UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA (UKM) recently launched the MyIKLIM Database, a one-stop data curation portal for climate change research in Malaysia.
The portal was launched during the Climate Action Festival hosted by UKM-Yayasan Sime Darby – for Sustainability, the institute’s chair for initiatives on sustainable development.
Speaking to The Petri Dish, Dr Maggie Ooi Chel Gee, lead developer of the project said: “The objective of this initiative is to provide open data for the general public as a vehicle to promote citizen science. The data published in the portal is freely accessible and is curated for the public to understand climate change, encourage inclusive participation, and spur climate action, especially among the young.”
Ooi specialises in air quality modelling and is currently a Research Fellow at the Institute of Climate Change in UKM.
She said the website gives details on greenhouse emissions in the country, land cover maps for Peninsular Malaysia, fire hotspots, future projections of climate, processed satellite data and more.
She said, for now, the website has ten archived datasets.
“More educational tools such as carbon footprint calculator and net zero attainment stimulators that monitor the progress of attaining net zero goals will also be included in the website soon. The website is specially designed to be interactive with self-explanatory images and messages.”
Ooi who specialises in weather modelling said that localised data gathering is crucial for climate projection for the next 50 to 100 years.
According to her, we are still relying on global data and merely working on assumptions based on such data.
Being a tropical country, predicting weather in Malaysia is tough, especially the rainfall – but integration of different modelling technologies would help improve the prediction. This will also allow us to calibrate climate projections’ quality based on various emissions reduction levels.
“It is time to move forward with a locally conducive plan and I believe this database will be a mover for climate action.”
“The database is not only targeted for the general public but to encourage climate research among the scientific community.”
She also said cross-cutting multidisciplinary research is required to find a solution and urged more younger people to be aware of climate change and take remedial action and be involved in advocacy matters.
UKM is the first university in Malaysia to offer a Master in Climate Change Studies, Coursework Module that will commence in this year March.
“We are already feeling the impact of global climate change with floods and landslides happening around us. Thus, it is our responsibility to be aware of climate change and take concrete action,” concluded the expert.
