Deluge
The COP28 in Dubai last year underscored the urgency of the ongoing planetary crises, with one projection indicates that the Earth’s temperature rise would surpass the critical 1.5°C threshold.
The devastating flood in Dubai serves as a dire warning, mirroring the annual northeast monsoon floods in Malaysian states such as Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
The economic toll of these environmental disasters is immense. The 2024 floods in Johor and Pahang, for instance, affected 5,666 people, forcing them to seek refuge in 41 evacuation centers. The flash flood of December 2021 across eight states incurred damages estimated at RM6.1 billion and 60 recorded deaths. These figures only scratch the surface of the long-term effects on infrastructure, livelihoods and human well-being.
The economic toll of floods in Malaysia is indeed significant, with a World Bank report estimating the potential loss at RM4.8 billion annually. This figure represents a substantial increase in Malaysia’s fiscal deficit by 2.2%.
The report also suggests localized, actionable solutions to mitigate the damage, such as utilizing risk financing instruments like catastrophe bonds and insurance to bolster financial resilience against flood risks, as well as the efficacy of community-based flood early warning systems in Kelantan.
Our current adaptation strategies are inadequate in the face of increasing climate risks. The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) has formulated detailed plans by adopting both structural measures (curative approach) and non-structural measures (preventive approach). However, their implementation is inconsistent, often hindered by limited local resources and capacity.
It is clear that extra measures must be considered. Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, which suffers from regular flooding, could offer a pointer. Learning from Jakarta’s comprehensive flood management strategy is crucial, which combines infrastructure development with Nature-based Solutions (NbS) such as wetland restoration and urban greening.
Additionally, innovative approaches such as “sponge city” initiatives, which use permeable surfaces and green infrastructure to manage stormwater, should be considered.
In my home state of Johor, the distress caused by the annual flood crisis is evident. There is a need to prioritize the creation of a robust climate resilience blueprint within the heavily affected districts like Kota Tinggi, Mersing and Segamat.
While federal expenditure for natural disaster adaptation is vital, it is equally important for Johor to establish a more resilient, long-term strategy. Perhaps, the newly established state think tank, the Johor Sustainability Centre (JSC), must take this as a challenge.
Any mitigation plan should be localized, all-encompassing, actionable and rooted in sustainable practices to effectively combat the escalating challenges of climate change. The era of deliberation is over – decisive and collective action is now required to protect our communities and ecosystems from the unpredictable effects of a warming planet.
However, challenges persist, including a deficit in climate leadership, inadequate action from policymakers and fragmented governance, leading to the non-execution of well-intentioned plans.
Smoke
The annual transboundary haze, another component of the triple planetary crisis, continues to afflict Malaysia and the ASEAN region, although the region adopted a roadmap to become haze-free by 2020.
Predominantly caused by slash-and-burn agriculture technique in Indonesia, the resulting haze aggravates respiratory conditions, disrupts daily life and contributes to biodiversity loss by destroying vital peatland and forest ecosystems. Research has estimated that Indonesia’s 2015 fire and haze crisis caused over 100,000 premature deaths across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore with 90% occurring in Indonesia.
The 2015 transboundary haze crisis alone resulted in economic losses estimated at RM10 billion for Malaysia. Whilst in 2019, the transboundary haze crisis led to school closures affecting over 1.7 million students, at least two deaths in Indonesia, and widespread respiratory and cardiovascular health issues across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Despite the existence of ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), its implementation has been inconsistent, hampered by a lack of enforcement mechanisms which shows that ASEAN Member States (AMS) are working in silos, each afraid of infringing on another’s domestic affairs.
Malaysia-owned palm oil corporations with operations in Kalimantan and Sumatra have been identified as significant contributors to haze catastrophe in 2019. Even after the establishment of the AATHP over two decades ago, Malaysia has yet to establish specific national legislation addressing this issue. The absence of such regulations can be attributed to a series of unstable political administrations, which have impeded the advancement of pertinent legislative measures at the national level.
The first Pakatan Harapan (PH) government that came into power in 2018 managed to table a bill on transboundary haze. However, when the succeeding Perikatan Nasional (PN) government took over in 2020, they overruled this bill. The PN government’s rationale was that managing transboundary haze should not be solely a Malaysian responsibility – instead, they viewed it as a regional challenge that requires a regional consensus and coordination among all AMS.
Last year, under the unity government, the issue was revisited, but the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) maintained that a strong regional negotiation and a collective effort among AMS are necessary to effectively address the persisting problem.
While regional cooperation is crucial, the lack of progress can be attributed to the divergent priorities and concerns among AMS, often driven by national interest and the principle of non-interference. However, ASEAN recently reinforced the Second Haze-Free Roadmap’s commitment to a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach, emphasizing innovative strategies and stakeholder engagement to achieve a haze-free Southeast Asia by 2030.
In contrast, Singapore passed the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014, which serves as a robust legal framework to identify and hold entities responsible for the haze, thereby demonstrating a proactive and transparent stance on the matter. This prompts the question, should not a similar transparent and decisive approach be also adopted in Malaysia to mitigate this regional challenge?
