CARBON NEUTRAL
Table 2. Challenges of going carbon neutral for healthcare facilities in Malaysia. Challenge
Description Financial Constraints
Limited budgets or funding constraints may hinder investments in green technologies, energy- efficient infrastructure, and sustainable practices.
Technological Limitations Constraints or lack of availability of certain green technologies or renewable energy sources in the local market may impede efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Infrastructure Limitations Regulatory Framework Behavioural Change Supply Chain Challenges Data Availability
Existing healthcare infrastructure may not be designed to accommodate renewable energy sources or energy-efficient systems, making retrofitting complex and costly.
Insufficient support or incentives from regulations and policies governing healthcare facilities may hinder the transition towards carbon neutrality.
Resistance to change, lack of awareness, or reluctance to adopt new practices among staff, patients, and visitors can impede progress towards sustainability goals.
Ensuring that suppliers adhere to sustainable practices and provide environmentally-friendly products can be challenging, particularly if alternative options are limited or costly.
Limited availability of data or inadequate monitoring infrastructure can hinder efforts to accurately track progress towards carbon neutrality and identify areas for improvement.
facilities may vary across regions, leading to inconsistencies in support for sustainability initiatives and carbon reduction efforts. Behavioural change is essential across all regions, as staff, patients, and visitors must adapt to new practices and embrace sustainability principles. However, in rural areas where awareness and education programs may be less accessible, overcoming resistance to change and fostering a culture of sustainability may be particularly challenging. Supply chain challenges may also be more pronounced in remote or rural areas, where access to environmentally friendly products and sustainable suppliers may be limited. Lastly, data availability and monitoring infrastructure may vary across regions, making it difficult to accurately track progress towards carbon neutrality and identify areas for improvement. Overall, the diverse geographic and
socioeconomic landscape of Malaysia presents a complex set of challenges for healthcare facilities striving towards carbon neutrality. Addressing these challenges requires tailored approaches and collaborative efforts across regions to ensure that all healthcare facilities can transition towards sustainable, carbon- neutral practices.
Conclusion The Malaysian Carbon Neutral Healthcare Facilities Blueprint serves as a promising framework for steering healthcare facilities towards sustainability and carbon neutrality. Despite the varied challenges posed by Malaysia’s diverse regions and landscapes, the blueprint offers strategic guidance for mitigating carbon emissions and fostering environmental stewardship within the healthcare sector. The upcoming comprehensive GHG management guideline is set to
IFHE DIGEST 2025
complement the blueprint’s strategies and further MoH efforts towards decarbonisation. The guideline will provide a clear roadmap for healthcare facilities to track their carbon emissions, set specific reduction targets, and measure progress over time. While financial constraints, technological limitations, and regulatory complexities present formidable hurdles, concerted efforts and innovative solutions can overcome these obstacles. By embracing the blueprint’s strategies and addressing the identified challenges, Malaysia can pave the way for a more sustainable healthcare system that not only reduces its carbon footprint but also promotes health and well-being for both people and the planet.
l The authors would like to thank the Director General of Health Malaysia for his permission to publish this article.
References l Engineering Services Division (2023). Carbon Neutral Healthcare Facilities Blueprint: Towards A Future Proof Healthcare Facility. Putrajaya, Malaysia: Engineering Services Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia.
l Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (2022). Malaysia Fourth Biennial Update Report Under Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 324 pg. Report No.4.
l Imran MS, Abd Rahman NM, Mohamed R. Energy performance contracting initiative in Malaysian public hospitals. International Journal of Integrated Engineering 2020; 12 (9): 234-45.
l Kamaluddin KA, Imran MS, Yang SS. Development of energy benchmarking of Malaysian government hospitals and analysis of energy savings opportunities. Journal of Building Performance 2016; 7 (1).
l Muhammad Syukri Imran Abdullah MS, Noor Muhammad Abd Rahman, TZ Ahmad Zaidi, Khairul Azmy Kamaluddin (2019). Latest
development on sustainability programme initiatives in Malaysian healthcare facility management. Proceedings of the 37th Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations, Jakarta, Indonesia
l Abdullah MS, Imran Kamaluddin K, Abd Rahman NM. Decarbonising facilities in Malaysian healthcare. IFHE Digest 2023; 26-9.
l Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department (2021). Twelfth Malaysia Plan 2021-2025: A Prosperous, Inclusive, Sustainable Malaysia; 2021. 532 p. Available online:
https://rmke12.epu.gov.my/en.
IFHE
l Ministry of Environment and Water (2021). Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint 2021-2030. Available from:
https://www.kasa.gov.my/resources/alam- sekitar/Low-Carbon-Mobility-Blueprint-2021- 2030.pdf .
l Huovila P, Ala-Juusela M, Melchert L et al. Buildings and climate change: Summary for decision-makers. (2009).
l Directorate General for Communication, European Parliament (2023). What is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved by 2050? Available online:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdfs/news/ expert/2019/10/story/20190926STO62270/ 20190926STO62270_en.pdf
l Rayer Q, Jenkins S, Walton P. (2022). Defining Net-Zero and Climate Recommendations for Carbon Offsetting. In Business and Policy Solutions to Climate Change: From Mitigation to Adaptation (pp. 13-35). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
l Rauland V, Newman P, Rauland V, Newman P. (2015). Certifying for carbon neutrality. Decarbonising Cities: Mainstreaming Low Carbon Urban Development, 149-159.
l SBTi (2024). SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard v1.2. Available online:
https://sciencebasedtargets.org/resources/ files/Net-Zero-Standard.pdf
55
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96
