By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 4: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) are exploring Vienna’s world-renowned flood mitigation system and its innovative approach to converting municipal waste into energy through advanced incineration, as part of efforts to future-proof Kuching’s urban landscape.
According to a statement, these were the highlights of the discussion between MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng and DBKU Mayor Dato Hilmy Othman during a courtesy call to the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations and International Organisations in Vienna, H.E. Ikram Mohammad Ibrahim, in conjunction with their participation in the World Cities Summit (WCS) Mayors Forum held in the Austrian capital on Thursday (July 3).
During the meeting, the mayors and Ambassador Ikram exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Sarawak and Austria, with a focus on sustainable urban development and economic partnerships.
Central to their discussions was the potential for knowledge-sharing in key areas where Vienna has demonstrated global excellence.
Among the topics of interest was Vienna’s exemplary flood control infrastructure, which integrates long-term investment with climate resilience strategies to safeguard the city from extreme weather events.
The Kuching mayors expressed keen interest in understanding how such systems could be adapted for local application to bolster flood preparedness in Sarawak’s capital.
Equally compelling was Vienna’s success in turning household waste into energy through state-of-the-art incineration facilities—an initiative that currently powers around 50,000 homes.
The mayors noted the model’s effectiveness in advancing clean energy goals and its alignment with the principles of a circular economy. They voiced their intent to explore similar technologies to address Kuching’s waste management challenges and transition toward a greener, more sustainable future.
Both mayors extended their appreciation to Ikram for his insights and support, reaffirming their shared commitment to building stronger international ties in the pursuit of inclusive and sustainable urban transformation.
The WCS Mayors Forum, a global platform for city leaders to share best practices, has provided an opportunity for Kuching to gain valuable perspectives as it charts a progressive path toward becoming a smart, resilient, and eco-friendly city. — DayakDaily
