USK Strengthens Green Sustainability Efforts through GCIF 2024 in Malaysia
Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), represented by Dr. Muzailin Affan, Chairman of the Office of International Affairs, attended the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Announcement Forum and MoU Exchange during the Green Cities Investment Forum 2024 (GCIF 2024) held on 26-27 November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The forum discussed sustainable urban mobility, urban greening, and climate resilience, emphasizing unlocking climate finance and strengthening public-private partnerships.
The forum united key stakeholders—policymakers, academics, businesses, and financial institutions—to explore innovative funding models for Green City Action Plan (GCAP) projects. It also showcased successful GCAP initiatives, highlighted investment opportunities, and raised awareness about global compliance standards.
The partnership aligns with the Eco Campus Sustainability Action Nexus (ESCAN) program, which was successfully launched at USK on 12 August 2024. Organized in collaboration with the Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF) and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Joint Business Council, ESCAN focuses on advancing green sustainability initiatives through education and university collaboration.
Dr. Muzailin Affan emphasized USK’s commitment to expanding partnerships that support green sustainability on a global scale. “Universitas Syiah Kuala is dedicated to advancing green environmental initiatives by collaborating with diverse stakeholders to achieve a global impact,” he said.
Through ESCAN, USK aims to strengthen its network and contributions across its four pillars: Greening Education for a Sustainable Future, Green Talent for a Sustainable Future, Green Living for a Sustainable Future, and Partnerships for a Sustainable Future.
In addition, as a backdrop to the event, the 2015 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development highlighted ambitious goals for addressing climate change and sustainable urban development. However, progress remains slow, with Malaysia’s aim to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 still facing significant challenges. GCIF 2024 addressed these gaps with a collaborative platform designed to accelerate the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
