Warming climate and hazy days

LARGE-SCALE burning, particularly during hot weather and the monsoon transition period, causes haze due to the suspended smoke and dust particles in dry air.

The current transboundary haze in Malaysia’s northern states is attributed to wind movement bringing polluted air from hotspots in the Mekong sub-region, which comprises Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Peat fires and open burning, resulting from the resumption of economic activities post Covid-19, are also contributing to the current haze in the country.

Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is urging the Malaysian government to emulate Singapore in enacting a transboundary haze pollution law. Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014 enables the island nation’s government to sue companies that cause transboundary environmental pollution.

The Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, of which Malaysia is one of the 10 signatory countries, was established in 2002. Under the agreement, governments are committed to taking measures to mitigate the problem of haze. Regrettably, the commitment has been generally ignored.

Besides haze, Malaysia also has to consider the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from open burning. Thus, it is not only the inter-monsoon season that is worrying, as greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to devastating consequences like crop failure, thereby creating food shortages.

Every measure taken to reduce or eliminate air pollution is important because the world is now experiencing a climate crisis.

The “Climate Risk Country Profile: Malaysia” report by the World Bank Group (WBG) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), published in 2021, warns that Malaysia will experience heat waves that are projected to increase significantly in frequency and intensity due to a warming climate. The report further states that flooding will contribute “more damage than any other (natural hazards) the country experiences.”

Policymakers should seriously read this report to plan ahead for urban development and the agriculture sector, among others. This is because the predicted trends of global warming are going to impact the existing infrastructure and plans. For example, the sea might claim coastal villages, and wider and deeper drainage networks are needed for flood mitigation.

Global warming will cause more severe changes in weather patterns, thus calling for a tougher stance by the government against slash-and-burn operations by irresponsible companies.

We reiterate our call for the government to seize lands where slash-and-burn operations are being done and to legislate a law to take companies to court for transboundary pollution.

MOHIDEEN ABDUL KADER

President

Consumers’ Association of Penang