Advancing Urban Sustainability: The Development and Implementation of the KL Low Carbon Building Checklist (KLLCBC) in Kuala Lumpur

Abstract Kuala Lumpur has taken bold steps to embed sustainability within its urban planning policies and development frameworks, aiming for a 70% reduction in CO 2 emissions by 2030 and near-zero emissions by 2050 (DBKL, 2021), in line with the KL Low Carbon Society Blueprint, one of the most recent innovations supporting this agenda is the KL Low Carbon Building Checklist (KLLCBC), introduced by DBKL as a structured tool for assessing compliance with low-carbon design principles. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the KLLCBC, examining its origin, structure, application, and future roadmap toward digital implementation. Findings from policy reviews, case study applications, and stakeholder interviews indicate that the KLLCBC plays a vital role in supporting sustainable development and offers a scalable model for other municipalities. The paper further explores the checklist’s relevance to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 and SDG 13, and outlines recommendations to support its evolution into a web-based decision-support platform.