KUALA LUMPUR – As Malaysia is ranked 23rd globally for producing fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a leading humanitarian and planetary health specialist has urged the prime minister and his relevant cabinet members to urgently tackle the issue of the country’s emissions.
Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood took to Twitter to share her concern with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim by highlighting the sobering data about Malaysia’s fossil CO2 emissions in comparison to China, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
She also addressed her call to Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, and Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.
“We need to tackle this as the impact on health, economy, and the climate crisis is dire. We need a planetary health approach.
“Malaysia cannot be a champion emitter in future as our levels (are) rising!” she wrote on Twitter on Monday.
Dr Jemilah provided four infographics from 2016 sourced from a global statistics website which showed Malaysia produced fossil CO2 emissions of 8.68 tonnes per capita, higher than China (7.38) and the UK (5.55), but lower than the UAE at 23.37.
Dear YAB PM @anwaribrahim YBs @niknazmi @Zaliha_DrZ @rafiziramli some sobering infographics. We need to tackle this as impact on health, economy & climate crisis are dire. ?? we need a #planetaryhealth approach. Malaysia cannot be champion emitter in future as our levels rising! pic.twitter.com/xwNPrGWvYI
— Dr Jemilah Mahmood (@JemilahMahmood) January 2, 2023
Checks by The Vibes on worldometers.info showed that seven years ago, China grabbed the top spot for the highest emissions with 29.18% out of 209 countries, while the UK was in 17th position (1.03%), Malaysia in 23rd (0.74%), and the UAE in 28th (0.61%).
According to the statistics, Malaysia has been steadily increasing its global share of fossil CO2 emissions over the years with 0.58% in 2010, 0.59% (2011), 0.60% (2012), 0.65% (2013), 0.68% (2014), 0.70% (2015), and 0.74 (2016).
Dr Jemilah also posted on Twitter an article published on Monday by The Guardian, titled “UK study adds to evidence of air pollution link to long-term illness”, and tagged Social and Economic Research Initiative chief executive officer and lung specialist Dr Helmy Haja Mydin.
She noted the increase in multiple neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular, and common mental health conditions, even having allowed for differences in income.
“These long-term problems affect people’s lives and place big burdens on economy and health services,” wrote Dr Jemilah, who is also a professor and executive director of Sunway Centre for Planetary Health in Malaysia.
The former chief of the World Humanitarian Summit secretariat at the United Nations has been known for calling on Malaysia to act in times of crisis and urging the government to take the lead on the global transformation towards a new planetary economy.
“We need to quickly transition into a new form of economy. I hope that he (prime minister) will ring those alarm bells loud and clear,” she had said on Bernama TV’s The Nation talk show four months ago.
Pace of implementing law critical
During the last Christmas weekend, Nik Nazmi had stated that he is committed to a few key initiatives to tackle climate change, which includes formulating a new law.
“In this regard, the Pakatan Harapan manifesto has outlined a few key areas of commitment including the legislation of the Climate Change Act, which I intend to see through,” he had told The Vibes.
In response, The Malaysian Ecological Association president Prof Ahmad Ismail had said the pace of tabling and implementation of the new law is crucial in view of the current environmental issues globally and around the region.
“This needs to be done quickly by looking at all aspects of economy and industries, nature protection and waste, political will, and public participation,” said the environmental biologist.
Saying that the new law has been long overdue since it was included in the 12th Malaysia Plan while the previous government had planned to table it in 2025, Ahmad said it is important that the new federal government be resolute on the matter with speed.
On December 24, Nik Nazmi had announced his ministry’s proposal to the Dewan Rakyat speaker on December 19 regarding the formation of a parliamentary select committee on environment and climate change, to help the government draft clear policies and identify mitigation efforts regarding climate change.
Malaysia is currently experiencing one of its most severe monsoon seasons to date, with 121,864 people displaced from their homes across the country.
The current northeast monsoon, which hit the country in early November, is expected to last for another three months, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. – The Vibes, January 4, 2023
