Global warming, the greenhouse effect, carbon footprints and many more are very much related to the current global concern - climate change. Our recent Budget 2008 has touched the issue but has left out the bigger picture.

The government should focus in both adaptation and mitigation measures to tackle climate change. Adaptation will focus more on public awareness programmes to ensure our preparedness in facing extreme weather and its implications on our daily life. Mitigation is more of long-term preventive measures, such as flood mitigation. Unfortunately the focus here is only on mitigating floods. There are many other effects of climate change besides unprecedented flooding. Among them are changes to flora and fauna which affect our lives and livelihood.

How will government tackle the transport sector which is another large contributor to global warming? The transportation industry is one of the top contributors to air pollution (65.75% according to Department of Environment in 2004, not inclusive of carbon dioxide emissions) as well as fossil fuel consumption. Increasing traffic congestion will further increase air pollution and fuel consumption.

The transport sector was allocated RM12 billion to improve Kuala Lumpur's and Penang's public transport system. We have witnessed in the past that channeling of traffic from one end to another, is creating congestion elsewhere. This is mainly due to the receiving end not being ready to cater for a huge traffic flow.

This is evident in most of the highways in Klang Valley, for example, Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP), the Sprint highway, the Federal Highway, the New Pantai Expressway (NPE). Action should be taken against highway operators who fail to reduce traffic congestion on highways as they are supposed to do. Upgrading of traffic-receiving roads should also be one of the planning and implementation aspects of highway construction.

Why is there no National Transport Policy addressing these issues? Various parties have raised this issue. If it is in the pipeline, will the policy take into consideration other policies and integrate them? It should not be a 'stand alone' policy. The use of public transport is a good option but it should be efficient. Using public transport to work is cheaper but people here still prefer to drive. This shows that our public transport system is still not the preferred mode of transportation.

With contradicting policies on the sustainable consumption of energy (National Energy Policy, National Automotive Policy, National Biofuel Policy) it is difficult to please everyone when there are no mutual objectives in tackling climate change or a sustainable consumption of energy. We have approximately 300,000 new cars on the road annually. Are local car manufacturers moving towards introducing 'green engines'?

Our local car manufacturers must also be prepared to equip themselves with technologies to cater for cleaner fuel consumption. In order to protect consumers who opt for cleaner fuel, there should be an independent and trustworthy mechanism for verification. A total of RM500 million was allocated for the Biodiesel Fund in 2007. Biodiesel will only be introduced for government vehicles phase by phase. However, we will only realise a significant reduction in emissions if biofuel is introduced for all passenger vehicle as well.

The environment poses undefined, unforeseen and mysterious challenges ahead for us. In the best interest of the nation, we all should take care and manage its resources in a sustainable manner.

The writer is attached to Fomca's Environment Desk.