GEORGE TOWN: It is time to relook at all development projects with a climate lens, a pro-environment group said over the floods that ravaged many parts of the peninsula in the past few days.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman said the current “business-as-usual” attitude with mega projects getting the okay from the authorities was worrying.
She said this was clear from the highways, tunnels and reclamation projects being pursued vigorously, despite knowing that it would impact the climate adversely.
Meenakshi said the alarm bells must be sounded louder so that the country truly understands the effects of climate change.
She said the authorities and the people should brace for a time when plans to counter the effects of climate change can fail.
“We have to begin to relook at everything we do from a climate change lens,” she said in a statement.
“Otherwise, we will be making the wrong investments and these will not be sustainable in the long run. It could also end up being a colossal waste of public resources.
“There has to be a reset button in the way we do things to secure our future in a world that is severely impacted by climate change.”
Meenakshi also urged the country to tap into international funds that are available to help countries cope with climate change.
She said we must put in place urgent plans to ensure buildings, infrastructure, and coastal areas are resilient to storms, increased rainfall and floods, along with rising sea levels.
“Are our policymakers and planners at all levels of government, including the architects and engineers, sufficiently aware of the current and impending impact of climate change?
“Are we planning for future threats and disasters?” - FMT
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