Title: Green economy models and energy policies towards sustainable development in Malaysia: a review

Authors: Mohammed Ebrahim Hussien; Rashidah Zainal Alam; Chamhuri Siwar; Norasikin Ahmad Ludin

Addresses: Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ' Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ' Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ' Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 43600 Bangi UKM, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: Rapid population growth, industrialisation and an enhanced quality of life lead to high energy demand. This demand for energy exerts pressure on non-renewable resource and environment. Classical economic philosophy emphasises either the demand or the supply side of the market, which exacerbates the issue. Furthermore, the traditional notions have some limitations in promoting the sustainability of resources and the environment for the well-being of the next generation. However, models of sustainable development do address both the demand and the supply aspects of resources simultaneously. In order to realise the goal of sustainable development, an inclusive and comprehensive policy element is needed. Accordingly, different policy elements were introduced in order to address the sustainability issue of energy and environment. The paper reviews the potential of these energy policy elements introduced by the Malaysian government in order to enhance energy efficiency as the nation moves towards becoming a developed and high-income country by 2020. Additionally, the paper discusses a plausible inter-temporal sustainability pathway which applies an economic growth model, which reveals that adhering to the sustainability notion could enhance the economic production and efficiency of energy resource utilisation.

Keywords: economic development; renewable resources; environmental sustainability; sustainable development; green economy models; energy policies; Malaysia; review; green economics; resource supply and demand; economic growth; energy resources; resource utilisation efficiency.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGE.2016.079723

International Journal of Green Economics, 2016 Vol.10 No.1, pp.89 - 106

Accepted: 09 Aug 2016
Published online: 12 Oct 2016 *

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