We applaud DBKL for embarking on the path of mandatory low-carbon requirements for its buildings. The strength of the Low-Carbon Building Checklist (LCBC) Web Portal is that low-carbon building performance gets locked in from the very start, the KM building submission. We had a great collaboration with DBKL, C40 and Cobler in developing a more rigorous tool with added capabilities as well as a slick and user-friendly web portal. Mandatory regulation is crucial to accelerate decarbonisation.

An exciting new zero carbon building material with high compressive strength (25 MPa) and made mostly from soil has just come to market. We were impressed by this environmentally friendly material that makes use of a waste product - in line with the circular economy principles.

A quick shout-out for the new book "A Garden of Hope" which beautifully chronicles the inspiring and 'contentious' community garden Kebun-Kebun Bangsar (KKB). At IEN, we were involved from the early days and up through the difficult red notice eviction times until the Kuala Lumpur city council eventually embraced the project thanks to wide public support and declared KKB a role model for community gardening. The book is currently for sale at the Bangsar Village 1 counter and on the KKB website.