Estimation of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Transport and Residential Sectors in Malaysia Using Asia-Pacific Integrated Model

Utilizing a large scale computer simulation model called the Asia-Pacific Integrated Model (AIM), a study was conducted to determine the CO2 emissions contributed by the transport and residential sectors in Malaysia, from the years 2000 to 2010. Through the simulation model, it was shown that in a Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario, the CO2 emissions from the transport sector increased from about 35 billion kilograms in 2000 to over 119 billion kilograms in 2010, while in the residential sector, it increased from about 3.9 billion kilograms in 2000 to around 4.7 billion kilograms in 2010. In the transport sector, even when selected technological controls i.e. fuel switching, were introduced, the subsequent decrease in CO2 emissions was rather modest from 35 billion kilograms in 2000 to about 111 billion kilograms in 2010. In residential sector, when a mitigation option i.e. limiting the duration of usage of selected electrical appliances, was introduced, the subsequent reduction in CO2 was not appreciable; it showed the projected increase in CO2 emissions was from 3.9 billion kilograms in 2000 to 4.5 billion kilograms in 2010. The study had indicated that adopting a technological approach alone to reduce the CO2 emissions was not effective enough. For the transport sector, it has to be complemented with other non-technological approaches e.g. car pooling, wider use of public transport and regular inspection and maintenance of vehicles. What is more apparent, however, is that a considerable decrease in CO2 emissions can only be achieved by a drastic decrease in the vehicle population. For the residential sector, in order to reduce the CO2 emissions to an appreciable level, a more drastic approach has to be adopted e.g. greatly reducing the number of electrical appliances that one has been accustomed to. This, of course, will not be easy as it involves a dramatic change in one’s lifestyle. It is important to identify the potential mitigation options as well as the sectors where CO2 emissions reductions might be achievable to overcome the potential global warming issues facing the country.

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