THE International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is observed on October 13 each year, with a call by the United Nations General Assembly since 1989 for a day to promote a global culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction.
This day is focused on governance, with good disaster-risk governance measured in lives saved, reduced numbers of disaster-affected people, and reduced economic losses.
The country’s well-coordinated responses to the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrates our ability to put in place a clear vision, plans, and competent and empowered institutions, acting on scientific evidence for the public good.
Similar responses and high priority are needed to respond to the climate emergency and impending crisis.
In 2010, the country came up with the National Climate Policy on Climate Change that underscores the nation’s commitment to institutionalise measures to integrate cross-cutting issues into policies, plans, programmes and projects in order to increase resilience to climate change.
One priority area reflected in the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020) is combating climate change and reducing disaster risks through augmenting climate-change adaptation and strengthening disaster-risk management.
The nation needs to expedite efforts to put in place a National Adaptation Action Plan to guide legislation, governance, and the planning and coordination of adaptation measures, as well as an adaptation index to measure the country’s vulnerability to the impact of climate change.
Business-as-usual attitude
More urgency is needed in these efforts, as the reality on the ground shows that the country is not moving in the right direction, with “business-as-usual” development projects and plans, as we are not planning or preparing adequately – or at all – for the current and impending climate impact.
Many questions arise in this regard. Are our policymakers and planners at all levels of government, including architects and engineers, sufficiently aware of the current and impending impact of climate change? Are we planning for future threats and disasters?
We see the promotion of massive infrastructure projects, like highways, tunnels, reclamation works and buildings, with little to no regard for the risks and impact of climate change.
There does not seem to be enough consideration given to whether such projects contribute to increasing climate resilience or undermine it.
We have to sound the alarm even louder and adapt (if possible) to the “new normal” of climate change’s impact. We have to also be ready to face situations where adaptation is no longer possible.
In Singapore, for instance, addressing the challenges of climate risks and consequences is already on board at the highest level of government, with the prime minister himself talking about climate change risks for the republic. It has been estimated that it would cost S$100 billion (RM305 billion) or more to protect Singapore against rising sea levels, and measures are being undertaken with a long-term perspective.
Danger of unsustainable investments
Surely, we, too, should be embarking on investing in adaptation plans and measures that build the country’s climate resilience.
Urgent responses are needed, and we can learn from what other countries are already doing. There are also international funds available to us, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Green Climate Fund, which has resources to help countries cope with the climate challenge.
Clearly, there has to be a reset button to change the way we do things to secure our future in a climate-changing world. We have to relook everything we do through the climate-change lens. Otherwise, we will make wrong investments that are not sustainable in the long run, and a colossal waste of scarce public resources.
Urgent adaptation plans, including ecosystem-based approaches, are needed to ensure buildings, other infrastructure and coastal areas are resilient to storms and increased rain, and can withstand floods, rising sea levels, etc.
Forest and soil conservation measures, including the protection of watersheds and rivers to prevent and mitigate floods, turning urban areas into “sponge cities”, and strengthening our coastlines through mangrove forest protection and rehabilitation are all a vital part of the plan.
Comprehensive measures are also needed to deal with droughts, heatwaves, water shortages, the impact on agriculture, health, extreme weather and other disasters.
It is clear that a lot more needs doing, and with extreme urgency. Otherwise, we may be totally unprepared for future disasters, with catastrophic consequences. – The Vibes, October 13, 2020
Meenakshi Raman is president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia
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