"In the Summary of UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008, Malaysia is not only ranked 26th in the top 30 of global CO2 emitters but most notably as the country with the highest rate of growth in CO2 emission, that is 221%. Over a period of almost 15 years, it emitted 177 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 in 2004, compared to only 55 Mt in 1990. Thus, its per capita emission has increased from 3.0 tonnes in 1990 to 7.5 tonnes in 2004. If it were to be ranked on the basis of per capita emission, Malaysia would have been in the top 17, that is "ahead" of even France with an emission of 6.0 tonnes per capita only. By the way, the latter depends 75 per cent of its electricity supply from nuclear energy.
Short of relying, from now onwards or far into the future on virtually carbon-free nuclear energy, Malaysia should re-examine its current policy, legal and institutional framework, and organise itself with the following necessary lines of action by one and all:
1. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
1.1 On negotiating fronts at bilateral, regional, and international levels, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Wisma Putra shall assume the leadership and co-ordinate Malaysia's position in matters relating to climate change with the support of a Steering Committee and its consultative group(s);
1.2 At national level, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) shall assume the leadership on the Assessment and Management aspects of Climate Change. The MMS Department of MOSTI should take the lead on the Assessment; and the Department of Environment (DOE) of NRE on the Management. However, the roles of other agencies should not be overlooked: Treasury on economic instruments and other fiscal measures; Economic Planning Unit (EPU) on economic development plans and programmes, including the pricing of energy; RISDA and Lembaga Getah on natural rubber double density planting; the Academy of Science Malaysia and Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) on R&D; Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), and Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) on Policy Research; Ministry of Energy, Water, and Communications (MEWC) on electricity generation, consumption, and tariff-structure; and Ministry of Housing and Local Government on town and country planning; Malaysia Energy Centre (PTM) on renewable energy; Petronas RSS on Energy-to-Materials; The ABC of Palm Oil (PO): MPOAssociation, MPOBoard, and MPOCouncil on sustainability of palm oil, and Department of Agriculture and Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), and Rubber Reseach Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) on Carbon Sequestration
1.3 There shall be a close co-ordination between Wisma Putra, MNRE, EPU, Treasury, and the Attorney-General Chambers; and these key agencies are jointly responsible to a Cabinet Committee on Climate Change.
2. FINANCE
2.1 Other than relying on the existing funding mechanisms that are available under the Kyoto Protocol and other voluntary mechanisms, National Carbon-Trading Mechanism should be introduced as much to promote the energy-efficiency of our industries and services, and thus, increase the level of national competitiveness, as to have greater leverage at international market place for better pricing of national carbon surplus.
2.2 "Carbon Emission Reduction" as well as "Carbon Sequestration" should be treated as tradable commodities by the Malaysian Commodity Exchange. For instance, the excessive carbon generated from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Independent Power Producers' fossil-fuel plants should give credits to smallholders engaged in double-density planting and replanting of natural rubber, as carbon sinks, and thus, help utilize "idle" and "degraded" lands, and raise the income of rural households.
2.3 Carbon-levy should be imposed on purchase of fossil fuels, including petroleum and diesel, and the funds generated be utilized for improving public transport and the development of water-mode of transportation. (Note: In Physics, we learn that it would require less energy to transport goods and services by water than by land, roads, highways, bridges, and causeways).
3. TECHNOLOGY
3.1 Malaysia should promote its indigenous technologies, such as energy-efficient buildings developed by Lucas 'works Sdn Bhd using waste-rubber tyres(www.smartandcoolhomes.com); methane-capture by anaerobic digestion of palm oil effluents (www.envirolift.com.my), and dehydration of foods, fruits, other agriculture crops and industrial products (www.fruits4u.com.my & Tech-Dry International Malaysia Sdn Bhd; vessels, boats, and other types watercraft. Perhaps, PROTON, even not in Joint Venture with Volkswagen, to develop amphibious vehicles: cars that can float. There shall be no worries, should we be caught in flash floods!
3.2 Malaysia should identify carbon-free technologies and enter into some-sort of arrangements and cooperation including joint-venture or acquisition, through Technology Assessment Programme of MOSTI and Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
4. POLICY
4.1 Sustainable Energy Development should be promoted through Energy Efficiency Programme, as a prerequisite to Renewable Energy Development, including development of Ocean Thermal Energy, in the Sabah Trough, off the island of Borneo!
4.2 Priority should be given to the development of renewable energy: solar, biogas, biomass, wind-wave, tidal, and ocean-thermal energy;
4.3 Any carbon generated from the utilization of any type of fossil fuel should be offset by carbon-sequestration, through agro-forestry and natural rubber re-planting, and by carbon reduction in other sectors of the economy.
