Building future climate change resilience

PETALING JAYA: The National Adaptation Plan under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) Mid-Term Review will ensure future generations are ready and equipped to handle the impacts of climate change, say environmentalists.

Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia (Ecomy) president and chief executive officer Andrew Sebastian said the adaptation plan is a great move to build a climate-resilient society.

“The Plan will cover heat-action plans and early warning systems, which are great for enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities,” he said when contacted.

However, efforts to build an energy-efficient economy should also be encouraged, he said, as many industries emit high levels of greenhouse gases and contribute greatly to the country’s carbon footprint.

“It’s important to rope in sectors, especially the coal industry, which contributes greatly to greenhouse emissions and find ways to cut them.

“We also need a new energy policy that emphasises clean energy sources,” he said.

Sebastian also stressed the importance of increasing green spaces in urbanised areas, as human activities around the city have caused heat islands to form.

“Minimising carbon footprints requires a big-picture approach that involves good urban planning, transportation, infrastructure, green roofs and waste management.

“Any adaptation plan that addresses climate issues also has to be politically neutral so that improvements can be made smoothly,” he said.

Yesterday, the Economy Ministry released its 12MP Mid-Term Review, which consisted of a national adaptation plan that would address the impacts of climate change.

The plan will consist of adaptation measures in five priority areas, namely, public health; agriculture and food security; forestry and biodiversity; water resources and security; as well as infrastructure and cities.

An EcoKnights environmentalist said she supported the adaptation plan and felt it should have started long ago.

“The plan ensures we have a plan for our future generation.

“We hope it can be a national priority that can withstand political changes,” said the activist, who only wanted to be known as Shuhada.

“I also ask that the government deliver an annual performance report so that we can track its accountability. Performance indicators should be both financial and non-financial indicators,” she added.

Another EcoKnights environmentalist, who only wanted to be known as Lisa, warned the government to be cautious about supporting the local rare earth elements (REE) industry as it poses toxic risks that could harm the environment.

“The technology involved in mining rare earths is advanced, but it doesn’t prevent the emission of toxic waste,” she said.