Degradation
The alarming rate of biodiversity loss in Malaysia is another critical climate crisis in Malaysia, driven by deforestation, habitat fragmentation and unsustainable development practices. Malaysia experienced a reduction of about 8.12 million hectares of tree cover from 2001 to 2019, which is equivalent to a 28% decrease in tree cover since 2000.
This significant loss of tree cover indeed poses a threat to the survival of endemic species such as the Malayan tiger, Sumatran rhinoceros and orangutan, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect Malaysia’s natural heritage and environmental resilience.
For instance, the Central Forest Spine Master Plan, initiated in 2019, is designed to connect and safeguard critical forest complexes throughout the country. Its success is contingent upon stringent enforcement, comprehensive land-use planning and incentives for sustainable practices in sectors such as agriculture, forestry and tourism.
Moreover, the rapid pace of development and urbanization has led to the degradation of ecological corridors and wildlife crossings, further isolating and fragmenting wildlife populations. A prime example of this imbalance between development and sustainability is the proposed Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project, which aims to reclaim land along the coast of Penang Island for the construction of a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system and related development.
Kuala Lumpur-based think tank Institut Masa Depan Malaysia (Institute of the Future Malaysia – MASA) has advocated for this project with the Network for Ecology and Climate (JEDI) to minimize the damage on coastal communities and preserve the marine ecosystem. MASA also submitted a UPR Stakeholder Report to the UN Human Rights Council last year, highlighting the potential threats to the coastal areas along Bayan Lepas, Batu Maung, Gertak Sanggul, Permatang Damar Laut and up to Balik Pulau. The reclamation and associated infrastructure development could endanger the rich biodiversity of these coastal regions, further fragmenting and degrading vital habitats and ecosystems.
Such instances underscore the urgent need for development processes to holistically consider environmental and biodiversity impacts, prioritizing sustainability and the preservation of Malaysia’s natural heritage. Without a concerted effort to strike a balance between progress and conservation, the nation’s unique biodiversity will continue to be eroded, with far-reaching implications for ecological resilience and the well-being of present and future generations.
Solutions
In combating the triple planetary crisis, the empowerment and engagement of youth are essential. As a Malaysian youth delegate under the Children and Youth Major Group (CYMG) constituency to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), I had the privilege of contributing to the Asia Pacific Youth Environment Declaration at the inaugural Asia Pacific Youth Environment Forum (APYEF) and the Fifth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacificin Sri Lanka last October.
Our contributions underscored the necessity for active participation of youth and children in environmental governance, the urgency to tackle air pollution, the protection of environmental human rights defenders, the democratization of access to information and justice, and the alignment of UNEA-6 draft resolutions with the broader United Nations framework.
Providing equitable platforms for the voices of youth like this, will enable us to utilize our energy, creativity and digital proficiency to drive innovative, locally-adapted solutions. Importantly, climate policies and sustainable development strategies must be designed with the foresight of their impact on future generations. Intergenerational dialogue and the sharing of knowledge are also vital to bridge the gap between generations and foster mutual understanding.
Collaborating with indigenous communities to tackle the climate crisis will allow us to integrate their enduring sustainable practices and traditional ecological knowledge into modern conservation efforts.
The Orang Asli community of Kampung Gumum near Tasik Chini exemplifies effective disaster risk planning. Supported by organizations and government bodies like the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) and Village Security and Development Committees (JKKK), they have developed a framework that strengthens social and financial capital, enhancing disaster preparedness and response. The village head’s role in information dissemination and community organization is pivotal, ensuring preparedness for potential disasters.
Enhanced regional collaboration and pressure on Indonesia to implement stricter regulations on slash-and-burn practices are essential to mitigate this recurring crisis. Malaysia needs a strong political will to demonstrate a balanced approach through the collaboration with every relevant ministry in strengthening its domestic law, policy and monitoring systems to hold accountable those Malaysia-based agricultural companies that contributed to the haze through major open burning activities in the agriculture areas in Indonesia. Overcoming the transboundary haze challenges will require a balanced approach that acknowledges the sovereignty of each AMS while fostering greater transparency, accountability and a shared commitment.
Community-based conservation initiatives, exemplified by Sabah’s Batu Puteh Community Conserved Area, demonstrate the potential of empowering local communities to protect and manage their natural resources sustainably. These initiatives foster a sense of ownership and pride in our biodiversity, creating a supportive base for conservation efforts that enhance top-down policy measures. It is crucial to question whether we are doing enough to support and expand these grassroots initiatives.
The journey towards a sustainable and resilient Malaysia in light of the triple planetary crisis transcends policy – it is about collective determination and action. Now is the time to rise to the challenge, adopt adaptive strategies and ensure our response to these crises is as dynamic and resilient as the ecosystems we aim to safeguard. By nurturing a culture of climate resilience, embracing innovative solutions, empowering stakeholders to contribute and prioritizing the conservation of our precious natural heritage, we can forge a path to a truly sustainable future for Malaysia.