4.5 There shall be systematic and progressive removal of every fiscal or economic barrier to carbon-free economy, and accelerated introduction of attractive fiscal and economic incentives to the development and application of carbon-free activities and measures.
4.6 The mode of transport to the public should be in the following order of availability or access: first, by walking, by walklators, by cycling, by boating, by boat, ferry, or vessel, by rail, by clean-fueled buses, by Trams-MonoRails-Light Rapid Transiit-Mass Rapid Transit, and last, by private vehicles and trucks.
4.7 The industries should opt for the most energy-efficient processes. The "dehydration" technology should be preferred over "refrigeration";
4.8 For residential and commercial buildings "smart and cool construction" should be promoted and widely used over the conventional method of construction that would demand excessive use of "energy-guzzling air-conditioning".
5. CAPACITY BUILDING
5.1 All textbooks, training materials, and syllabuses that are not sensitive to the cause for the environment should be withdrawn or re-edited;
5.2 There shall be a circular introduced that every group that goes for a meeting or negotiation shall comprise a team of three official-experts: the most senior for the wisdom, the senior one for the knowledge and information; and the junior one for the skills, data, and facts. (As they say "... age should be before the beauty ...". Of course, the "brain" and the "beauty" can be the same person.
5.3 There shall be a dedicated website for "Climate Change and Malaysia" for consultative- members and others to interact and to exchange notes or blogs on continuous basis, wherever and whenever it matters most.
5.4 Think-tanks such as ISIS, MIER, MIMA should be engaged in Policy Research on Climate Change; if not, a newly introduced Non-Private, Non-Profit Making Organisation for Climate Change(NP2OCC) should be launched by the Government with an initial grant and funded through some proceeds from Carbon-Levy.
5.5 There shall be a champion in every place, within any space or time, for Malaysia to "shine" again. (Note: If not, what we see around are "shining" examples only; those who are fast becoming bald-headed guys like me!")
Hoping the above recapitulation of the current affairs and expectations relating to the global commons would be of help in our joint endeavour toward a sustainable future."
A. Bakar Jaafar
Mobile: +60 12 320 7201
The global e-mail: bakar.jaafar@gmail.com
p/s May I suggest a mosaic of carbon-free economies by showing some photos: more on public and water-mode of transport; solar Photovoltaics, wind mills, Ocean waves and currents, hydroelectric, hydrogen-fueled vehicles, and rubber planting etc, biogas plant (www.envirolift.com.my).
December 31, 2007
Short of relying, from now onwards or far into the future on virtually carbon-free nuclear energy, Malaysia should re-examine its current policy, legal and institutional framework, and organise itself with the following necessary lines of action by one and all:
1. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
1.1 On negotiating fronts at bilateral, regional, and international levels, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Wisma Putra shall assume the leadership and co-ordinate Malaysia's position in matters relating to climate change with the support of a Steering Committee and its consultative group(s);
1.2 At national level, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) shall assume the leadership on the Assessment and Management aspects of Climate Change. The MMS Department of MOSTI should take the lead on the Assessment; and the Department of Environment (DOE) of NRE on the Management. However, the roles of other agencies should not be overlooked: Treasury on economic instruments and other fiscal measures; Economic Planning Unit (EPU) on economic development plans and programmes, including the pricing of energy; RISDA and Lembaga Getah on natural rubber double density planting; the Academy of Science Malaysia and Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) on R&D; Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), and Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) on Policy Research; Ministry of Energy, Water, and Communications (MEWC) on electricity generation, consumption, and tariff-structure; and Ministry of Housing and Local Government on town and country planning; Malaysia Energy Centre (PTM) on renewable energy; Petronas RSS on Energy-to-Materials; The ABC of Palm Oil (PO): MPOAssociation, MPOBoard, and MPOCouncil on sustainability of palm oil, and Department of Agriculture and Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), and Rubber Reseach Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) on Carbon Sequestration
1.3 There shall be a close co-ordination between Wisma Putra, MNRE, EPU, Treasury, and the Attorney-General Chambers; and these key agencies are jointly responsible to a Cabinet Committee on Climate Change.
2. FINANCE
2.1 Other than relying on the existing funding mechanisms that are available under the Kyoto Protocol and other voluntary mechanisms, National Carbon-Trading Mechanism should be introduced as much to promote the energy-efficiency of our industries and services, and thus, increase the level of national competitiveness, as to have greater leverage at international market place for better pricing of national carbon surplus.
