THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Think City will be jointly applying for US$10 million (RM41.4 million) from the World Bank Adaptation Fund when they submit a final proposal on their nature-based climate adaptation programme in November.
Think City managing director Hamdan Abdul Majeed said if they manage to secure the fund for the pilot project, it would be used to help Penang adapt to climate change challenges.
“We’ll see how we can actually use nature as an approach towards solution making to deal with climate issues about flooding, storm water management, reduce urban heat island effect and find ways to make our environment more liveable,” Hamdan said.
The Adaptation Fund finances projects and programmes that help vulnerable communities in developing countries adapt to the harmful effects of climate change.
It was established under the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Since 2010, it has committed US$720 million to climate adaptation and resilience activities.
The Fund is financed in part by government and private donors, and also from a two percent share of proceeds of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) issued under the Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism projects.
Hamdan said they are currently gathering input from stakeholders and the public from an ongoing exhibition of Penang island nature-based adaptation programme at UAB Building in Gat Lebuh China before they submit their final proposal to UN Habitat, an accredited entity under the World Bank Adaptation Fund.
He added that they had submitted their first proposal to the Adaptation Fund at the end of last year and have been asked to submit a detailed proposal.
“We’re now in the process of putting together a final proposal. We’re applying for US$10 million to develop the pilot project.
“This is also in line with the Penang2030 vision, part of which is to improve liveability. This is all part of the efforts towards building a much more climate resilient future for Penang and find solutions that others can also learn from.
“Aside from planting of trees, it will involve rehabilitation of river corridors, river reserves management, storm water management and improvement of urban infrastructure.
“Based on the current simulation, we expect urban temperatures possibly to go down two to three degrees Celsius within five years of implementation,” he added.
In November last year, Think City, in collaboration with the Penang government, launched the Penang Climate Action Week (PCAC) to create public awareness on climate change, promote sustainable production and consumption, and encourage discourse on climate actions and solutions.
Hamdan said MBPP and Think City partnered to present a similar proposal to ‘ChangeNow Summit’ in Paris in January this year.
He said out of 100 over entries, they won the Climathon Global City award, beating four other finalists during the presentation in Paris.
The victory earned them €60,000 (RM292,000) which Hamdan said the money is being used for various commitments like developing climate resilient street tree study.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow visited the exhibition at Gat Lebuh Chulia today together with state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and MBPP secretary Datuk Addnan Mohd Razali.
Also present were Penang Green Council general manager Josephine Tan and Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) deputy general manager S. Bharathi.
“I came to give support to the event. Climate change is matter that must be given attention to by everyone,” Chow said.
During the visit, Chow and the guests were briefed by Hamdan, Think City urban solutions programme director Dr Matt Benson and Think City senior executive Liyana Che Ismail.
The exhibition ends on Oct 24 and visiting times are: Monday to Friday (11am to 5pm) and Saturday and Sunday (12pm to 4pm).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Chan Kok Kuan