Asia’s cities are growing at breakneck speed. The Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle’s (IMT-GT) Green Cities Initiative prioritizes sustainable urban development for the subregion. The goal? Vibrant, livable cities that are environmentally appealing, economically competitive and socially inclusive.

The IMT-GT’s green cities initiative promotes a paradigm shift—where cities pursue integrated urban development and environmental planning as they make a transition to a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future.

GREEN CITY ACTION PLANS (GCAP)

The CIMT with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) assist the cities of Melaka (Malaysia), Songkhla (Thailand) and Medan (Indonesia) to develop comprehensive Green City Action Plans, which, it is hoped, will be emulated by other cities within the subregion and beyond in the near future.

The process of moving from business-as-usual towards a livable city starts with an assessment of existing conditions. Equally important is forging a clear and concise vision for a city’s future, building consensus amongst an array of key stakeholders to ensure there is broad support for the city’s transformation.

Through this process, key actions are prioritized and encapsulated in a Green City Action Plan (GCAP), which sets forth short, medium and long term recommendations on green city investments covering integrated urban development, environment and climate resilience, and energy and resource efficient urban infrastructure and services. Plans also identify an investment program and financing mechanisms to achieve balanced growth in a community, and they actively promote integrated decision-making through more robust planning.

Stakeholder workshop during the preparation of the GCAP for Melaka

The Malacca Historic City Council won the

prestigious Green Apple Award for its efforts

to create a more sustainable place for the

future generation.

Experts and decision-makers from Melaka, Malaysia and the ADB came together to facilitate the preparation of the Green City Action Plan for Melaka

collection is also crucial for establishing a baseline database that can inform decision making. Actions must be prioritized, and sources of financing must be identified for implementation to effectively commence. Recently, Urban Management Partnerships have been introduced to facilitate peer-to-peer learning for cities, and to support the development of core capacities, skills and knowledge at both the national and local levels.

MOVING FORWARD ON THE IMT-GT GREEN CITIES INITIATIVE

Successful implementation of GCAP requires:• Strong coordination between multiple government

agencies, the private sector, community organizations and citizens;

• An adaptive management approach where the actions can be modified if needed, pursuant to monitoring, data analysis and citizen feedback;

• Capacity building efforts;• Identification of funding sources, and a facility to

raise capital; and • Database and other tools to keep track of plan

implementation.

An important first step for every city is developing institutional mechanisms to implement the action plan, and establishing a GCAP Committee. Quality data

The Mayor of Kitakyushu welcomes a knowledge

exchange visit from a Malaysian delegation

to learn from their experience on green

cities development

Photo Credits: Amit Prothi; Malacca Green Technology Corporation

For more information, please contact:

Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT) Office 3A, Level 3, Block C, Menara PjH Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Precinct 2 62100 Putrajaya, Malaysia Tel No. +603 8893 0925 Fax No. +603-8861-8202 http://www.imtgt.org

The Chief Minister inaugurates a solar farm reflecting his commitment towards supporting Melaka’s vision to become a green technology state by 2020.

I N D I A N O C E A N

S o u t h C h i n a S e a

A n d a m a n S e a

S t r a i t s o f M a l a c c a

J a v a

S e a

Trang

Songkhla

Pattani

Narathiwat

Kota Bahru

George Town

Ipoh

Kuala Terengganu

Yala

Alor Star

Kangar

Kuantan

Seremban

KUALA LUMPUR

Melaka

Johor Bahru

Pekanbaru

Padang

Jambi

Tanjung Pinang

Palembang

Pangkal Pinang

Bandar Lampung

Bengkulu

Medan

Lingga Islands

Riau Islands

Bangka Island

Nias Island

Simeulue Island

Siberut Island

Batu Islands

Pagai Islands

Banda Aceh

Satun

Phuket Krabi

Nakhon Si Thammarat

Surat Thani

Ranong

Phang Nga

Chumphon

Phatthalung

Shah Alam

Teluk Kuantan

Rengat

Baturaja

Lampung

Lahat

Tebing TinggiBinjai

Belawan

Kisaran

Rantau Prapat

Pematang Siantar

Sibolga

Aek Kanopan

Dumai

Pariaman

Sigli

Langsa

Lhokseumawe

Kuah

Kepala BatasBayan Lepas

Sepang

Subang

Batu Berendam

Senai

NORTHSUMATRA

R I A U

PAHANG

WESTSUMATRA

RIAU ISLANDS

J A M B I

SOUTH SUMATRA

BENGKULU

LAMPUNG

NANGGROEACEH DARUSSALAM

BANGKABELITUNG

TERENGGANU

KELANTAN

PERLIS

KEDAH

PENANG

PERAK

SELANGOR

MELAKA

JOHOR

NEGERISEMBILAN

Langkawi Island

Penang Island

PHANG NGA

PHUKET

KRABI

TRANG

SATUN

PHATTALUNG

SONGKHLAPATTANINARATHIWAT

YALA

RANONG

CHUMPHON

SURATTHANI

NAKHON SITHAMMARAT

S U M A T R A

I N D O N E S I A

PENINSULARMALAYSIA

SINGAPORE

THAILAND

MYANMAR

IMT-GT Province/State

National Capital

Provincial/State Capital

City/Town

Airport

National Road

Other Road

Provincial/State Boundary

International Boundary

Boundaries are not necessarily authoritative.