2.2 "Carbon Emission Reduction" as well as "Carbon Sequestration" should be treated as tradable commodities by the Malaysian Commodity Exchange. For instance, the excessive carbon generated from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Independent Power Producers' fossil-fuel plants should give credits to smallholders engaged in double-density planting and replanting of natural rubber, as carbon sinks, and thus, help utilize "idle" and "degraded" lands, and raise the income of rural households.
2.3 Carbon-levy should be imposed on purchase of fossil fuels, including petroleum and diesel, and the funds generated be utilized for improving public transport and the development of water-mode of transportation. (Note: In Physics, we learn that it would require less energy to transport goods and services by water than by land, roads, highways, bridges, and causeways).
3. TECHNOLOGY
3.1 Malaysia should promote its indigenous technologies, such as energy-efficient buildings developed by Lucas 'works Sdn Bhd using waste-rubber tyres(www.smartandcoolhomes.com); methane-capture by anaerobic digestion of palm oil effluents (www.envirolift.com.my), and dehydration of foods, fruits, other agriculture crops and industrial products (www.fruits4u.com.my & Tech-Dry International Malaysia Sdn Bhd; vessels, boats, and other types watercraft. Perhaps, PROTON, even not in Joint Venture with Volkswagen, to develop amphibious vehicles: cars that can float. There shall be no worries, should we be caught in flash floods!
3.2 Malaysia should identify carbon-free technologies and enter into some-sort of arrangements and cooperation including joint-venture or acquisition, through Technology Assessment Programme of MOSTI and Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
4. POLICY
4.1 Sustainable Energy Development should be promoted through Energy Efficiency Programme, as a prerequisite to Renewable Energy Development, including development of Ocean Thermal Energy, in the Sabah Trough, off the island of Borneo!
4.2 Priority should be given to the development of renewable energy: solar, biogas, biomass, wind-wave, tidal, and ocean-thermal energy;
4.3 Any carbon generated from the utilization of any type of fossil fuel should be offset by carbon-sequestration, through agro-forestry and natural rubber re-planting, and by carbon reduction in other sectors of the economy.
4.5 There shall be systematic and progressive removal of every fiscal or economic barrier to carbon-free economy, and accelerated introduction of attractive fiscal and economic incentives to the development and application of carbon-free activities and measures.
4.6 The mode of transport to the public should be in the following order of availability or access: first, by walking, by walklators, by cycling, by boating, by boat, ferry, or vessel, by rail, by clean-fueled buses, by Trams-MonoRails-Light Rapid Transiit-Mass Rapid Transit, and last, by private vehicles and trucks.
4.7 The industries should opt for the most energy-efficient processes. The "dehydration" technology should be preferred over "refrigeration";
4.8 For residential and commercial buildings "smart and cool construction" should be promoted and widely used over the conventional method of construction that would demand excessive use of "energy-guzzling air-conditioning".
5. CAPACITY BUILDING
5.1 All textbooks, training materials, and syllabuses that are not sensitive to the cause for the environment should be withdrawn or re-edited;
5.2 There shall be a circular introduced that every group that goes for a meeting or negotiation shall comprise a team of three official-experts: the most senior for the wisdom, the senior one for the knowledge and information; and the junior one for the skills, data, and facts. (As they say "... age should be before the beauty ...". Of course, the "brain" and the "beauty" can be the same person.
5.3 There shall be a dedicated website for "Climate Change and Malaysia" for consultative- members and others to interact and to exchange notes or blogs on continuous basis, wherever and whenever it matters most.
5.4 Think-tanks such as ISIS, MIER, MIMA should be engaged in Policy Research on Climate Change; if not, a newly introduced Non-Private, Non-Profit Making Organisation for Climate Change(NP2OCC) should be launched by the Government with an initial grant and funded through some proceeds from Carbon-Levy.
5.5 There shall be a champion in every place, within any space or time, for Malaysia to "shine" again. (Note: If not, what we see around are "shining" examples only; those who are fast becoming bald-headed guys like me!")
Hoping the above recapitulation of the current affairs and expectations relating to the global commons would be of help in our joint endeavour toward a sustainable future."
A. Bakar Jaafar
Mobile: +60 12 320 7201
The global e-mail: bakar.jaafar@gmail.com
p/s May I suggest a mosaic of carbon-free economies by showing some photos: more on public and water-mode of transport; solar Photovoltaics, wind mills, Ocean waves and currents, hydroelectric, hydrogen-fueled vehicles, and rubber planting etc, biogas plant (www.envirolift.com.my).
December 31, 2007
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