KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia continues to advance Earth health reform through five key actions outlined in the National Earth Health Action Plan (PTKBN), a major step that aligns national policies, impact monitoring and cross-sector collaboration to ensure the well-being of both people and the environment progresses in tandem.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang (pic) said the five actions serve as the guiding framework for the long-term, comprehensive sustainability strategy, which recognises the interconnection between human, animal and environmental health through integrated policies and measurable outcomes.
He said the five key actions include strengthening institutional leadership, enhancing impact monitoring frameworks, developing environmental intelligence systems, driving education and behaviour change, and establishing sustainable financing models.
“Earth health needs to be a national discourse and education is the key to shaping the mindset and behaviour of the community towards a culture of sustainability in line with Malaysia’s target of becoming a developed nation by 2040 based on an equitable society and an inclusive and progressive economy that prioritises Earth health and good governance,” he said in a statement yesterday.
In a Bernama report based on the statement, Chang said the first action focuses on strengthening strategic cooperation through the National Sustainability Council, which serves as a platform for coordinating policies and action among ministries, agencies and stakeholders.
The second action, he said, establishes an impact monitoring framework to assess the country’s progress across environmental, social, economic and governance areas using integrated indicators.
“To leverage science and data, the third action involves developing a National Genomic Database to monitor biodiversity, pollution and health risks in real time, thereby strengthening the country’s early warning systems.
“In terms of education (the fourth action), PTKBN incorporates Earth health principles into learning and communication initiatives to cultivate a sustainable mindset and encourage behavioural change within communities,” he said.
Finally, Chang said a sustainable financing model is being mobilised to support low-carbon solutions, nature-based approaches and circular economy initiatives, particularly to accelerate actions related to sustainability.
PTKBN integrates the principles of Earth health into governance, education and industry through a nationwide approach supported by six Key Result Areas, 53 strategies and 222 action plans.
The plan is centred on humanistic principles, enabled by science, technology and innovation, based on nature and guided by noble values, making Malaysia a responsible steward of the Earth and a country that produces world-class talent for a sustainable economy.
The plan is also based on evidence from the Science Outlook 2020 report and studies on zoonotic diseases, precision biodiversity and Covid-19 by outlining the urgent need to strengthen the planet’s health agenda through a science, technology, innovation and economics approach.
