Kuala Terengganu,

a coastal city in Malaysia renowned for its marine biodiversity and cultural tourism, is facing growing environmental pressures due to the rapid expansion of its tourism sector: rising carbon emissions, energy inefficiencies, and ecological degradation, primarily due to transportation (airplanes, taxis, ferries, buses), accommodations (the tropical climate causes 60% of a hotel’s energy consumption to be due to air conditioning), and food and waste management. It was therefore essential to invest in green tourism initiatives, such as electric mobility (EV charging stations and solar streetlights), solar infrastructure, planting trees, and sustainability certification requirements for tourism operators. In accordance with the National Solid Waste Management Policy and implemented through the PSUKT Strategic Plan 2019-2023 to improve municipal solid waste (MSW) management, the city emphasizes the transition from conventional landfilling to integrated and sustainable management, including the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and waste-to-energy initiatives, led by the Majlis Bandaraya Kuala Terengganu (MBKT).