KUALA LUMPUR – Gabungan Darurat Iklim Malaysia (GDIMY) has called for the newly installed prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to declare a climate emergency in addressing the agenda of reform as the nation braces for climate destabilisation and environmental threats.
The environmental-concerned coalition also urged the new federal government to include an allocation to deal with climate, environmental, human rights, and post-Covid-19 economic recovery in the new version of Budget 2023.
In a statement, it said that the government’s steps and intervention are urgently required to prepare the country to face the imminent destruction of the environment due to climate change.
“The people’s movement for climate justice seeks meaningful participation in climate governance, co-creating climate narratives and strategies, and implementing national policies and plans built on science, justice, and the wellbeing of everyone living in Malaysia – now and in the future,” said GDIMY.
GDIMY is a coalition of environmental groups consisting of the Klima Action Malaysia (Kamy), Natural Resources Protection Organisation (Peka), Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM), Alliance of River Three (ART) and Greenpeace Malaysia.
Over the past six years, more than 2,100 local governments and 39 countries have declared a climate emergency.
The coalition said that the declaration of a “climate emergency” is a statement of policy on prioritising mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
“The past few years have been difficult for Malaysians who on top of suffering health crises and losing their loved ones, faced financial turmoil caused by global crises, including the pandemic, the war in Europe, as well as Malaysia’s own political instability, corruption, and extreme floods caused by the climate crisis and the mismanagement of our natural resources and poor urban planning.
“To this end, we offer to work with the new government not just by words but through participatory decision-making and impactful action for the good of the nation,” said the statement. – The Vibes, November 27, 2022
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