INDONESIA-MALAYSIA-THAILAND

GROWTH TRIANGLE

Kilometers

0 50 100 150 200 250

N

IMT-GT 11-1106c AV

0o0o

104 00'Eo

104 00'Eo

98 00'Eo

98 00'Eo

8 00'No

8 00'No

4 00'So

4 00'So

This map was produced by the cartography unit of the Asian Development Bank. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and any other information shown on this map do not imply, on the part of the Asian Development Bank, any judgment on the legal status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries, colors, denominations, or information.

Source: Map derived from the IMT-GT Implementation Blueprint 2012–2016

THE NEED FOR GREEN CITIES In recent decades, Asian cities have provided better economic opportunities and higher standards of living for millions of people. However, these benefits have often come at very high environmental and social costs. Ever-growing numbers of residents, inadequate infrastructure, worsening traffic, polluted air, contaminated rivers, and rising inequalities are just a few of many challenges cities must contend with. Increasing affluence and growing urban populations are likely to further increase resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and without dramatic changes, cities’ problems will likely worsen—livability will further decline, and economic productivity will suffer.

NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL

Letting urbanization continue along its present course is no longer an option. For cities to economically thrive, and their people to prosper, challenges such as shrinking green space, traffic congestion, water shortages, and flood risks have to be reduced. Cities wanting to change face an array of challenges. Limited financial resources, outdated policies, and low implementation capacities all hinder city governments’ ability to effectively manage growth or provide infrastructure at the pace of urban development. Uncoordinated decision-making can further limit the impact of projects, and the efficient use of resources.

Cities consume almost 75% percent of earth’s natural resources, and are responsible for more than 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions

WHAT IS A GREEN CITY?

While green cities feature parks and other green spaces that offer residents a reprieve from asphalt and urban sprawl, they are much more than this. Green cities balance the need for economic growth with people’s need for well-being, and a city’s long-term future. They embrace low carbon growth to remain competitive, and to enhance livability for all residents. They are resilient, inclusive, and manage natural resources well.

Key pillars of green city development include:

The Environment: Quality natural resource management ensures the sustainability of land, water and air; low carbon technologies and practices are utilized to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and disaster risk management is employed to reduce vulnerabilities to natural hazards and climate change impacts.

Economic Competitiveness: Municipal infrastructure is expanded, service delivery is improved, and operations and maintenance are carried out effectively. New opportunities for revenue generation are explored. Cities also promote entrepreneurship and jobs, with particular focus on green industries.

Solar panels are integrated in walkways to increase the production of electricity from renewable sources.

Incinerator Facility is focused on recycling waste by combusting refuse at high temperatures. Thermal energy generated during refuse treatment is utilized for electric power generation that is reused in the facility, as well as sold to the local private utility company.

Equity: Cities partner with civil society, residents, the private sector, learning institutions, and other stakeholders to identify and implement solutions to enhance livability for all residents.

Rising affluence will shift motorcycle riders towards cars and could increase congestion in urban roadways

Promotion of traditional, low-carbon technology in the growing tourism sector provides jobs to local residents in Melaka

THE INDONESIA-MALAYSIA-THAILAND GROWTH TRIANGLE (IMT-GT)

The Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle is a sub-regional economic cooperation program composed of 14 provinces in southern Thailand, 8 states of Peninsular Malaysia, and the 10 provinces of Sumatra in Indonesia—an area encompassing over 70 million people bound together by shared economic interests, geographical proximity, and close historical, cultural and linguistic ties.

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2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

US$

billi

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Exports Imports

TOTAL TRADE, EXPORTS, AND IMPORTS

The IMT-GT focuses on accelerating economic development and prosperity in the subregion through enhanced trade and investment opportunities, tourism, and stronger infrastructure links. The private sector has played and will continue to play a key role in promoting economic cooperation in IMT-GT.

Source of the Basic Data: IMT-GT Trade, Investment, and Tourism Database (IMT-GT data), ADB Key Indicators 2013 (national level data), ASEANstats (ASEAN level data).

Melaka has successfully begun the transformation of the Melaka River from a backyard drain into a popular tourist destination through an integrated planning approach.