MIRI: Two Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) academics brought higher education, research and technical perspectives to a recent workshop focused on building stronger institutional responses to climate change.
Professor Ir. Bridgid Chin Lai Fui and Dr. Mohammad Abdul Matin Chowdhury represented Curtin Malaysia at the Workshop on Climate Change and Institutional Solutions for Effective Climate Action, held at the Sheraton Kuching Hotel.
The workshop was organised by the Sarawak Development Institute (SDI) and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Malaysia, with support from the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak (MEESty).
The workshop brought together civil servants, researchers and civil society representatives to explore how Sarawak can strengthen institutional arrangements and develop more integrated, evidence-informed approaches to climate action.
Discussions covered governance frameworks, inter-agency coordination, data governance and citizen engagement, drawing on perspectives from Sarawak, Germany and the World Bank.
Professor Ir. Chin contributed to a roundtable on institutional roles and data governance for climate action, highlighting the strategic role of universities in advancing green energy initiatives, research and innovation, and human capital development.
She emphasised that higher education institutions can play a critical role in strengthening technical capacity, informing evidence-based climate governance and fostering collaboration between government, industry, academia and communities – all of which are essential to advancing Sarawak’s sustainable and low-carbon development ambitions.
A core member of Curtin Malaysia’s Centre of New and Sustainable Energy Research and Ventures (CoNSERV), Chin specialises in green technology, particularly the conversion of biomass and municipal solid waste into renewable energy through thermochemical processes.
Her work focuses on addressing real-world challenges related to climate change mitigation and the development of clean and sustainable energy solutions.
Curtin Malaysia’s participation highlights the growing importance of collaboration between academia and policymakers in translating research and innovation into practical climate solutions.
