Green Tech May Contribute Up To US$18.4 Bln To GDP By 2020

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 (Bernama) -- The green technology sector has the potential to contribute up to US$18.49 billion (RM70 billion) to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2020, says Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) Chief Executive Officer Ir Ahmad Hadri Haris. The sector would continue to offer the opportunity to develop the national economy in a sustainable manner through the deployment of climate mitigation strategies and actions, he said in the corporation's 2014 annual report. These positive interventions are expected to reduce national carbon emission to 196.5 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2eq) by 2020 and 248 MtCO2eq by 2030. "The Green Technology Master Plan (GTMP)'s proposed targets will see the nation surpass the target set in 2009 of achieving a 40 per cent reduction in carbon emissions intensity of GDP by 2020, based on 2005 levels," he said. GTMP is a comprehensive guide towards achieving the objectives as set out in the National Green Technology Policy 2009, focused on five key sectors namely energy, transport, building, waste management and water management. Moving forward, Ahmad Hadri said accelerating the adoption of green technology would remain a priority for the country as Malaysia worked towards establishing itself as a Green Community by 2030. "GreenTech Malaysia is optimistic that the outlook for the green sector remains bright," he said, adding that it would also grow rapidly to become one of the key contributors to Malaysia's socio-economic growth. -- BERNAMA