CONFERENCE SYNOPSIS & THEME

Since introducing and establishing the concept of ‘World Class Sustainable Cities (WCSC) International Conference’ in 2009, this annual conference series has gained recognition and prominence among the built-environment industry professionals, City Managers, Government agencies, residents’ groups and stakeholders on the benefits and challenges faced in becoming a World Class Sustainable and Liveable City.

Themed ‘Resilient Cities, Living Heritage’, this year’s 16^th series of the ‘International Conference on World Class Sustainable Cities’ (WCSC) will share, address and focus on 3 main sub-themes – ‘Culture as Catalyst: Revitalising Urban Identity and Community Life’, ‘Climate Adaptation & Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient Cities’ and ‘Smart and Inclusive Technologies for Regenerative Urban Futures’.

All cities should cherish and embrace its history and cultural identity as assets towards creating a better planned and sustainable development. The cities of tomorrow need to adopt effective urban planning by integrating Sustainable Development Goals and community engagement into every facet of urban planning in order to accommodate urban growth, safeguard the environment, preserve cultural and natural heritage, and enhance city resilience.

Building climate-resilient, net-zero cities and integrating nature-based solutions can be achieved by adopting a holistic, systems-based approach and integrated urban development strategies that takes into account land use planning, technologies, and behavioral changes to achieve sustainability and resilience goals in terms of social, economic and environmental factors for a sustainable and liveable future.

With the official support and endorsement of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), this 16^th WCSC series will be a constructive, inclusive and aspirational platform to engage, enlighten, educate, share best practices and knowledge to change the mindsets, and encourage community engagement for City Managers/Administrators, city game-changers, built-environment industry professionals and all city stakeholders to address how Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia should move forward to address the key challenges of liveability and sustainability, and share integrated urban solutions for a better tomorrow.

The past fifteen (15) WCSC conferences, with the official endorsement and support of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), have successfully managed to educate, enlighten and create greater awareness to City Managers and all city stakeholders in this country. The engagement of World Class experts in city solutions at these WCSC conference series have seen the best practices and lessons learnt, manifested into projects to make Kuala Lumpur City, a World Class City.

WCSC symposium has been specifically designed to showcase some of the best and successful practices and experiences from World Class Cities, as well as to provide an opportunity for conference participants to learn and better understand the efforts made within our own nation.

OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE

• To further enlighten, educate and change the mindsets of city stakeholders, industry players, Government agencies, Residents’ Association, NGO’s and general public on the key challenges and issues faced in promoting and achieving a ‘World Class City’ status;
• To learn and review available solutions, international best practices and experiences in the overall planning and development for the successful implementation of World Class Sustainable, Resilient and Liveable Cities; and
• To study the latest developments, innovations and ideas that have been implemented or practiced by other World Class Sustainable Cities and its possible applicability to Malaysia’s situation.

AUDIENCE PROFILE

More than 550 conference delegates are expected from the following areas:-

• Mayors, Councilors and senior officers from various cities, municipalities, Government agencies, NGOs, Residents Associations (RAs), and the private and public sectors;
• Researchers, academicians and specialists in the fields of urban planning and development, education, social studies and welfare;
• Industry professionals, international organizations, and public and private institutions i.e. Property Developers & Building Managers, Real Estate Investors, Town Planners, Architects, Engineers, Landscape Architects, Valuers, Academicians and others; and
• Private corporations, students and other stakeholders.

JOINT ORGANISERS

• Real Estate & Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur) (REHDA KL) rehda.com
• Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) mip.org.my
• Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) pam.org.my

ENDORSED AND SUPPORTED BY

• Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Malaysia   dbkl.gov.my

VENUE AND DATE

• 30^thSeptember 2025 (Tuesday).
• Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur Hotel, Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Conference website: wcsckl.com