When discussing climate change and carbon management, many businesses focus only on carbon dioxide (CO₂).
However, several greenhouse gases (GHGs) are highly relevant to industrial activities in Malaysia—especially for manufacturing, food processing, logistics, and energy-intensive operations.
Understanding which gases matter most helps businesses:
Identify emission risks
Improve ESG performance
Prepare for future carbon-related regulations
Greenhouse gases are:
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere
Measured as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e)
Regulated under international climate frameworks
Common industrial GHGs include:
CO₂
CH₄
N₂O
F-gases
Why it matters:
Largest contributor to total emissions
Closely linked to energy use and fuel combustion
Main industrial sources in Malaysia:
Electricity consumption
Fuel-burning boilers and generators
Manufacturing processes
Transportation and logistics
Industries most affected:
Manufacturing
Food and beverage
Logistics and warehousing
Construction
Why it matters:
Much higher global warming potential than CO₂
Significant contributor to short-term warming
Common Malaysian industrial sources:
Waste management and landfills
Food processing waste
Wastewater treatment
Agriculture-related industries
Industries most affected:
Food manufacturing
Palm oil and agro-processing
Waste management operators
Why it matters:
Extremely high global warming potential
Long atmospheric lifespan
Typical industrial sources:
Combustion processes
Fertilizer-related operations
Certain chemical manufacturing processes
Industries most affected:
Chemical manufacturing
Agro-based industries
Fuel-intensive operations
Why they matter:
Very high global warming potential
Often unintentional emissions
Common sources in Malaysia:
Refrigeration systems
Air-conditioning equipment
Cold storage facilities
Fire suppression systems
Industries most affected:
Food cold chain
Logistics and warehousing
Data centers
Manufacturing plants with cooling systems
GHG relevance is linked to:
ESG reporting expectations
Carbon pricing readiness
Energy and operational efficiency
Export and supply chain requirements
Understanding GHG sources helps businesses:
Prioritize emission reduction efforts
Improve data accuracy
Reduce compliance risks
Fuel combustion on-site
Company-owned vehicles
Refrigerant leaks
Purchased electricity
Purchased steam or cooling
Supplier emissions
Transportation and distribution
Waste disposal
Many Malaysian companies:
Start with Scope 1 and 2
Gradually expand to Scope 3
❌ Only CO₂ matters
❌ GHG tracking is only for large corporations
❌ SMEs have negligible emissions
✅ Multiple gases contribute to climate impact
✅ SMEs are part of larger supply chains
✅ Indirect emissions can be significant
Identify main energy and fuel sources
Review refrigeration and cooling systems
Track waste and wastewater management
Collect basic emission data
Prioritize high-impact emission sources
ISO standards commonly used include:
ISO 14064 – Greenhouse Gas Accounting
ISO 14067 – Product Carbon Footprint
ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System
ISO 50001 – Energy Management System
These standards help businesses:
Measure emissions accurately
Improve transparency
Prepare for future regulations
For industries in Malaysia, understanding which greenhouse gases matter most is the foundation of effective carbon management.
It is not about tracking everything at once—but about:
Identifying key emission drivers
Managing risks strategically
Building long-term business resilience
Indonesia