Malaysia is not equipped to survive global warming and that the 1st to be affected will be the poor and middle-class communities, says activist

by AUFA MARDHIAH / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

GABUNGAN Darurat Iklim Malaysia (GDIMY) is calling for the government at the federal, state and local levels to declare a nationwide climate emergency by Sept 16, 2022.

Klima Action Malaysia chairman Ili Nadiah Dzulfakar demanded for the government and all sectors to keep global warming below 2°C with proactive actions to contain it within 1.5°C.

“Accordingly, actions must include equitable climate solutions and resilience into all sectors and development plans with a key focus on vulnerable sectors that are at most risk of harm.

“With the 15th General Election around the corner, we demand a strong political will to tackle the climate emergency. We must urgently shape legally binding actions to adapt and mitigate the climate crisis as devastating floods and extreme weather patterns intensify in Malaysia,” she said at the launch of the Climate Emergency Declaration yesterday.

She added that doing anything less would be an unforgivable injustice to the current and future generations of Malaysia.

Speaking at the launch, former Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia president Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil (picture) said the government should have taken action to manage the challenges of global warming five years ago.

“Our government should move from a profit-based mentality to pro-planet-based administration and lifestyle. Malaysia has been projecting a pro-planet nation at the international stage falsely and the current generation’s voice of eco-activism is the only way to force the government to their knees to declare a climate emergency,” she said.

Shariffa Sabrina added that Malaysia is not equipped to survive global warming and put forward that the first to be affected are the poor and middle-class communities.

“The states are banking on natural resources like timber, tree, metal and sand to generate income for the state.

“Malaysia is now registering deaths connected to climate change and this will increase in the years to come if no action is taken,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sabahan community activist Adrian Lasimbang said the declaration is very important to address the crucial issue of climate change.

“Indigenous people are the most vulnerable and most affected because they are very dependent on the natural resources around them.

“Therefore, if anything happens regarding climate it will affect the resources that are important for their lives,” he said.

He also opined that there is a need to give indigenous communities the opportunity to voice out regarding climate change, saying that there is a lack of direct engagement between them and the government in this regard.

“Indigenious communities hold the key to climate solutions. Most of the western solutions might not be appropriate for Malaysia, hence it is important to consult the indigenous communities on how to face and mitigate climate change,” he added.

He also suggested for Sabah and Sarawak to be in the centre stage for climate change in Malaysia.

“Borneo has the largest forest in Malaysia and the ever-expanding agriculture and agroforestry in the country happens there. Hence, it is important for Sabah and Sarawak to contribute in the search for the best policy.

“Also, it is crucial to ensure the federal government spends enough allocation for Sabah and Sarawak to transform the forestry industry from extractive-based forestry into conservation-based forestry,” Adrian added.

The declaration letter further urges the government to institute integrated, participatory, equitable and rights-based governance mechanisms and processes for the climate emergency; and to uphold the people’s right to information on the climate crisis.

Moreover, GDIMY wants to make community resilience a permanent priority in all mitigation and adaptation plans, recognising that resilience to climate impacts will not be possible without empowering and enabling communities.

The declaration also calls for prioritising food security to prepare for current and future climate impacts; and ensuring complete water security and resilience given that droughts and heat waves are predicted to increase significantly in South-East Asia.

Among others, they also urge the government to initiate a rapid decarbonisation trajectory for Malaysia with the phase out of fossil fuel and adoption of 100% renewable energy for electricity generation by 2035 and completely phase out single-use non-biode-gradable products and packaging by 2024.