COMPLETION REPORTA Comparative Case Study on Success Factors of Japanese and Australian Transition Towns in Mitigating
Climate Change., and its Implications for the Development of Sustainable Communities in Malaysia
Dr. SUBARNA SIVAPALAN
Senior Lecture
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
Introduction:
The Malaysian Government has implemented the National Green Technology Policy and the National Policy on
Climate Change. These policies are in response to reducing Malaysia’s emission intensity by up to 40% by theyear 2020. Malaysia’s Low Carbon Cities Framework and Assessment system (LCCF) has been cited as one ofthe first framework and assessment systems developed in the region to address reduction of emission. Target usersof the framework include local authorities, planners and developers (Ministry of Energy, Green Technology andWater, 2011). However, the analysis of the present scenario indicates a gap in terms of clearly outlined criteria,guidelines and measures on how the local community should be engaged and identified for the successful
implementation of these policies and strategies. This indicates the depth of interventions to be conducted in termsof the engagement of local communities in the implementation of sustainability initiatives, specifically withincommunities.
What was found through this study on transition town initiatives in Japan and Australia, and how these
could pave the way for effective implementation of guidelines, policies and strategies for transition towns
and sustainable communities in Malaysia:
1. There are clearly outlined local government policies in Japan and Australia to identify the specific needs andrequirements of the local community from the very beginning of any sustainability planning and implementation
initiative, and not at the end of the initiative.
2. While a top-down approach to sustainability and sustainable living planning and implementation is necessary,
there should also be provisions for bottom-up community led initiatives, with communities charting their own
sustainability and sustainable living goals. The Konohana transition community in Japan and the Kynetontransition community in Australia were both found to have developed strategic community led sustainable living
goals, supported by their local councils.
3. There is a need for more sustainable and cohesive financial structures to fund and sustain sustainable living
planning and implementation initiatives, without having to depend solely on governmental aid alone. The
Konohana community in Japan for instance pool financial resources from produce sold at the nearby towns. These
funds are then used to fund community initiatives.
4. There is a need for the formation of sustainable alliances between the government sector, private sector, NGOsand local communities. Such partnerships were found in Australia, as noted by members of the Kyneton andMount Druit transition communities.
5. There is a need to recognize and empower grassroots level recommendations to aid in the sharing of informationand spreading of awareness about the need and importance of sustainability and sustainable lifestyles tocommunities. This was found to be well established in Australia, and also in Japan, where transition communities
welcome local and international visitors to their communities to share information about how they live sustainably.
6. Addressing the urban-rural divide by accepting that the contribution of rural and indigenous communities are as
equally important as urban communities. In Australia for instance, there is strong advocacy for indigenous andrural community well-being.
7. There is a need to identify ways to better manage the advancement of sustainability and sustainable living
initiatives for communities within rural areas, so that they are informed and trained of its benefits to theirhouseholds and their communities. In Japan, transition communities living within the rural context were found toproactively engage with international transition communities to keep abreast with the changing sustainable
lifestyles landscape. Similar efforts in Australia were more local in nature.
8. Empowering communities with decision making capacity to find local mitigation solutions on problems related
to the environment and towards living sustainably. In Australia, for instance, the transition community leaders areinvited to workshops and seminars run by the local council to provide recommendations to be taken up by thecouncils.

Publication of the Results of Research Project:
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)
1 Verbal Presentation
Title: Potential of Renewable Energy Technologies and its Implications for the Management of Low Carbon
Lifestyles in Rural Malaysia. Presented at International Conference in Leadership and Management 2016, 15 to17 August 2016, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
1 Journal Article Published
Title: Potential of Renewable Energy Technologies and its Implications for the Management of Low Carbon
Lifestyles in Rural Malaysia. Global Business and Management Research: An International Journal. Volume 9,Issue 1, Pages 622-631 (2017)
Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)
Nil