The Penang government is seeking more views on how to develop the state's "Green Agenda" (PGA), following three major disasters - two great floods and a deadly landslide in Tanjung Bungah.

State exco on environment Phee Boon Poh said the Penang Green Council (PGC) is conducting a public survey until Nov 24 to look into climate change adaptation and mitigation to tackle drastic environmental changes.

"Climate change is real and has affected everyone, and it is human activities that are the primary factor triggering climate change.

"In the wake of global climate change threats, overcoming the environmental crisis and building the sustainability of Penang fall on everyone’s shoulders," he added.

Phee said the main objectives of the public survey are to identify environmental issues in Penang and also to determine scopes that are closely related to PGA.

He added the outcome of the survey will be informative for developing PGA strategies and local action plan and in providing the policymakers with a better understanding of public views and concerns on environmental challenges in Penang.

Formed in 2011, the PGC is chaired by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to help Penang realise its green agenda.

The disastrous floods on Sept 15, Nov 4 and 5 which claimed seven lives and displaced nearly 13,000 people have made it more urgent for Penang to seek public views on how to address the disasters.

The PGA is a two-year policy planning project which aims at formulating strategies to help meet future environmental challenges in Penang.

"The project incorporates United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, adapting and building a resilient community in Penang by 2030," said Phee, who is also DAP's Sungai Puyu assemblyperson.

"The agenda includes defining and measuring the state’s sustainability, identifying approaches to combat the current and future environmental challenges and proposing measurable and feasible SDGs to achieve the state’s vision."

The vision dubbed “Cleaner, Green, Safer, Healthier and Happier Penang” has been a slogan touted by the state leaders since 2013.

Phee noted that the PGA advisory committee is led by Leong Yueh Kwong, the PGC's board of director.

Meanwhile, USM's school of social sciences has been appointed to drive the one-year stakeholder consultation.

"Participatory approach is applied in developing the agenda which includes running the public survey as the state government strives to engage all stakeholders in Penang in contributing inputs before PGA is officially launched," Phee explained.

He noted that the USM team has scheduled to seek views from public in five districts of Penang in four languages: Malay, English, Mandarin and Tamil, as follows:

Oct 24–31: Northeast Penang Island

Nov 1–3: Southwest Penang Island

Nov 4–7: Northern Seberang Perai

Nov 8–11: Central Seberang Perai

Nov 12–14: Southern Seberang Perai

Phee said a crucial point of the PGA process is that the state government "cares" about public opinions in formulating the agenda until 2030.

The survey is also available online at www.pgc.com.my/pga/public-survey, he said.

The project is fully funded by the Penang government and supported by Penang State Economic Planning Division and Penang Institute.