Instead of curbing global warming, Malaysia is subsidising it

A tug boat pushing a coal-carrying barge on Mahakam river in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, in December. The potential to burn coal for use in the electricity, cement, steel and other sectors went up in 2022 despite global promises to phase down the fuel that's the biggest source of planet-warming gases in the atmosphere, according to a new flagship United Nations report released on April 3, 2023. — AP

I am not a fearful person. But there is one thing that sends a deep chill down my spine: the warming of the planet.

The facts are a sorry collection of superlatives and shocking extremes. Consider: the eight warmest years on record are the past eight years, the World Meteorological Organisation reports. We’ve also seen the “worst ever” floods, rains, storms, droughts, and wildfires in countless countries. The extreme weather events are endless.