An impressive example of telecommunications’ potential as a contributor to environmental awareness comes from Malaysia where operator edotco is helping to control greenhouse gas emissions in an ingenious way.
The operator has signed an MoU with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia) in what is described as a unique public-private cooperation that aims to form Malaysia’s National Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Network.
In a clever use of its infrastructure, edotco Malaysia is providing MET Malaysia rent-free access and use of its towers to install greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring systems. The gases to be monitored are carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide.
The rationale for the use of the towers is simple enough. Air sampling inlets for these gases need to be deployed at adequate heights to minimize the influence of local terrain and the influence of human activity on the air samples collected. Hence the use of towers. Space for a cabin at the base of each tower to house monitoring equipment has also been allocated.
Based on these requirements, edotco has identified towers at three sites which, together with the existing Global GAW station in Danum Valley, Sabah, will form the country’s National Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Network.
The GHG monitoring initiative not only supports Malaysia’s commitment to the international climate change initiatives of organisations like the UN and the World Meteorological Organization, but will also contribute to the Advancing Sustainability theme of the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP), which targets the reduction of GHG emissions intensity by up to 45 percent by 2030 based on 2005 levels.
Installation of the GHG monitoring systems is now underway. The initial data collection phase is expected to be completed by early 2022.
