📝 Summary
The 4th International Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Resource Security (IC-ENSURES 2026) was held at UTM, bringing together experts to discuss sustainable solutions for resilient ecosystems. The conference focused on water, waste, and well-being, with keynote speakers emphasizing the importance of governance and innovation in tackling global challenges. The event highlighted the need for cross-sectoral collaboration and evidence-based strategies to translate environmental commitments into measurable actions.
SEPANG, Aug 20 – Advancing the transition from environmental pledges to tangible outcomes, the Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) successfully organized the 4th International Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Resource Security (IC-ENSURES 2026). Themed “Water, Waste and Well-being: From Commitment to Action,” the two-day event took place on 19 and 20 August 2026 at the Sama-Sama Hotel KLIA, Sepang.
Spearheaded by IC-ENSURES 2026 Chairman, Assoc. Prof. ChM. Dr. Mohd Firdaus Abdul Wahab, and co-organized by the UTM Faculty of Civil Engineering (FKA), UTM Faculty of Science, Professional Trade Exhibition and Meeting Planners (PROTEMP), and Research Institute for Sustainable Environment (RISE), the conference brought together global experts, academia and industry leaders to discuss and implement sustainable solutions for resilient ecosystems.
The conference featured prominent Keynote Speakers who stressed the importance of governance and innovation in tackling global challenges. Chairman of the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), Datuk Ir. Abdul Kadir Mohd Din, FASc., emphasized that sustainability must become an operational discipline, shifting the paradigm from expanding infrastructure to maximizing performance and value under the Water Sector Transformation 2040 framework.
The keynote lineup also featured a virtual delivery by Prof. Yong Xue on satellite remote sensing of aerosols. Transitioning into the plenary sessions, Dr. Shohei Matsuura from Japan’s National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) discussed bridging science to policy actions.
Addressing clean energy and water supply, Muhammad Fareez Abdul Razak, Sustainability Lead at GAMUDA Engineering, presented on the Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project (UPHEP). This initiative tackles the “Sabah Resource Trilemma” by combining 187.5MW of hydroelectric power, 150MWac of floating solar and 950MLD of clean water supply. Saravanan Desigamanie of KPJ Healthcare Berhad further broadened the plenary discussions by exploring sustainability from a healthcare perspective.
The conference additionally advanced the fields of environmental engineering and planetary health through parallel sessions focused on sustainable water management, pollution control and planetary health.
Key takeaways included Dr. Cindy Lee Ik Sing’s exploration of how climate-related shocks cascade through water and sanitation systems, highlighting that nominal water access does not always equate to true water security.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Hong Chen showcased novel bioreactors for partial nitritation-anammox in wastewater treatment, which significantly reduce aeration and sludge production.
The collaborative dialogue was rounded out by other renowned experts, including Dato’ Ir. Ratna Rajah Sivapiragasam, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Florence Jong Mui Choo and Prof. Dr. Azham Zulkharnain, who shared insights on water intelligence ecosystems and pollution signatures.
By connecting policymakers, scientists, and industry players, IC-ENSURES 2026 reinforced UTM’s commitment under the UTM ASCEND 2030 vision. The conference highlighted how cross-sectoral collaboration and evidence-based strategies can translate environmental commitments into measurable actions, paving the way for a more resilient and resource-secure global community.
