SHAH ALAM, Dec 17 — Selangor is moving towards a low-carbon smart community vision that reimagines urban living through circular and regenerative systems, said Atoz Carbon Cycle Platform chief ecosystem officer Jean Tan.
She said that at the heart of this vision is a future-ready community that redefines how cities grow and operate.
“A smart community is one where waste becomes resources, carbon is captured and reused, soil is regenerated, and food is produced locally and sustainably.
“The government, industry, academia, investors and citizens all have a role to play in building this ecosystem,” she said in her speech at the Impact Wallet: Decarbonisation Blockchain Data event today.
Tan noted that the concept of a smart city should not be defined by advanced technologies alone.
“A smart city is not defined solely by hi-tech tools such as AI (artificial intelligence), sensors, or dashboards.
“True smart cities are resilient, healthy and people-centric. Smart development must balance innovation with affordability and inclusivity, and urban growth must not come at the expense of environmental and social well-being,” she said.
Tan also highlighted the importance of embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into the core of urban systems rather than treating them as supplementary targets.
“ESG should not be treated as an optional goal or a branding exercise, and instead should fully be integrated into urban design, infrastructure planning and daily city operations to achieve meaningful impact.
“When ESG is treated as a reward or a checkbox, real impact is lost. An ESG ecosystem enables natural and self-sustaining urban well-being,” she said.
Tan added that Selangor’s efforts to advance a low-carbon smart community must be driven by strong ESG ecosystem building to ensure sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban development, as the state looks to balance climate action with long-term economic and social well-being.
