World Class Sustainable Cities

I attended the World Class Sustainable Cities Conference organised by the MIP, PAM and REHDA WP on 24 and 25 March 2009. Apart from the 6 foreign speakers sharing their experiences and best practices on sustainability and world class, we have the opportunity amongst the local participants brainstorming on ways achieving world class sustainability for Kuala Lumpur. It is interesting to share with each others on their perception, opinion and understanding about the topic and ways of transforming KL towards a world class sustainable city.


Having said this, to me, one of the main concern is about defining the meaning of world class and sustainable cities. While it is essential to follow some accredited guideline on world class and sustainable development if the city is aspired comparable to other cities in the World, it is also critical to tailor make with one's own circumstances after all sustainability is meant for having a quality living for its citizenry. For example, in Bhutan, level of happiness of people is more important than material enjoyment and for that it can be proclaimed as world class. Similarly, multi-cultures society like Malaysia is definitely having other considerations compared to the mono cultural society.


Secondly, the Conference was also told about the important of city branding. City branding is not about coming a marketing jargon or an amazing slogan. It is about impressing people with the uniqueness about the city, it is about making people convinces that you have a strong and visible character that others do not have. It is about telling people the shared vision the city stakeholders have and proud of. A city with a successful branding is one of the main considerations for investors and residents to invest, work, shop, play and to live.


Too much bureaucratic is another identified hassle for the execution of a world class city. It was agreed that too many hands for a specific scope of works will create a lot of coordination challenge. One of the classic examples quoted was the traffic and transportation sector. It was highlighted that at least 13 agencies are having their says in the transportation planning and development in KL. These include the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board for issuing public transportation licenses and routing, City Hall for providing infrastructure and traffic management, Police and Road Transport Department on traffic offences enforcement, Department of Environment for pollution enforcement and the bus companies for providing the operation and services.

Another observation was while other world class cities have a target on carbon emission reduction for the fight against global warming, Malaysian cities have not looked into it at all. No statement let alone the target was recorded in the vision statement or strategic plan of any particular city. If our cities are aspired to be world class, then the pre-requisite is definitely for us having look into the challenge of climate change, i believe.

Generally, i found the conference is refreshing and organising another one next year will be good to follow through with the discussed and agreed actions.