By Ronald Benjamin
Secretary, Association for Welfare,Community and Dialogue
Climate change and its impact on society has been much discussed in national and global forums,where action plans and deadlines to reduce carbon concentration have compelled several countries to take the necessary action to reduce carbon footprints in the usage of resources.
Malaysia has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and an economy-wide carbon intensity reduction of 45% by 2030, a goal outlined in its revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
Key strategies include the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which promotes renewable energy, and initiatives like Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) and the adoption of circular economy principles.
The country is also focusing on energy efficiency, waste management, electric vehicles (EVs), and regional cooperation to drive green growth and accelerate its path to a sustainable future.
While all these plans and initiatives by the Government are laudable,a fruitful transformation can only take place if it starts from individuals, families,and business establishments to reduce carbon footprint.
A synthesis of green initiatives are critical to create an effective impact on reducing greenhouse gases.
Lifestyles and business choices that synthesize the various dimensions of reducing carbon footprint are far more effective than lofty pronouncement and legislation.
First of all, the understanding that nature is a gift from the creator,and human life is intertwined with nature’s ecosystem should be ingrained in the philosophical outlooks of schools and education institutions.And this should be followed with practical action.
Here are areas that Malaysians can practically execute to reduce carbon footprint..
Reduce food waste by sharing with the poor.
Food waste contributes to methane when it decomposes anaerobically in landfills. Methane molecules absorb heat more effectively and contribute to heating of the atmosphere.
Food waste has become critical as one observes how food is wasted during wedding functions,or functions at restaurants and hotels.There should be concerted effort by organisers to ensure no food is wasted by sharing excess food to those in need.
This could be done by working with NGOs with a common mission of sharing food to the poor which creates a significant synthesis of reducing food waste and its impact on reducing gasses that heats up the planet. Meeting sustainable development goals is built on such coordinated premises.
Food compost machine.
It is time that the Government incentivised the food business industry to purchase food compost machines so that unavoidable food waste could be composited into soil enhancers .The soil enhancers could be sold or contributed to communities who were involved in farming activities. By having a compost machine the food industry makes a business choice by preventing food waste from going to the landfills and creating methane, a potent greenhouse gas. For example, Weil Hotel Ipoh, who has a food compost machine, contributed its soil enhancer to the farming community in Buntong .This is due to business choices of reducing carbon footprint.
Replace plastic made materials as food container
I have made it a point to reject plastic based food containers when I visit a restaurant .Restaurants are still using synthetic plastic base food containers and this practice has to stop . This could help reduce the scourge of plastic pollution in the country. Using alternative food containers is a lifestyle choice that would contribute to reducing carbon footprint since plastic is made of petroleum, a fossil fuel whose extraction and processing releases greenhouse gases.
Reducing the usage of vehicles
It’s time to change one’s lifestyle in regards to using vehicles.The practice of carpooling ,the act of sharing a car journey with others to save cost and reduce pollution should be a way of life in the context of Malaysian public transport systems that have yet to meet desired expectations . In the long run the reduction of cars on the road would be a lifestyle choice that would significantly help in reducing carbon footprint in the country.
Therefore the above lifestyle and business choices if done in coordinated manner provides an effective synthesis that would reduce carbon footprints in the country.
It is time for Malaysians to act to reduce greenhouse gases through concerted practical action,instead of merely feeling obligated to follow legislative requirements and pronouncements.
