“In 2015, renewable energy set new records for investment and new capacity added. Investments reached nearly US$286 billion, more than six times more than in 2004, and, for the first time, more than half of all added power generation capacity came from renewables.” - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon.

If money is the seed of evil, let this show that money can be a cause for good. With investors flocking towards renewable energy generation, it does create the impression that renewable energy can be financially reliable thus leaving businesses contemplating at the juncture where they have to choose between sustainability and the volatility of fossil fuel that they now heavily rely on.

Digging our money for coal, natural gas and oil/petroleum has been a good ride but like every good businesses, we have to be innovative in order to be relevant. Based on UNEP’s Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2016 publication, “overall, renewables excluding large hydro made up 53.6 percent of the gigawatt capacity of all technologies installed in 2015, the first time it has represented a majority.”

This is a confirming, comforting proof that the world is changing, and it is changing for the better - the new saying, “money should be put in sustainability” is going in the right direction.

Clearly, as more people takes off the fossil masks and breathe Mother Nature’s air, we see a drastic change in awareness regarding sustainability and environment. It’s only a matter of time for fossil fuel to totally bankrupt and we must brace for that, long gone are the days of the industrial revolution that brought fossil fuel to the centre stage, it has reach its peak and there’s only one way it can go now, down - that’s the price of non-sustainable.

We filled the tanks, now the tap is empty. We will never see cheap gasoline again, no technology can help with that. Alternative energy? Lights on you.

The majority of my Malaysian brothers and sister have been complaining overwhelmingly regarding global warming and indeed it is an important issue, it is imperative we take quick, real action towards countering global warming and factors leading to it because the effects are devastating - the uncontrollable sweating makes us less appealing.

Stop fossil fuel, its time. It’s high time we ought to think about the future generation whether or not we are going to leave behind for them a better world.

“We have never seen such great opportunities to make the world a better place.” - Al Gore.

Global warming, air pollution and acid rains are just a few among other concerning hazards we now face. Malaysia is at the heart of global warming as we are located along the equatorial which makes us very vulnerable to rapid rise in sea level and the likes. Natural disasters are more likely to happen in high frequency if we don’t go full swing at sustainability, now!

Implementation process must move forward

Malaysia herself is going towards that direction although it is arguably slow. With policies set in place, the implementation process must move forward. Objective which has been made is realistic and achievable - Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia has a set of objectives, to increase renewable energy contribution in the national power generation mix and to conserve the environment for future generation, two of which I echo the most.

With sources ranging from biogas, biomass, solid waste, hydro, solar and geothermal, it emits positive vibe, sources which we could exploit from and actually make a different for the better.

A glimpse of hope will sound along the lines that the fact, according to Asia Development Bank’s report, Asia is expected to become the largest energy consuming region in the world well before 2050, let’s make it clean! Thailand is expected to have more solar power capacity than the rest of South-East Asia combined. This should be a key factor in motivating the region to compete in the renewable sector, make it a healthy competition for our heaven-on-earth region.

We have lots of corals to protect; lots of species to preserve; lots of food to secure; lots of people to take care of. It’s critical but the challenge makes it ever more exciting, this is a fight we can win.

The old days are behind us, same goes to old methods, environment-killing methods. Move forward with sustainability set in motion for not just us but future generations. Gratuity will come soon.