Sunway University leads regional effort in recognising and solving climate change

 Climate change is a real threat to life on Earth and carbon dioxide (CO2) is recognised as the major contributor. This highlights the reduction in CO2 emissions as worldwide emergency and priority. As we speak, tremendous amount of researches are being carried out worldwide to tackle the challenge of integrating CO2 capture with its utilisation. As a result, new scientific discoveries and innovative technologies are emerging to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions.

Recognising the importance of this issue, the Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation (CCDCU) of Sunway University (member of the EuroAsia Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation Network) is collaborating with Lancaster University to organise an event consisting of virtual seminars on 20th – 22nd October with the title “Mitigating Climate Change Through Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation”. The event is held in conjunction with Lancaster COP26 Festival, as well as after the success of a recent 2-day seminar on “Emerging Technologies for CO2 Capture and Utilisation”.

Sunway University’s initiative to collaborate with global institutions in organising climate change related seminars is timely and in relation to COP26, the upcoming 26th United Nations Annual Climate Change Conference which will be held in Glasgow. United Nations climate change conferences are among the largest international meetings in the world.

During the recent seminar, International speakers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), Lancaster University (UK), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), National University of Singapore (Singapore), Inha University (Korea), United Arab Emirates University (UAE), Dawood University of Engineering and Technology (Pakistan), University of Indonesia (Indonesia) along with local speakers from Universiti Malaysia Perlis and Sunway University presented and discussed the most recent innovations, trends, and techno-economic aspects related to CO2 Capture and Utilisation. 

“The Sunway Group is committed to support the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a wide range of initiatives,” said Sunway Group Founder and Chairman Tan Sri Dr. Jeffery Cheah AO during his welcoming address. Professor Sibrandes Poppema, President of Sunway University opened the event while Professor Serge Demidenko, Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology warmly welcomed over 300 participants from 34 countries.

Integrating CO2 capture and utilisation is the way forward to tackle one of the grand challenges facing earth and humanity. As mentioned by Professor Mohamed Kheireddine, head of CCDCU, “CO2 capture and its utilisation are crucial for protecting life on earth, it is also essential for creating life on other planets as demonstrated recently during NASA’s mission at planet Mars where CO2 from Mars atmosphere was captured and utilised to generate oxygen, an essential gas for life.”  

With the success of these virtual events, CCDCU attempts to continue planning and organising exciting seminars in the future. The CCDCU also strives to continue its contribution towards global climate change issue with education, research and innovation while collaborating with world class institution. Sunway Group and Sunway University invested heavily in terms of research infrastructure and funding to support the global quest for Climate Action (SDG13) with a number of initiatives in particularly the   recent establishment of the EuroAsia Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation Network-EACO2CUNet which comprises 29 researchers from 23 Universities covering 14 countries and the signing of a 3-year research collaboration agreement with MIT.

For more information or to receive updates on the upcoming events and other activities of Sunway University Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation (CCDCU), please contact Mrs. Norul Hazizah Hussain at hazizahh@sunway.edu.my or the Head of the centre, Prof. Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua at kheireddinea@sunway.edu.my. For registration, please log on to : https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sunway%2Euniversity_cop26-co2capture-lancasteruniversity-activity-6853512727634292736-EmCI