One such project is led by Mr Zulfikar Abdul Aziz, a senior shop owner who introduced a do-it-yourself green façade to cool his premises. His work reflects a core PNBCAP principle of adaptation that begins at the community level. “I started this because the heat inside my shop was becoming unbearable,” he said. “I didn’t want to wait for someone else to fix it. With simple greening, the space is cooler and more comfortable, and others can do the same.”
Speaking at the ceremony, YB Tuan Zairil Khir Johari, Chairman of the PNBCAP Steering Committee and Penang State EXCO for Infrastructure and Transport, said Penang’s approach shows how climate adaptation can be integrated into urban development without compromising the character or liveability of the city. “If our streets are too hot for transit and our public spaces are unusable, our urban systems are failing. PNBCAP restores that functionality by incorporating climate resilience into the daily lives of our communities. Through a strategic mix of physical intervention and social investment, we can sustain city life even as climate pressures intensify,” he said.
The partnership between Think City and PGC expands this social investment through the Sustainable School Programme (SSP), launching in five schools across George Town and Bayan Lepas: SJKT Sungai Ara, SMK Raja Tun Uda, SJKC Wen Khai, SMKA (P) Al Mashoor, and SMK Padang Polo. SSP complements ongoing Green School efforts led by PGC, with a stronger emphasis on climate education and hands-on, school-based action.
Josephine Tan, CEO of PGC, emphasised that schools play a critical role in reinforcing long-term culture change and that cooling cities requires more than just hardscape. “Cooling cities is not only about physical infrastructure, but also about building understanding, preparedness, and resilience from a young age, so communities are better equipped to respond to climate risks. Through programmes like SSP, PGC is supporting curriculum integration, capacity building, and practical climate action at school and community levels under Penang Green School Program. Our role is to catalyse partnerships and provide technical support, building a foundation of climate knowledge and resilience among young people so they are prepared to lead and strengthen our communities in a changing climate,” she said.
Beyond schools, PNBCAP also strengthens social resilience and youth leadership through initiatives such as the Youth Climate Summit 2024–Southeast Asia (YCS 2024-SEA), developed through collaboration between PGC, Think City, PowerSains, Penang Hill, Entopia, Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, and others. The programme equips youth with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools to develop and implement Climate Action Plans (CAPs) through place-based, participatory approaches within their schools and communities.
Originally developed by The Wild Center, YCS was introduced to Southeast Asia for the first time in 2024. Following the programme, five schools and colleges across the region were recognised for their outstanding CAPs, demonstrating tangible, real-world impact.
According to Think City Managing Director Dato’ Hamdan Abdul Majeed, the programme’s success lies in bridging the gap between implementation and institutional learning to move climate adaptation into mainstream urban practice. “PNBCAP translates climate science into spaces people use every day,” he said. “By working across different sites and scales, Penang is building a model that can be replicated by other cities facing similar heat and climate pressures.”
With its current focus on George Town and Bayan Lepas, PNBCAP establishes Penang as a national testbed. By integrating implementation with knowledge-sharing, the programme is scaling climate-responsive design, infrastructure, and governance to ensure urban liveability remains the standard for cities across Malaysia.
--END--
