environmental awareness, to tell them about the benefits of ecosystem services in order to inform the local community to remind their local government to keep the forest intact, and lastly, because of uneven income distribution, you can see if there are areas that are underserved, as a way for information to flow, because sometimes the welfare officers may not have the capacity to cover the district sufficiently.” The Sub-State Dashboard’s interactive maps enable the user to assess appropriate starting-points to assess local SDG gaps.

The Kedah Sub-State Dashboard also makes available more granular level assessments. The State has 12 Districts, further broken down into 36 State Constituencies.

The session further served to link UUM’s staff to SDSN resources. Kamaruddin ended the session by encouraging the participants to make use of accessible online material to learn more about sustainable development, specifically the SDG Academy’s Library. Looking forward, the participants were informed of the opportunity to participate in an upcoming localisation project of primary and secondary school lesson plans into the Malay language, coordinated by both UUM Focal Points Masnita and Kamaruddin.

SDSN Malaysia Representatives at SDSN Asia Launch

Kong Phui Yi — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 03:25:25 +0000

The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) launched its newest secretariat office in Asia, hosted at Sunway University, on 17 November 2022.

SDSN Malaysia Focal Points attended the launch. SDSN Member Focal Points play a pivotal role in identifying expertise within their institution to advance SDSN projects.

SDSN Malaysia is the country chapter for the Global SDSN, a network of universities and other knowledge-generating bodies. Collectively, SDSN has 1,700 members, as of December 2022. Each SDSN Chapter comprises members. In SDSN Malaysia there are 22 Member Institutions, as of December 2022. Within each Member Institution, a Focal Point serves as the link between the Member Institution and the Chapter’s Secretariat.

A Secretariat convenes this group of institutions and leads its members’ participation in SDSN initiatives. The Secretariat links members with opportunities for greater cross-institutional exchange, knowledge transfer, and relationship building.

L – R: Dr Aldrie Amir, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; Kong Phui Yi, Sunway University; Dr Fong Chng Saun, Universiti Malaya; Prof Mazlin Mokhtar, SDSN Asia; Assoc Prof Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad, Universiti Malaya; Prof Nik Meriam Nik Sulaiman, Universiti Malaya; Mohd Fadhli Rahmat Fakri, Universiti Malaya

SDSN Members are the backbone of the Malaysia Chapter, and globally SDSN Members are the ones mobilising knowledge to develop solutions practice for sustainable development.

Present physically were Focal Points from Universiti Malaya (Prof Nik Meriam Nik Sulaiman, Assoc Prof Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad, Mohd Fadhli Rahmat Fakri); University of Nottingham (Dr Matthew Ashfold); Penang Institute (Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng); Sunway University (Karen Chand, Kong Phui Yi). Representatives from Universiti Utara Malaysia (Dr Masnita Misiran, Dr Saadi Ahmad Kamaruddin) & Universiti Sains Malaysia (Dr Mohd Abd Muin Md Akil) attended online.

In addition, representatives from SDSN Malaysia members attended the networking photo session: Daniel Lee Lih Wei, Sunway University; Dr Aldrie Amir, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; Dr Fong Chng Saun, Universiti Malaya.

The office in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur will serve as SDSN’s Asia Headquarters, one of only three such global centres, ranking it alongside Paris (overseeing Europe and Africa) and New York City (overseeing The Americas).

Launch speakers included Professor Jeffrey Sachs, President of SDSN and world-renowned economist; Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO, SDSN Global Leadership Council member and Chair of SDSN Malaysia; Professor Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, the Executive Secretary-General of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); and former UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.

Use Malaysian State-level Tool to Assess and Implement Sustainable Development Solutions

Kong Phui Yi — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network Malaysia (SDSN Malaysia) has formulated a state-by-state SDG Monitor to enable localised tracking of SDG indicators. The SDG Monitor is fuelled by statistics from the Malaysian Department of Statics (DOSM) and is a tool for policy makers to track progress visually.

ArcGIS Platform Presents Data Visually

Maps are Interactive with Pop-Ups Appearing For Each State

Visual depictions of progress are available for SDG Indicators. Data is from DOSM and visualisations are powered by ArcGIS. Users can interact with the maps to gain insight into each state. The SDG Monitor is updated each time DOSM issues a new dataset.
Data Enhanced with Expert Commentary& Resource Materials

Commentary on Relative Poverty Explains its Definition and Significance on Inequality

To aid policy makers, educators and the wider public, SDSN Malaysia has roped in over 27 expert commentators from public and private universities and think tanks. Collectively, these experts have written-up short 500-word research-backed commentary on individual indicators.

Commentaries allow non-experts to deepen understanding on the specific SDG Indicator. Resources are available for further engagement with subject matter.

SDG Monitor Benchmarks Global Sustainable Development Reporting

Multiple other Countries Have published Sub-National SDG Assessments

The SDG Monitor is formulated with close collaboration the global Sustainable Development Report (SDR) team in Paris. The SDR has been published annually since 2015. SDSN Malaysia is calling for partners to mobilise stakeholders for SDG-oriented implementation at the state and sub-state level.

