Environmental NGOs have raised their concerns over the rise in sea levels and impact of climate change especially affecting small islands like Penang.

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia president SM Mohamed Idris ( right ) asked if Malaysia, with a coastline of 48,000 km, should be worried about climate change and sea level rise as inundation, storm surge, erosion and other coastal hazards are expected to intensify.

 

 “Over the past few years, Malaysia has already experienced increase in intensity, duration and frequency of storms, floods and drought,” said Mohamed at a press conference today.

 

“Climate change is one indication of a much larger problem, which is the unsustainable consumption, production and lifestyle of humans.

 

“This is demonstrated by the use of dirty, non-renewable energy; our exploitation of forests and natural ecosystems; our unsustainable ways of farming, fishing and consuming food; our craze over development; our unsustainable habits of consuming the earth’s resources and discarding them as wastes,” he stressed.

Idris said this in conjunction with World Environment Day tomorrow which carries the theme “raise your voice, not the sea level”, which will focus on small islands and climate change.

 

 According to the recently released IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, land and ocean surface temperatures have increased globally by nearly 1̊ C since 1901 (0.89̊ C global average), mainly as a result of human activities, Mohamed said.

 

The Consumers Association of Penang president also expressed concern over land reclamation projects in the coast of Penang such as in Jelutong, Tanjung Tokong, Batu Uban, which require millions of tonnes of rock and sand.  

 

“Sand and gravel are mined world-wide and account for the largest volume of solid material extracted globally. They are being extracted at a rate far greater than their renewal,” he said.

 

“Our increasing dependence and the significant impact that extraction of natural resources has on the environment, has been mostly ignored,” he added.

 

Global emissions

He also raised the alarm on global emissions, saying  a variety of measures are needed to reduce the growth and impact of these emissions such as efforts to encourage energy-efficient vehicle technologies, promote efficient patterns of travel and land use, and develop alternatives to petroleum-based fuels.

Idris said generally, the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere are continuing to increase.

 

 “It is clear that the future climate will be warmer, sea levels will rise, global rainfall patterns will change, and ecosystems will be altered.

 

 “The needs of vulnerable poor communities must also be addressed so that they can adapt to the impacts of climate change.

 

 “High level international agreements alone are not going to stop climate change,” he warned.