More Than 3,000 Ipohites Celebrate Ipoh Low-Carbon Day

With the theme of Global Doughnut Economics Day, which is observed annually on 13th November, this month’s Ipoh Low-Carbon Day hosted on the 19th (Sunday) was a success which saw the participation of some 3,000 Ipohites.

The Global Doughnut Economics Day by Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) is an international community that brings together educators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, designers and economists. Global Doughnut Economics Day is a day of local festivals all over the world led by the Doughnut Economics community. It is also a medium for uniting local communities and global relationships.

The Doughnut Economy Model pioneered by Professor Kate Raworth from Oxford University is an urban economic framework bounded by a circle of sustainable development, and also by a circle of socioeconomic well-being, making it a doughnut-shaped image, thus named the Doughnut Economy. It is an improvement to the Circular Economy and sustainable development by taking into account the factors of social justice, economic balance, and local suitability.

One of the highlights of this morning’s Ipoh Low-Carbon Day was the 5km Doughnut City Fun Walk @ Ipoh Low Carbon Day. It was flagged off by Tuan Ahmad Munir bin Ishak who represented Y.Bhg Datuk Bandar Ipoh, alongside Cik Saidatul Maisarah Faiesall representing Prof Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood as Executive Director of Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University.

Also present were Ipoh City Councillor Clr. Ahmad Khair Faizal bin Yahaya; Dr Norli representing the Chief Executive Officer of Institut Darul Ridzuan; Tpr. Dr Zulqarnain bin Mohamad (Chief Secretariat Ipoh Doughnut Economic City), and Puan Jaslina Binti Shaidin (Deputy Director of City Planning of Ipoh Low-Carbon Day Secretariat).

A total of 500 participants registered for the Fun Walk event. In addition, there was an exhibition tent set up for a sharing session, and exposure to the community at the Ipoh Low-Carbon Day programme on the economic meaning of doughnuts. There were interesting activities such as quiz games. 20 prizes were also given away to participants in a lucky draw.

To realise the Prosperous Perak Plan 2030, one of the Flagship Programmes carried out is to make Ipoh the Doughnut Economic City 2027. With this initiative, a collaboration between the Ipoh City Council (MBI), Sunway Centre of Planetary Health (SCPH) Sunway University, and The Darul Ridzuan Institute (IDR) was established to ensure that one of the Prosperous Perak Flagship Programmes, which is to make Ipoh the Doughnut Economic City 2027, is achieved.

More than 27 cities around the world are also hosting the Global Doughnut Economics Day Festival, including Melbourne and Sydney (Australia), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Mexico City (Mexico), Copenhagen (Denmark), Berlin (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), Beijing (China) and Oxford (United Kingdom).

The objectives of organising the Global Doughnut Economics Day Festival and the flag off of the Doughnut Fun Walk @ Ipoh Low-Carbon Day 2023 event were aimed at:

▪ Promoting Ipoh City as a Doughnut Economic City
▪ Understand the ideas of the Doughnut Economy and learn from the experiences of those who have implemented the ideas.
▪ Sharing the best initiatives that have taken place in Ipoh in particular and Perak in general. Furthermore, there is sharing from individuals, groups, and related organisations.
▪ Successfully pioneer change and build momentum that can benefit everyone involved.
▪ Taking the next step to make Ipoh City the Doughnut Economic City as a place to work together for change towards a prosperous future for all.

Event: 65th Ipoh Low-Carbon Day
Venue: Dataran Bandaraya Ipoh
Date: 19th Nov, 2023
Time: 7am