eco-logikal: “When people lead, leaders follow" Let’s rise to the occasion

Malaysians consumer organizations representative from FOMCA participated in the Climate Sustainability Platform which was organized as run up to the Conference of Parties 15 or COP 15 which will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark from 7th - 18th December 2009.

One of the experts in the Climate Sustainability PLATFORM is from the Maldives. This is one country that people and most importantly leaders in Malaysia should seek inspiration from. The Maldives (its people and its leaders) has pledged to be carbon neutral in 2020. A combination of renewable energy, proper waste management and investment in adaptation technologies namely protection against rising sea levels, we need to take our hats off to them. In a dialogue the representative challenged other countries with access to better technology and funds to do the same. This puts countries like Malaysia to shame. Where we are in this whole climate change mitigation and adaptation activities?

During one of the dialogue an official from the Malmo municipality of Sweden showed the city has put in place framework and implemented the framework for the city to be climate neutral and by 2030 the whole municipality will run on 100% renewable energy. Now here is an example from a developed country!

It seems that we can no longer look towards policymakers who attend the UNFCCC meetings year after year for any ounce of leadership, guidance or inspiration. People at national levels MUST move or drive them to develop policies and implement them to realize sustainable development goals. Someone said "when people lead, leaders follow".

In Malaysia we had seen people rise to the occasion two years ago and in March this year for Earth Hour. We believe noble campaigns and calls such as the National Consumer Campaign which moves in full throttle will provide the need to make Malaysian rise to the occasion at a time when the country and the planet needs it most which is NOW! We need to ACT NOW and change before the climate really changes for the worst.

When we talk about mitigating or adapting to climate change, few things need to happen. We need the technological prowess, research and development and the skills and competency to do so. Every year the budget pushes for more FDIs. Where are the allocation for mitigation and adaptation targeted at elements mentioned above? We have pockets of clean technology development and research into more environment friendly products for the consumer market. But as we noted quite strongly at a recent Energy Seminar at MATRADE, there is no local capability to endorse such products are green or green technologies are used. Some of them were asked to get it endorsed outside Malaysia and this will results it to be patented overseas!

Let's look at our local media for any indication of peoples' or government's emphasis on what matters. How much media coverage has environmental and socio-economic issues have made it front page? With lack of competence, awareness and sense of urgency on environmental and socio-economic problems and in the absence of concrete climate change strategies and framework and action plan, what is the use of Malaysian government officials make the trip to Copenhagen COP 15 anyways? Who or what will they represent? Can we see any changes that we have not seen for the past 20 years in the ways we produce and consume in Malaysia after COP 15?

This will only happen if we as one entity move this interest for the sake of sustainable development and for the future of the children we have brought into the world or will bring into the world. We must remember what Einstein said that "we can't solve the problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."