Monash University Malaysia awarded UK Government grant to strengthen climate adaptation research
(From left to right): Aznie Rahim (SCAC) and Daniel Lee (SCAC), Professor Erniel Barrios (Monash University Malaysia’s School of Business), Professor Stephen Boyle (Vice President (Education) of Monash University Malaysia), Dr Ewilly Liew (Monash University Malaysia’s School of Business), and Ir. Dr Izni Zahidi (Project Lead from Monash University Malaysia’s School of Engineering).
Monash University Malaysia has been awarded the UK government grant regarding the Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) program, reaffirming the university’s role in advancing climate adaptation solutions in Malaysia and the wider region.
The award was officially announced during a signing ceremony on 6 October 2025 at the Forest Learning Centre, Taman Botani Kuala Lumpur. The event was officiated by Seema Malhotra MP, Minister for Equalities and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Indo-Pacific), UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and attended by Datuk Mas Rizal bin Mohd Hilmi, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, the British High Commissioner, and representatives from Monash University Malaysia, UNDP Malaysia, and the Selangor Climate Adaptation Centre (SCAC).
The funded project, titled Building Climate-Resilient Communities through Integrated Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) Nexus Model, will be carried out in partnership with the Selangor Climate Adaptation Centre (SCAC). Led by the university’s School of Engineering and School of Business, the collaboration aims to enable more climate-resilient and coordinated decision-making by developing an integrated WEFE nexus model that helps identify trade-offs and synergies between cross-sector interactions and infrastructure decisions under different policy and climate scenarios.
Due to its large population and rapid development, Selangor presents a unique case study for understanding how the demand for water, energy, and food is expected to increase as the state implements plans to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. While initiatives like the Water Sector Transformation 2040 (AIR 2040) identified the WEFE nexus as a key priority, implementation has yet to take shape. This project will address that gap by developing a basin-level model tailored to the Selangor River, with the potential to be replicated in other regions.
The project will deliver an integrated WEFE nexus model informing risk maps and nature-based solutions (NBS) priority areas, new tools supporting socially inclusive access to finance for WEFE resilience, as well as training modules and stakeholder workshops.
UK Minister Seema Maholtra delivering a speech during the event.
The UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Minister Malhotra said, “The UK and Malaysia have a long history of working together on climate and the environment. Today, we are taking our climate partnership further still. These joint projects will deliver practical, community-focused solutions that strengthen Malaysia’s ability to respond to climate impacts such as flooding and heat stress."
Ir. Dr Izni Zahidi, Project Lead from the School of Engineering, added, “By combining modelling with the lived realities of local communities, we will co-create solutions that are not only technically sound but also socially grounded and equitable. This is about building the knowledge infrastructure we need for integrated, inclusive, and climate-smart planning.”
Edward Vrkić, UNDP’s Resident Representative to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam said, “Climate change is not a distant challenge. It is already reshaping lives and livelihoods in Malaysia. Scaling up climate finance, especially for adaptation, is critical to ensure communities, ecosystems, and economies remain resilient. With this support, UNDP is working closely with financial institutions, regulators, and government partners to unlock new pathways for sustainable investment. This collaboration builds on our ongoing initiatives, including the Climate Finance Network and MyClimateFinHub, and reflects our shared commitment to direct finance towards solutions that leave no one behind.”
Professor Stephen Boyle, Vice President (Education) at Monash University Malaysia, added, “CARA's support aligns perfectly with Monash's commitment to building thriving communities in a changing climate. This funding will support the development of strategies that optimise water, energy, and food systems while conserving our natural ecosystems - an integrated approach essential for climate adaptation.”
(From left to right): Edward Vrkić, UNDP’s Resident Representative to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam; Professor Stephen Boyle, Monash University Malaysia’s Vice President for Education, Minister Seema Maholtra, Minister for Equalities and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Indo-Pacific), UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; Datuk Mas Rizal bin Mohd Hilmi, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability; and British High Commissioner Ajay Sharma.
The project highlights the university’s dedication to addressing global challenges through applied research, cross-sector collaboration, and solutions that inform real-world policies and practices.