JOHOR BARU: The Johor state government has established the Johor Green Committee that will oversee discussions and policy-making on renewable energy and sustainability.
Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said this committee will help outline key sustainability policies that will be included in the upcoming state budget.
“The committee will be chaired by Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, and one of the key goals of the initiative is to reduce carbon emissions in Johor.
“The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) would serve as a platform to introduce stricter regulations for investors, ensuring they comply with environmentally sustainable practices and adopt new technologies,” he said this after the officiating ceremony of the Green Legacy Johor Summit 2024 at Persada International Convention Centre here on Tuesday (Oct 8).
"This is part of our effort to preserve Johor’s environment and push forward sustainability," he added.
On a separate issue, Ling reported that around 150 light and heavy industries had been identified as producers of chemical waste, which was discovered at Tiong Nam Industrial Park and Desa Tropika Industrial Area.
"We have inspected more than 150 factories producing scheduled waste, but we have not yet taken any enforcement actions because investigations are still ongoing, with cooperation from local authorities, the police, and the Environment Department," he said.
Ling also said that the two locations had already been cleaned, while efforts were now focused on Kota Tinggi.
"In Kota Tinggi, chemical waste was found in an open area, and there are ponds containing chemical residues.
“I have discussed with the district officer the need to establish a disaster management committee to speed up the cleanup process,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the programme, Ling added that the state government is taking significant steps to promote sustainability and environmental preservation through the Green Legacy Summit.
Ling added that the summit is part of a broader initiative aimed at boosting Johor’s development, particularly in green policies.
“The Green Legacy Johor Summit is a follow-up to last year’s Asia Pacific Climate Week, which Johor hosted.
“We hope that more similar initiatives will be introduced to prevent Johor from lagging behind in sustainability efforts,” he said.