Pre & Post COVID-19 Assessment

Users can Compare Pre-COVID-19 and 2020 Trends

The SDG Monitor has a dedicated section to inform policy makers on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on key sustainable development issues in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s SDG Performance has Fallen Since 2017
Between the years 2017 and 2022, Malaysia’s position has declined 18 places from 54 to 72. This rank is tabulated by the global Sustainable Development Report (SDR), published annually by SDSN. In the 2022 edition of the SDG Index, a total of 94 indicators were selected to measure the achievement level of the 17 SDGs for 163 countries.

In contrast, Vietnam and China have surpassed Malaysia in the SDR rankings. In 2017, Vietnam and China ranked 71 and 68. They now rank 55 and 56 respectively, they have advanced 16 and 12 places and are now ranked where Malaysia had been back in 2017. Indonesia is another example of similar improvement. Between 2017 and 2022, it has moved up 18 ranks, from 100 to 82. The advances in Vietnam, China and Indonesia demonstrate effective policy implementation towards sustainable development.

Access the Malaysian State-level SDG Monitor for free here [Use desktop for optimal experience]: https://sdg-for-malaysian-states-sdsn.hub.arcgis.com/

Contact Us for Briefings on the SDG Monitor
Danesh Prakash Chacko | daneshc@sunway.edu.my | +016-796 0571 | +603-7491 8622 (ext. 7521) | SDG Monitor Lead

Karen Chand | karensc@sunway.edu.my |+6016-258 0500 | SDSN Malaysia Network Manager

Kong Phui Yi | phuiyik@sunway.edu.my | +6018-661 4855 | +603-7491 8622 (ext. 7418) | SDSN Malaysia Network Manager

About the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) mobilizes scientific and technical expertise from academia, civil society, and the private sector to support practical problem solving for sustainable development at local, national, and global scales. The SDSN has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. The SDSN is building national and regional networks of knowledge institutions, solution-focused thematic networks, and the SDG Academy, an online university for sustainable development.

SDSN Malaysia was founded in 2013 by Tan Sri Zakri Abdul Hamid, former science advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Since 2019, the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, in Sunway University, is the SDSN Malaysia secretariat, with Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, Sunway Group Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group, as chair.

Nine Finalists Announced for SDSN Malaysia National Solutions Forum 2022

Kong Phui Yi — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

On the 7^th of January 2022, SDSN Malaysia Secretariat, the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, put out a call for proposals for local solutions to address sustainable development challenges in Malaysia.

A wide network of sustainable development practitioners helped to disseminate the call to relevant networks. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) informed their solutions-providers on-the-ground while SDSN Malaysia Members identified home grown social impact candidates.

Organising the event with the SDSN Malaysia Secretariat was Sunway Group, a Malaysian conglomerate with a mission to become Asia’s model corporation in sustainable development.

Sunway City, Malaysia home to Sunway Group

In just over a month’s time, a total of 39 submissions were received from all regions of the country. Prior to shortlisting, a redaction exercise was carried out to take out submitters’ names and affiliation.

“It wasn’t easy as there were 39 submissions to begin with. Our criteria included impact, scalability, innovativeness and financial sustainability of the solution,” Professor Woo Wing Thye, VP for Asia, SDSN

Based on these criteria the panel of four judges proceeded to score each solution. The best had clarity of thought, clear identification and explanation of solution and had already carried out a proof of concept. All scores were tabulated and a rank of 1 – 39 was produced.

The top nine receive RM10,000 and will convene on the 28^th April 2022 to present in front of a live judging panel.

The forum will be broadcast live to the public in order to spur solutions-making for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SDG Webinar Series: Quality TVET Education for the Future – A Supply & Demand Perspective

Kong Phui Yi — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:30:00 +0000

On 10th February 2022, SDSN Malaysia in collaboration with the Economic Planning Unit of Prime Minister’s Department organized the first SDG webinar series of 2022 titled Quality TVET Education for the Future – A Supply & Demand Perspective.

Human capital is one of the key components in driving economic growth and socioeconomic development around the world and this is done through drastic improvements on education, especially at the secondary and tertiary levels. One of the foundations for this aspiration is the availability of quality TVET graduates, which is one of the 10 shifts detailed in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025. Improving the TVET ecosystem to produce future-ready talent is the game changer in the Twelfth Malaysia Plan to meet the demand of industry and contribute towards economic growth.

This webinar saw an audience of 216, with participants from public, academic, and private sectors.

The session begun with opening remarks from YB Dato’ Sri Mustapha Mohamed, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for the Economy.

In an effort to reaffirm the Government’s commitment of successfully implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and inspire all Malaysians to support this ambitious endeavor, this webinar brought together a lineup of notable experts in TVET education to discuss possible ways to push the agenda forward:

Dr. Shamsuri bin Abdullah, Director of TVET Coordination Division, Department of Polytechnic and Community College, Ministry of Higher Education;
Luqman bin Ahmad, Director of Human Capital Development Division, Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department;
Dato’ Dr. Ir. Andy Seo Kian Haw, Council Member cum Chairman of Industry Committee, Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor;
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sim Tze Ying, Head of Center for American Studies, Sunway University

The meeting discussed the strength and challenges of policy responses by the Government and initiatives undertaken by the industry and TVET providers to ensure inclusive, equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning. Each speaker also shared their insights on key actions included in the Twelfth Plan.

