Introduction  

The Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (3CDRR), formerly known as the Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRR), was established at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in March 2014 with the strong support of former UTAR President Ir. Prof. Academician Dato’ Dr. Chuah Hean Teik. The centre was originally founded to promote the development of safe and resilient societies in Malaysia through holistic and proactive disaster risk reduction (DRR) research, focusing on both natural and human-induced disasters in complex urban settings.

In response to the escalating urgency of climate-related challenges, the centre was officially renamed as 3CDRR in April 2025, marking its strategic evolution to encompass climate change adaptation and mitigation alongside traditional disaster risk reduction efforts. This transformation underscores the centre’s expanded commitment to addressing the interconnected and compounding risks posed by climate change and disasters on communities, infrastructure, and the environment.

As a multidisciplinary research centre, 3CDRR brings together regular and associate members from a wide range of UTAR faculties and departments, including:

• Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES)

• Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT)

The centre also collaborates actively with external experts, research institutions, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to broaden its research impact and promote cross-sectoral knowledge exchange.

Through this collaborative and integrated approach, 3CDRR aims to strengthen national and regional resilience by advancing cutting-edge research, building capacity, supporting evidence-based policy development, and engaging with communities in the fields of climate change and disaster risk management.