November-December , 2020 | @ green

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One of the countries vying for the reduction of the impact of climate change is Malaysia

change has been brought to our consciousness since the 19th century . Call by countries regarding the climate crisis and the needed action to be taken has been made and this culminated at the Paris Agreement .

However , the green recovery plan has somewhat hit a snag with the emergence of the coronavirus . As the pandemic is dealing with its devastating blow on the global socio-economic activities , the focus has been shifted from the promotion of the use of green energy to the current issue .

While countries are scouring for a Covid-19 panacea , should the need to tackle climate change be abandoned ? The question was brought up through a Press statement released by Solarvest .

Now is the time where the usage of green energy should be championed , and one of the countries vying for the reduction of the impact of climate change is Malaysia .

The Malaysian government has been striving to enable clean and affordable energy that will substitute fossil fuels and facilitate the clean energy transition . According to Malaysia ’ s 2018 climate change report , Malaysia ’ s sea level , temperature and rainfall has been increasing for the past four decades and will further increase to 2050 .

The current Malaysian environment is likely to face climate change consequences , such as food drought , floods and extreme weather conditions .

The green recovery plan is projected to create jobs directly and indirectly . The International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA ) forecasts that the renewable energy industry will create more than 40 million jobs by 2050 .

In Malaysia , the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry is building a carbonfree future , estimated to rake RM4 billion into the national coffers and create 12,000 jobs .

The government should create policies that revolve around recycling , energy efficiency and water management . While the industrial activities have contributed to high carbon emissions . policies to regulate their use of fossil fuels as energy-generating sources will go a long way in enabling a clean and sustainable environment .

The government has to encourage investment in the green energy industry . This is mostly needed in the research and development of green innovative ideas ; for example , digitalization of the industry will bring about a great change in achieving energy transition and the government should encourage this .

The pandemic has shown the need for implementing an energy recovery plan in Malaysia . As billions are spent to restart the economy , much consideration should be given to the green recovery plan .

This energy management system will boost solar power in Malaysia , create job opportunities and a cleaner and healthier environment for Malaysians . Additionally , it will contribute to combating climate change and save businesses that have been suffering from the ravaging impact of the coronavirus pandemic . — @ green

SWCorp aims for 40 per cent recycling rate by 2025

The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation ( SWCorp ) has increased its recycling rate target in the seven states under its supervision to 40 per cent by 2025 .

SWCorp research and technology division director Zulkifli Tamby Chik is confident of achieving the target following the increase in the collection of recycled goods , apart from having reached the target of 30 per cent this year .

“ Based on our data , there has been a significant increase in recycling collection in 2020 compared with 2019 .

“ For example , the total collection of recycled items in May was 307.63 tonnes compared with 163.15 tonnes during the same month last year ,” he told Bernama .

Zulkifli said , the positive trend was also significant during implementation of the movement control order ( MCO ) since March , due to better awareness among the public , hence reducing the amount of solid waste sent to landfills .

“ Despite the closure of other services ( such as recycling centres ) during the MCO , there has been an increase in the items for recycling ,” he said .

The positive development also helped reduce solid waste generation by 40 per cent during MCO , he said .

SDP Appoints Independent Experts to Further Strengthen its Human Rights Compliance

Sime Darby Plantation Berhad ( SDP ) has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers ( PwC ) and an independent international NGO specialising in migrant worker rights to support efforts to further strengthen its human rights commitments and compliance .

Following a petition submitted by Liberty Shared ( LS ) to the US Customs and Border Protection ( US CBP ) in April 2020 , SDP had sought more details and information on the allegations in the petition .

PwC was appointed on 19 October 2020 to support SDP in our efforts to establish effective platforms and channels of communication to address any concerns or issues surrounding our operations in Malaysia .

SDP commits to swiftly take any and all corrective measures required , should there be evidence of any wrongdoing or breach of SDP ’ s comprehensive policies and procedures that are already in place . The company will also work with independent external experts to design the necessary intervention programmes to enhance compliance with its existing human rights commitments .

Further progress updates on these new collaborations and other measures in due course .

On the opposite side of the planet we had the President of the biggest developed nation to claim that climate change is a fallacy and it was concocted by scientist despite icebergs melting in unprecedented speeds . With Donald Trump out of the White House , we hope the new President will be more progressive in protecting our planet for the future generation .

However , small progressive nation in Southeast Asia is taking climate change seriously and will be making positive steps to be part of the global efforts in protecting the Ozone Layer .

Referring to a press statement released by the Ministry of Environment And Water on Nov 8 , 2020 , Malaysia has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer under the Vienna Convention , a global move towards preventing unwanted gasses released into our ozone .

According to Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man , the instrument of ratification has been deposited to the United Nations in New York on Oct 21 through the Foreign Ministry . “ The ratification shows Malaysia ’ s commitment to protecting the environment , particularly the ozone layer in addressing climate change ,” he said in a statement today .

Kigali Amendment came into force on Jan 1 , 2019 and to date , 110 countries have ratified the amendment to implement a phasedown of the consumption of hydrofluorocarbon ( HFC ), thereby mitigating negative impacts on climate change . HFC has a very high Global Warming Potential ( GWP ), which is up to 14,800 higher than carbon dioxide .

Under the Kigali Amendment , Malaysia must reduce 80 per cent HFC consumption within the baseline by 2045 . The consumption of HFC will be frozen at baseline in Malaysia starting on Jan 1 , 2024 .

The government has already started consultations on the ratification with the relevant stakeholders including government agencies , non-governmental organisations and industries impacted by the phasedown of HFC consumption since early 2017 . Industries like refrigeration and air conditioning , fire protection , solvent are the biggest users of HFC , these sectors will now need to look at alternatives .

By cutting down the use of such gas can help in reducing the impact of global warming and it is expected that greenhouse gas emission equivalent to 105 million tonne CO2 equivalent can be avoided by 2100 , which will prevent the increase of global temperature by 0.5 degree Celsius .

Tuan Ibrahim said the ratification will benefit Malaysia in terms of trade access with other country parties , financial assistance under the Multilateral Fund ( MLF ) and technical assistance for our local industries to convert to low carbon alternatives and technologies .

“ This will in turn , open up opportunities for the local industries to give rise to products that are able to compete within the global market in the future .— @ green