Mr Luqman Ahmad kicked off the discussion with his presentation on the overview of TVET agenda in Twelfth Malaysia Plan, 2021-2025. He reiterated the importance of having a strong TVET ecosystem as one of the main pillars of Malaysia’s socioeconomic development and the need to adopt a holistic initiative to create such an ecosystem.

Dr Shamsuri Abdullah presented on the governance structure of TVET at the national level. He spoke about the role of National TVET Council (MTVET), Government-Industry TVET Coordination Body (GITC), and Curriculum Development Process in empowering the TVET agenda. At the very end of his speech, he urged policymakers to be more conscious of the global latest trends in vocational education including the rise of Micro-credentials (MC), the challenge of digitalization, and the development of Structured Internship Programmes (SIP) to meet the demand of the industry.

Dato’ Dr. Ir. Andy Seo Kian Haw discussed several measures for improving TVET graduates for future workforce. He highlighted one of the main challenges is to reduce gaps between the supply and demand of TVET workforce. This can be overcome by a broad-based policy approach to support productivity catch-up through the human side. This entails providing consistent supply of TVET graduates for industries expansion and growth, mass upgrade of industry required skill sets through TVET programs, and collaborative innovation between institutions to ensure TVET graduates are industry ready.

In her presentation, Prof. Dr. Sim Tze Ying shared several concrete examples of successful programmes to equip TVET graduates with the needs of the industry. She spoke at length about Le Cordon Bleu, 42KL, iLabs Foundry, Micro-credentials programme run by Sunway Education group in collaboration with several other partners.

The question-and-answer portion of the webinar was moderated by Professor Leong Choon Heng, Deputy Director of the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University. At the end of the Webinar, each speaker and the moderator reaffirmed their commitment to push for the empowerment of TVET education in parallel with the agenda of Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.

The recording of the event can be viewed here.

Prepared by Imran Mohd Rasid

SDSN Networks in Action 2021 Report

Kong Phui Yi — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 09:00:10 +0000

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN ) Networks in Action report presents SDSN’s unique global network of problem solvers and their contributions to addressing the world’s most pressing problems.

Download this year’s report here: https://resources.unsdsn.org/2021-sdsn-networks-in-action-report

This year’s edition features a specific focus on the impact our networks have had in the world – from their efforts to localize the SDGs in their countries, engage with knowledge institutions and youth, improve education for the SDGs, fight the Covid-19 pandemic, advocate for a sustainable recovery, promote viable solutions initiatives, and develop their publications, events and actions.

Despite the setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the SDSN networks have seen their membership and impact grow significantly over the past 12 months. While the overall global membership of SDSN has grown by 17% compared to 2020, the number of knowledge institutions joining SDSN networks has almost doubled in certain regions. Moreover, the report shows how SDSN’s networks successfully executed their digital transformation, organizing dozens of online events and reaching wider audiences than ever before. Their improved online presence on social media was also accompanied by thousands of downloads of publications as well as the establishment of new partnerships relating to the Voluntary National Reviews, National SDG planning, and youth initiatives.

Resource Available for ASEAN Decarbonisation

Kong Phui Yi — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000

The ASEAN Green Future country reports are available for download at: https://www.unsdsn.org/asean-report

The ASEAN Green Future project aims to accelerate action for decarbonisation to achieve net zero by 2050 for the ASEAN region and ASEAN member states and involves technical simulation and modelling of net zero carbon outcomes along with associated economic and social consequences of such an undertaking.

Currently, SDSN members, Sunway University, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), are involved in the ASEAN Green Future Project, which has mobilised 7 out of 10 of the ASEAN country teams.

SDSN Malaysia Translation Project

Kong Phui Yi — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

The SDSN Malaysia Translation Project aims to mainstream Education for Sustainable Development in localizing the existing course material available on SDG Academy into Malay language. The project was successfully completed on 21^st August 2021 with the help of academia from a variety of backgrounds working hard to translate over 7 hours of teaching content on “How to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?”

This project managed to localize the SDGs by creating a glossary of terms, which in long term is aimed to promote greater familiarity with climate-related terminologies in Malay. The convening of researchers from three member institutions has spurred an effort to seek a standardized Malay translation of “Sustainable Development Goals”, and further consensus over the interchangeable use of three Malay words (hijau, mampan, ad lestari) for “sustainable”.

Source: Condé Nast Traveler

This translation effort managed to complete 37 (10 – 16 minute) videos. Following this, next steps will involve collectively building capacity over localizing the delivery of SDG Academy content. For more courses like this, visit sdgacademy.org. and to be part of our next project, reach out to us at enquiries@sdsn.org.my