A divestment policy refers to a strategy or set of guidelines that an organization adopts to sell off or withdraw investments from certain industries, companies, or sectors. Typically, divestment policies are enacted for ethical, environmental, or social reasons. For example, many institutions, including universities and pension funds, have developed divestment policies to stop investing in fossil fuels, tobacco, or weapons industries, in order to align their investments with their values and sustainability goals.

UKM supports a disposal policy in line with the university’s sustainability goals. The strategy aims to reduce support for environmentally damaging sectors and shift funds toward cleaner and renewable energy sources, promoting a greener and more sustainable future.

In terms of UKM, through the UKM Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030, it is committed to promoting clean energy and reducing its carbon footprint in line with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) (page 38 and 39). The emphasis of the plan is expressed on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low-carbon transport, as well as UKM increased focus on sustainability by proposing a transition towards green energy, which may be in line with the divestment policy. Therefore, UKM has initiated affordable and clean energy on campus through installation of solar LED streetlights on campus by 2023 (DSMPV-HES, page 14) which not only needs less maintenance but also reduces electricity costs.

1. UKM Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030

2. Technical Optimization of A Distributed Small Modular Nuclear Reactor-Solar Photovoltaics Hybrid Energy Systems (DSMPV-HES) in Malaysia

3. Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) on divesting investments from carbon-intensive energy industries

The Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) project on divesting investments from carbon-intensive energy industries reflects a strong commitment to advancing sustainable energy innovation and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. This initiative encompasses a series of groundbreaking research projects that explore alternative, efficient, and environmentally responsible energy solutions. Among them are the Supercapattery as Smart Advanced Energy Storage, which develops hybrid energy storage systems using Porous Coordination Polymer-based composites; the Smart Energy Hospital, focusing on intelligent and efficient energy management for healthcare facilities; the Flexible, Sustainable, and Efficient Energy Harvesting Solar Photovoltaic Panels project, which pioneers adaptable and high-efficiency solar technologies; and the Integration of TRIZ with Patent Mining Technology for Sustainable Energy Efficient Product Innovation, which promotes creative, data-driven approaches to green technology design. Collectively, these projects contribute to Malaysia’s transition toward a low-carbon economy, fostering innovation, energy efficiency, and sustainability in alignment with national and global climate goals.