SHANGHAI, Oct 22 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), in collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), China, co-organised the 12th International Conference on Low Carbon Asia (ICLCA 2026) from 19 to 22 October 2026 at SJTU’s Minhang Campus, with more than 200 participants from 24 countries.

Themed “Moving the Needle to 1.5: Science, Technology, Finance, and Policy Integration to Materialise Asia’s Net-Zero Transition,” the conference explored approaches to accelerate Asia’s net-zero transition. The conference was jointly chaired by Prof. Yong Geng of SJTU and Prof. Ho Chin Siong of UTM, reflecting their partnership in sustainable development.

The opening ceremony on 20 October at SJTU’s School of Environmental Science and Engineering featured speeches by SJTU Vice President Prof. Liu Weidong, World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) President Tan Seng Chuan, Prof. Ho Chin Siong of UTM and Party Secretary Zheng Hao of SJTU’s School of Environmental Science and Engineering. The ceremony was moderated by UTM Assoc. Prof. Lim Jeng Shiun and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) Assoc. Prof. Mong Guo Ren.

Eight plenary presentations covered industrial decarbonisation, renewable energy, carbon capture and environmental protection. Speakers included Academician Ling Wen of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE); Prof. Raimund Bleischwitz of the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) and University of Bremen (UB); Prof. Joseph Sarkis of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI); Prof. Toshihiko Masui of Osaka University (UOsaka) and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES); Prof. Neven Duić of the University of Zagreb (UNIZG); Prof. Ruzhu Wang of SJTU; Prof. Saleem H. Ali of the University of Delaware (UD) and University of New South Wales (UNSW); and Prof. Cheng Gu of Nanjing University (NJU).

The Green City High-Level Forum, moderated by UTM Low Carbon Asia Research Centre (LCARC) Co-Director Chau Loon Wai, brought together Prof. Ho Chin Siong, SJTU Prof. Chen Jie and Johor Sustainability Centre Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hj. Syed Norul Shahril Syed Nasir.

Discussions covered emissions modelling, spatial planning, housing policies and climate financing, including knowledge exchange between Shanghai and Southeast Asian cities. The inaugural Green City Awards recognised the Johor Sustainability Centre and Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara for contributions to sustainable urban planning and green governance.

Parallel technical sessions and poster presentations covered renewable energy, hydrogen, energy storage, industrial decarbonisation, sustainable materials and climate governance. The closing ceremony on 21 October, moderated by UTM Prof. Lee Chew Tin and SJTU Assoc. Prof. Zhang Zhendong, recognised outstanding contributions through Best Oral Presentation, Best Paper and Best Poster awards.

Technical visits on 22 October included the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences’ long-term experimental base for low-carbon agriculture and Shanghai Wenxin Biotechnology Co., Ltd., highlighting water-saving rice cultivation, emissions reduction, food waste treatment and resource recovery.

ICLCA 2026 strengthened UTM’s international research collaboration, particularly with SJTU, while supporting knowledge exchange and practical solutions to climate and sustainability challenges. The conference also contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.