Changing our ways: a Malaysian environmentalist speaks

The Star 3 Mar 09;

The nation’s eminent environmentalist Gurmit Singh gives his unequivocal replies to readers’ questions which range from how to lead a greener lifestyle to green activism and nuclear energy.

As climate change and environmental degradation affect all of us, my friends and I would like to do our part for the environment. Please suggest some effective ways in which we can make a contribution. – Sofia Amin, Kuala Lumpur

There is a whole range of ways which I have described in my latest book Beyond Me And Mine. Examine your lifestyle, including what you buy, use and discard. Look at your travel modes and your office/worksite operations. Make choices that curb wastage either in the form of excessive packaging or which pose environmental problems in their eventual disposal. Most of these involve energy generation which contributes towards climate change.

One of the most effective ways (but not often taken) is to cut down greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions arising from daily travelling. Ideally, switch to public transport, despite the inefficiency of such transport in the country. Not only do you reduce air and noise pollution, you also reduce road congestion (40 drivers travelling in a bus means 40 cars removed from the road). Even simpler would be to drive fuel-efficient vehicles and to car pool.

Stop littering right away. Not only will you improve aesthetics but your litter (especially of plastic origin) will not float from the drains into the rivers and eventually into the sea. Isn’t it incongruous to see drivers of BMWs throwing litter out of their windows while driving? Why can’t they take it back to their homes and offices for proper disposal? Avoid all forms of throwaways including single-use cameras. And compost your organic waste so that methane is not released into the atmosphere and you have a soil conditioner, to boot, for your garden.

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your years of championing the green cause? – Adrian Lim, Petaling Jaya

It is not for me to make the assessment. You and the Malaysian public have to decide/evaluate. All I can say is, environmental issues are still of interest to me and overall I have been happy with the efforts I have put in. My only disappointment is that we have still not achieved a strong grassroots environmental movement in this country and we have yet to see a strong political and administrative will to take environmentally-positive action at all levels. I am not sure whether you would consider my having worked over a wide range of environmental issues for more than 35 years any accomplishment.

The call for a better mass transportation system appears to have fallen on deaf ears. What is needed to push this through? – George Teh, Penang

The missing driver is strong public pressure, especially from the middle class, for the massive improvements that are needed, especially in the management of vehicles, reliability and connectivity of services. Individuals should not opt out by simply buying another car instead of taking head-on the current hassle of using public transport. It must be put high on the list of our expectations from politicians and planners. We should not accept capital expensive solutions that take years to be undertaken (and billions of ringgit). RapidPenang is the sort of stuff that needs to be replicated more extensively, not to repeat the deterioration in services that RapidKL has shown lately. The Public Land Transport Commission has taken too long to materialise. What we need urgently is the active involvement of public transport users to formulate effective solutions.

What would you say to convince a cynic, or someone who just doesn’t care about global warming, that the threat is very real and that we can still doing something about it? – Michael Chow, Petaling Jaya

It is tough to change a cynic or one who is totally apathetic or selfish. They will only move if they or their family are adversely affected. This is also at the heart of NIMBY (not in my backyard) syndrome, which was well-illustrated by the residents of Puchong and Petaling Jaya (in Selangor) when an incinerator was proposed to be sited in Puchong. But the moment the proposed site was shifted elsewhere, they were hardly concerned about the environmental hazards of incineration.

Climate change is even more difficult to be observed, as it is slow until abrupt changes like floods, droughts and typhoons occur. The visible impacts are only the collapses of polar icecaps and mountain glaciers. By the time sea levels rise by metres, it may be too late to take cost-effective adaptive measures. Not only should such apathetic Malaysians be shown (the documentary) An Inconvenient Truth but also (the movie) The Day After Tomorrow.

It is totally irresponsible of those who use high amounts of energy not to cut down their GHG emissions by eliminating wastage. Let us not forget that Malaysia is the third largest per capita emitter after Singapore and Brunei and our emissions from the power sector increased by 198% between 1994 and 2004, according to UN figures.

Can you name two practical contributions from individuals to help the environment, apart from recycling waste? – Kennie Yeoh

Recycling is the last of the 5Rs in terms of tackling waste but the easiest option for many governments and firms, as it seems to generate further economic activities. The first and preferable R is to Rethink our needs and then follow up by Reducing consumption and its associated wastes. You may want to examine some of the practical options that I have suggested in my answer to Sofia’s question and choose which you want to implement. Cutting down on GHG emissions is the most urgent action.

