SUSTAINABLE LIVING IN MALAYSIA

LIVING WELL WITHIN THE ECOLOGICAL LIMITS OF OUR PLANET

The Environmental Protection Society Malaysia (EPSM) in co-operation with University Malaysia and Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya, organized a successful 4-Day Workshop (13th & 14th June 2007) and Conference (15th & 16th June 2007) at Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya and University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur respectively.

The event was timely as Malaysia, a developing country well on the way to developed status, needs to pause and reflect on the path of development for the future. Also, integrated into the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006 – 2010) is the challenge for development that is ecologically sustainable. It is imperative that we must try to secure and ensure a sustainable future for our country and her children which will then also contribute to the global efforts for a sustainable planet.

The focus of the workshop and conference which was on reducing the Ecological Footprint was attended by over 200 participants representing all major stakeholders, distinguished moderators, an eminent panel of speakers and representatives of relevant governmental departments and concerned NGOs.

The Workshop Programme was facilitated by Dr. David Meyrick and Mrs. Jan Meyrick, Environmental and Planning Consultants, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives. The special guest speaker was Professor William E. Rees, School of Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia and the Originator of the Ecological Footprint Concept. The Keynote Address: Environmental Conservation: Our Shared Responsibility was presented by Dato’ Hajah Rosnani Ibarahim, Director-Gerenal, Department of Environment. The screening of “The Ecological Footprint: Accounting for a Small Planet” was the highlight before the close of the programme.

On 15th June, Mr. Manogaran Maniam, President of EPSM, welcomed all the participants while YB Dato S. Sothinathan, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, delivered the opening address. Both of them cautioned the present generation not to borrow nor use up the resources of the next generation while developing rapidly towards Vision 2020. Government agencies must therefore work closely with NGOs and the private sector to change the mindset of the people through education to protect, respect and sustain the environment.

The Keynote Address entitled “The Eco-Footprint Challenge to Global Development” was by Professor William E. Rees, the originator of the Ecological Footprint Concept which is a measure of how much biologically productive land and water area an individual, a city, a country, a region, or humanity requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb the waste it generates. It measures people’s natural resource consumption compared with nature’s ability to renew these resources. The Ecological Footprint makes sustainability measurable and helps decision-makers operate the human economy within the Earth’s ecological limit.

Since the 1980’s we have begun to exceed the Earth’s biological capacity. In 2001, this overshoot was calculated at about 20% more than what the Earth was able to produce in that year. The Earth’s natural capital is currently being depleted.

The Ecological Footprint is not evenly distributed between countries. The global average is 2.2 global hectares but the Earth’s biological capacity was calculated at only 1.8 global hectares. The Footprint in the US is 9.5 whereas in Bangladesh it is only 0.6 and in Malaysia it is 3.0.

Professor Rees highlighted some significant data on degradation of planet Earth the past 100 years:

These trends represent a global overloading of the earth. He likened the earth’s carrying capacity as going above the Plimsoll Mark of a ship. The total human eco-footprint is in deficit with the ecosphere. If the rate continues, we need 4 new planet earths to support us. To avoid a potential catastrophe, global temperature must reduce by 2 degrees Celsius and carbon dioxide emissions by 90%.

According to the latest 2006 Environmental Assessment Agency’s report by the Netherlands, China has overtaken the US in carbon dioxide emissions by about 7.5%. Developed countries like the US move a lot of manufacturing industries into China, a developing country which relies on coal for 2/3 of its energy needs and makes 44% of the world’s cement.

Climate change will also result in the depletion of resources such as water and food, loss of land area following the rise of sea levels, changes in sanitary and hygiene situations, rise in vector and pest breeding areas, deterioration of air quality and increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions. Other implications are a higher incidence of mortality and morbidity from vector-borne diseases, infant and maternal mortality and cardio-respiratory related diseases.

Human beings have the technology to sustain the earth. To survive, it is imperative for all nations to co-operate globally to save Mother Earth. Every person has a moral, social and spiritual obligation to conserve our world.

In this regard, a special address: The International Dimension was given by Dr. Richard Leete, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme Malaysia. He spoke on “The Ongoing Global Challenge for a Sustainable Planet”.

Among the harmful sources of degradation of the earth he listed were CFC gases which deplete the ozone layer, global warming, deforestation, acid rain, extinction of endangered species of flora and fauna and other living things. He mentioned all the relevant conferences organized by UNDP on sustaining the environment from 1992 at Rio de Janeiro to the present. He reminded nations to observe and honour all the recommendations and pledges made to save our planet.

Altogether there were 5 Forums: “Integrating Environment into National Development Planning Strategies”, “Addressing Unsustainable Patterns of Production and Consumption”, “Sustainable Human Settlement Development for the 21st Century”, “Natural Resource Management and Accounting” and “Effective Governance for a Sustainable Future”.

YB Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting, the Minister of Housing and Local Government, delivered the closing address. He was concerned with global warming and climate change. He stressed that everyone has a moral obligation to ensure conservation and not degrade our environment. He suggested ways on how private agencies can work closely with the government to enforce and implement better ways to sustain and conserve our land. In closing he said that his ministry would be presenting the Solid Waste Management Bill to the Cabinet. This bill will tackle the overall solid waste management problems in Peninsular Malaysia.

The last session was a public forum to commemorate World Environment Day (5th June) with the theme: Melting Ice – A Hot Topic. The screening of “An Inconvenient Truth – A Global Warning” featuring former US Vice-President Al Gore was truly amazing and an eye-opener. It depicts multiple hazardous destructions around the world unknown by many but which will bring this world to a disastrous end sooner than expected if precautions and changes are not adopted.

The last panel forum was entitled “Addressing Global Warming through Local Agenda 21 Action Plans by Local Authorities and Local Communities”.

The success of the 4-day event is attributed to the commendable co-operation and contribution of both the organizers and speakers. As the participants represented all walks of life, an appeal was made that they become multipliers of the knowledge and skills they had received from the distinguished panel of moderators and speakers. This beneficial and educational gain must be transmitted to the respective spheres of influence, be they the home, residential area, community or place of work.

Take the SLIM 2007 Challenge today: To honour 50 years of Malaysia’s nationhood, to ensure a more sustainable 50 years ahead and beyond and to show our leaders that we value our environment enough to protect it, pledge at least three of these 10 actions to reduce our impact on the environment:

Sheila Ramayah