As Malaysians celebrate Malaysia Day, a critical warning emerges from environmental group RimbaWatch. They caution that without immediate action, the nation could face extreme heat, damaging floods, and significant biodiversity loss.
Adam Farhan, director of RimbaWatch, emphasizes the need for new laws to create a climate-resilient future by 2035. He suggests strict measures to protect forests and set emissions targets. For instance, the proposed Climate Change Act should aim to completely halt deforestation by 2026 and establish a carbon budget in line with the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
Adam points out that unchecked deforestation could lead to a cycle of devastation. Loss of biodiversity weakens forests, making it harder for them to recover. This cycle not only raises local temperatures but also harms health and livelihoods. Furthermore, rainfall changes could bring droughts to some regions and cause heavier flooding in others.
While Malaysia has committed to halting forest loss by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, Adam believes these promises aren’t being met. Deforestation continues, and there’s insufficient action to reduce emissions from fossil fuels. Instead, the government leans on misguided solutions like carbon offsets, which do little to address the real issues.
To tackle this, he suggests redefining what constitutes deforestation to include all types of disturbances in natural forests. This would close loopholes that allow destructive activities to continue under the pretense of development.
On this Malaysia Day, Adam urges Malaysians to take an active role in holding their leaders and corporations accountable. He warns against accepting green initiatives at face value, noting that greenwashing is widespread. The key to combating the climate crisis lies in prioritizing the environment over profit.
Supporting this perspective, WWF-Malaysia’s Dr. Henry Chan highlights the threats posed by climate change and deforestation to biodiversity. He explains that extreme temperatures and droughts stress ecosystems, while intense rainfall can lead to erosion and jeopardize freshwater sources. Rising sea levels and ocean warming have dire implications for coastal areas, impacting vital habitats like mangroves.
Despite the daunting challenges, Dr. Chan shares a hopeful example. The restoration effort at Bukit Piton in Sabah shows that with dedication, ecosystems can recover. Since 2007, 2,400 hectares of degraded forest have been revived, resulting in over 300,000 trees planted and sightings of orangutans returning to the area.
These examples highlight that effective restoration is possible. A long-term commitment from both the government and the public is vital to protect Malaysia’s natural heritage.
In conclusion, as the nation reflects on unity today, the call for action is clear. The time to act is now—both for the environment and for future generations.
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