I am fearful about the Government’s plans for nuclear energy. Do you think we should go down the nuclear path? – Su-Ann Lim, Kuala Lumpur

I have never been convinced that this country needs nuclear energy – that has been my position for the past 30 years. I have yet to see any conclusive evidence to change my mind. But there are powerful vested interests in the government and private sector that are pushing for this as a quick fix for climate change and a new electricity generation source.

I strongly suggest that you attend the Nuclear Energy Conference on March 22 at Hotel Armada in Petaling Jaya to listen to foreign and local speakers on the issue. The event is jointly organised by the Physicians for Peace and Social Responsibility and the Centre for Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia. Call 03-7875 7767 for details.

What personal sacrifices have you made in order to lead a greener lifestyle? – Chin Wah Seong, Ipoh

I don’t know whether the actions that I have taken can be described as personal sacrifices. I see them more as different options or paths that I have chosen. I decided just after I helped found the Environmental Protection Society Malaysia in 1974 to lead a simpler and less materialistic life. I gave up a paid job as an electrical engineer in a statutory body in 1976 to become a freelance engineer. In 1978, I sold off my car and have since then used public transport for most of my movements.

In addition, coming from a rather poor family, I became more frugal which also helped my life to be a bit more green. Naturally my late parents were not pleased with many of my actions that did not meet their more materialistic expectations and ensuring a comfortable time for their senior years, especially since I was the eldest child.

Waiting until my mid-40s to meet a compatible spouse has also helped since she is also very much into a simple ecologically sound lifestyle. Through her organic farming work and contacts, we eat more healthy and safe food, especially when it’s cooked at home. We are happy that we are able to practice most of what we preach both within CETDEM (Centre for Environment Technology and Development Malaysia) and in our daily lives. While we are not wealthy, we are overall satisfied with our lives!

Everyone talks about climate change these days but is that the most serious threat to us? What about other problems such as river and air pollution, hazardous chemicals and waste? – Rizal Hassan, Bangi, Selangor

The other problems that you mentioned pale in scope against the pervasive threat of climate change. No life form or ecosystem is immune from the adverse impacts of climate change.

Unless we curb it within the next decade or so, many species will be wiped out, whole island nations will be flooded over, and millions of climate change refugees will be swarming around.

The risk of conflicts and the severity of weather extremes will increase. Of course there are a few other global threats like loss of natural biodiversity, the scarcity of and accessibility to clean water, and massive pollution of oceans through wastes being discharged by humans. We have exceeded the carrying capacity of this Earth!

Twenty years ago, environmentalists were novelties. They were also less engaging but today we see a flood of environmental NGOs and environmentalists who are more vocal. You have your way and style of tackling environmental issues but are these still acceptable today? – Ida Rashid, Kuala Lumpur

I am not too sure that there is now a flood of environmental NGOs and environmentalists. There are probably more who like to call themselves environmentalists but there is still NO broad-ranging environmental movement in Malaysia. Of course, ways and styles may differ but good environmentalists must be able to identify root causes of environmental problems, be independent in their analysis and public articulation of their views, and maintain their integrity.

Then there is the need to sustain passion and commitment, which comes through a spirit of volunteerism. Those who treat environmentalism as a career may run the risk of compromising on these as they strive to assure funding to sustain their jobs. But without full-time staff, not many NGOs can tackle their tasks adequately.

Some say that I have mellowed over the years. But I still maintain consistency of my public positions unless there is evidence that the contributing factors to environmental problems have changed.

But most of the root causes – corruption, weak or almost absent political will, administrative inefficiencies and poor enforcement of regulations still remain.

I continue to believe that I should not stand in fear of government officials and corporate leaders if I have enough facts that convince me that critical views need to be articulated.

What are your views on the about-turn by the Government to allow development on hills? – Chris Ng, Kuala Lumpur

The Malaysian government is notorious for its flip-flops on a number of environmental issues. That is why I still maintain that its overall commitment to environmental quality is weak despite it being a signatory to Agenda 21 at the Rio Summit (in 1992) and its repeated claims to work for sustainable development in the last few Malaysia Plans.

Whenever tragedies occur, there are promises to ban such development. A few months later, the ban is lifted despite geohazard maps amply showing that these are no-go areas.

The solutions are in our hands – a massive boycott of properties in hilly areas or of developers involved in such development, pressure on elected politicians, and demands for the penalising of local officials who approve plans for such development.

Are you and other concerned Malaysians willing to act along these lines for a sustained period of time?