TWO words are certain crowd pullers: free and new. As it is not possible for businessmen to use "free" too many times, they often use "new" to attract customers.
Lately, they have found two new words: green or eco. For instance, the following terms have been appearing in newspapers lately: "green homes", "green hotels", "eco-refrigerators" and even "ecofun parks". Then there are "eco-towns" and "eco-cities".
The businessmen and their consultants are aware that many Malaysians want to do their part for the environment, thanks to the many documentaries on global warming and the melting of ice caps. If the predictions materialise, not only will those living in the Arctic region lose their habitats, inhabitants on the islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans will lose their countries altogether.
Of course, if that were to happen, a large part of the many coastal settlements in Malaysia would also be submerged.
Unfortunately, there is no restriction on the use of green or eco as a prefix in Malaysia. As such, one is not certain whether the advertised "green homes" are really ecologically friendly and have smaller carbon footprints than comparable "normal" houses.
Equally important, even if the houses have smaller carbon footprints, the housing project might be designed in such a way that every trip to the nearest convenience store or school needs the use of private cars.
It is, therefore, time for Malaysians to pay serious attention to building eco-towns or eco-cities. But what makes an eco-town or eco-city? According to an article by British based BioRegional Development Group and Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (2008), "Eco-towns must demonstrate real and measurable sustainable living. They should encourage and allow people to live within ecological limits whilst enjoying a high quality of life in an attractive environment."
While the above definition is useful, there is a need to draw up standards for various components of a town or city suitable for each country.
It is, therefore, timely that a stakeholders’ roundtable consultation on the "Development of Eco-town Policy Framework" was held in George Town yesterday. It was organised by the Socio-economic and Environmental Research Institute and Invest Penang on behalf of Penang Island Municipal Council, Penang State Government, United Nations Environmental Programme and Global Environmental Centre Foundation, both based in Osaka.
Apart from discussing eco-city standards and guidelines, examples of eco-cities in Japan and China were also presented. There was also a proposal to build an eco-town in Batu Kawan, Seberang Perai.
However, while any effort to undertake sustainable development should be encouraged and supported, building eco-towns or eco-cities is no walk in the park.
For example, a project was initiated in 2003 to turn Huangbaiyu in Northeastern China into a model eco-village comprising "eco-dwellings" – solar-powered houses built from hay and pressed-earth bricks. The 370 households scattered over several kilometres would all be moved into the green houses so that their land could be consolidated for bigger farms or other development. Six years down the line, despite the involvement of "experts" from the United States, the model eco-village is "a complete failure".
Then there is Dongtan, the much touted "first eco-city of the world". The project called for transforming a marshy backwater island near Shanghai into a gleaming community of energy-efficient buildings. Waste was to have been recycled as fuel and the waterfronts were to be lined with sleek micro-windmills.
Planned to be the showcase of China’s commitment to sustainable development during the Shanghai Trade Exposition in 2010, the project has been abandoned. Even the visitor centre is now shut.
On the home front, what has happened to the Green Manufacturing Hub in Penang? Besides justifying the tax ringgit spent on study tours, Penang, needs to demonstrate that it is still the leader in development planning and implementation.
There are, of course, success stories. A good example is Kawasaki City in Japan. Long known as a polluted city it is today a shinning example of sustainable development. It even has a Zero Emission Industrial Park.
There is no choice but to push for more ecologically sensitive lifestyle in eco-towns and eco-cities. After all, despite all the money spent, earthlings have not found another planet suitable for humans.
Dr Goh Ban Lee is interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com.
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