Green groups call for agency on climate change

 

The government says more early-warning systems will be installed in landslide prone areas, after a landslide killed two persons in Simpang Pulai, Perak, last week. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Two environmental groups have called for the establishment of a cross-sectoral government agency to address climate change and the occurrences of landslides and flash floods.

Spokesmen for Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Ecotourism & Conservation Society of Malaysia (Ecomy) told FMT they would suggest an approach that would involve the forestry, water, wildlife, transportation, energy and education sectors.SAM president Meenakshi Raman said the current lack of clarity over which government agency was responsible for operating early-warning systems was one of the issues that needed to be resolved.

“It is unclear whether the responsibility falls to a federal agency like the public works department or to state governments,” she said. “Given that landslides mostly occur on highlands and hilly areas, they relate to land and forest issues, which are usually the remit of state governments.”

Energy and natural resources minister Takiyuddin Hassan’s said recently that more early-warning systems would be installed in landslide prone areas. This was after a landslide killed two persons in Simpang Pulai, Perak.

Ecomy president Andrew Sebastian welcomed the installation of additional early-warning systems, but said: “The government needs to establish an agency and structure on climate change, put a framework through Parliament and provide proper budget allocations.

“It should involve all forms of government agencies related to climate change, starting with land-use planning, energy policy and even the education system.”

Meenakshi said the government needed to make climate change a priority concern and establish proper governance and institutional systems at the federal level to ensure the involvement of all state parties in the implementation of Malaysia’s obligations under the Paris climate agreement to reduce carbon emissions.

Another activist, Malaysian Nature Society president Ahmad Ismail, called for the use of artificial intelligence and robotic systems to monitor environmental quality and potential hazards.

He said a law was needed to address and manage issues related to climate change.

“The act or legal system must consider existing laws and regulations, with all related industries and sectors involved and aligned, for greater effectiveness.” - FMT