Green+ Malaysia's Premier Eco-friendly, Sustainable and Green Business Magazine

ENVIRONMENT
PART 1
ENVIRONMENT has always
been a concern for Malaysia.
In an interview with
Green+, Datuk Seri G.
Palanivel, the Minister of
Natural Resources and Environment,
said they had identified several action
plans to improve the environment.
They are:
a. Emission Reduction of Greenhouse
Gases (GHG)
b. Development of Malaysian
Environmental Performance Index
(EPI)
c. Utilizing Global Environment Facility
Fund (GEF) for Global Environmental
Benefits
d. Strengthen Environmental Quality
Act (1974)
e. Strengthen Enforcement Activities
f. Enhancing Water Quality
g. Enhancing Marine Water Quality
h. Enhancing Air Quality
i. Protecting Ozone Layer
j. Development of Environmental
Awareness and Commitment Index
k. Enhance Awareness on Environment
and Climate Change
EMISSION REDUCTION OF
GREENHOUSE GASES (GHG)
Palanivel said the Clean Air Action Plan
(CAAP) was drawn up in line with the
“7th Green Strategy” in the National
Policy on the Environment. The CAAP
presented a set of strategies and indicators
that together provide a roadmap
to achieve better air quality by reducing
the frequency, severity and duration of
poor air quality episodes.
In the implementation of the CAAP,
apart from achieving good air quality,
it also generates co-benefit in terms of
reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
and combating global warming.
“Major contributors of GHG emissions
that are addressed in the Plan
include emissions from motor vehicles,
industries, forest fires and open burning
activities. It is also aimed at contributing
to the country’s commitment of achieving
a 40% reduction in carbon intensity
by the year 2020,” said Palanivel.
Example of efforts to combat
climate change outlined in the Plan are
as follows:-
(a) Improvement in emission standards
from motor vehicles;
(b) Improvement in fuel quality; and
(c) Implementation of the Fire Prevention
Programme at Peat Lands.
DEVELOPMENT OF
MALAYSIAN ENVIRONMENTAL
PERFORMANCE INDEX (EPI)
Palanivel pointed out Malaysia was
enhancing its monitoring network
11 goals towards a
better environment
Implementation of CAAP critical in reducing greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions and combating global warming
By JOHNSON
FERNANDEZ
Datuk Seri
G. Palanivel
Major contributors of
GHG emissions that are
addressed in the Plan
include emissions from
motor vehicles, industries,
forest fires and open burning
activities. It is also aimed at
contributing to the country’s
commitment of achieving
a 40% reduction in carbon
intensity by the year 2020.
to include monitoring of PM2.5 in the
ambient air. The full coverage of the
network is expected to be completed
early 2015. With the establishment of
the PM2.5 network, Malaysia will be in
a position to provide sufficient information
for the PM2.5 component in the
Malaysia EPI.
STRENGTHENING THE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ACT (1974) AND ENFORCEMENT
ACTIVITIES
With regards to strengthening the
enforcement activity for the environmental
protection and conservation,
the Department of Environmental
has made some amendments to the
Environmental Quality Act, 1974 in 2012.
“We took some pro-active measures,”
said Palanivel, listing them
down as below.
1. Deterrent Enforcement
Enforcement of environmental laws
under the Environmental Quality
(Amendment) Act 2012 emphasizes
the element of prudence and strict
enforcement (deterrent measures)
with amendments and additional provisions,
such as a higher increase
in fines under Section 34A (8), a prohibition
order and stop work order
under Section 34AA and the power
to arrest under Section 37C. Through
strict implementation of the provisions
under EQA and deterrent enforcement,
the process of nation-building can
be achieved in a sustainable manner
through awareness and high commitment
of developers and industries
on the aspects of environmental
management.
12
november-december, green+.2014