I just read this news article from the New Straits Times on the launching of "green courts" in Malaysia and would like to share it with you. They were established to handle cases related to environmental issues and crimes.
To me, this is exciting development as it shows progress in addressing environmental problems in the country, such as pollution, wildlife trafficking, and illegal logging, and to better enforce national environmental laws and regulations. It is also relevant to the topic of my research, so I'm really interested in seeing how these green courts will play out and the cases that will be tried.
Congratulations! I look forward to following the developments of our newly established "green courts". :)
The recent US presidential race and the re-election of Barack
Obama to a second term brought a sigh of relief for many in the United States and around the world, especially after Mitt Romney’s disturbing jokes on Obama’s plans
to “slow the rise of the oceans” and “heal the planet” that took place at the GOP Convention before Hurricane
Sandy wreaked devastation in New York City. With Obama's return to the White House, activists are continuing to put pressure on him to openly address issues on climate change, clean
energy, and other environmental concerns.
Meanwhile, I have been noticing the development of another hot topic,
which is the bioeconomy. Back in April, the US published its National BioEconomy Blueprint which
according to the White House, has two main purposes – “to lay out
strategic objectives that will help realize the full potential of the U.S.
bioeconomy and to highlight early achievements toward those objectives”.
In Brussels, the European Commission proposed its
Bioeconomy Strategy – Innovating for
Sustainable Growth: a Bioeconomy for Europe, which emphasizes the need for Europe
to transition to a post-petroleum society. Its aim is to “pave the way to a more innovative, resource efficient and competitive
society that reconciles food security with the sustainable use of renewable
resources for industrial purposes, while ensuring environmental protection”.
In China, the country has placed bioeconomy as one of
its key development priorities and in its 12th Five-Year Plan, biotechnology has
been included as one of China’s seven strategic emerging industries.
And in Malaysia, we have what’s called the Bioeconomy
Initiative Malaysia (BIM), which is expected to produce new ideas and methods
of utilizing renewable energy under the support of the National Biotech Policy.
It seems that the world is all abuzz over this
emerging engine of growth and countries are racing to become the global leader
in biotechnology.
So what is the bioeconomy and why is it given so much attention these days?
According to the United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development’s (UNCSD) Rio +20 event on Bio-economy and Development,
“the functioning of today’s economic
system essentially depends on non-renewable resources, and cannot be therefore
sustained forever, it cannot be eternal…”
There is a steady realization that the conventional model
of unlimited growth cannot be sustainable because it does not take into account
that the energy and natural resources we are currently dependent on are finite.
Continuing to intensely exploit these resources could lead to what is described
as “an alteration of the biological
balances, up to ecologic and economic rejection".
In this regard, the bioeconomy presents an
alternative solution that could harness innovation, contribute to economic
growth and most importantly produce beneficial outcomes for society and the
environment.
Also referred to as the “green economy” or
“biotechonomy”, the bioeconomy has been defined and described in several different
ways. The OECD stated: “From a broad
economic perspective, the bioeconomy refers to the set of economic activities
relating to the invention, development, production and use of biological
products and processes”.
In the US, the emphasis on the bioeconomy is on “harnessing biological research innovations
to meet national challenges in health, food, energy, and the environment”,
whereas in the EU a bioeconomy “encompasses
the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these
resources and waste streams into value added products, such as food, feed, bio-based
products and bioenergy”.
The UNCSD explains that “Bio-economy is an environmental and economic theory and practice by
which you can proceed towards a new ecological and social development.” Thus,
it is understood that the basic concept of the bioeconomy is to turn biomass into
marketable goods and services such as biofuels, bioplastics, bioenergy, and so
on. According to
Dato’ Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal,CEO of the Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp), the
biotechnology industry contributes roughly 2.2% towards Malaysia’s GDP and
about $5.4bn in investments for private and public spending. The Chairman of BiotechCorp, Dato’ Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, explained “instead of an economy
dependent on the planet's limited supply of non-renewable resources such as
petroleum and coal, we could convert plant material, municipal and livestock
waste and biomass into electricity, fuels, plastics and the basic components of
chemical processes”.
However, there are also concerns that have been
raised in the global debate. It has been argued that biomass will presumably be
produced using the techniques of industrial agriculture, which may not
necessarily be biofriendly, and would cause the destruction of biodiversity,
erosion, pollution, deforestation, land-grabbing, and increased GHG emissions. Skepticism were expressed by the Action Group on Erosion, Technology and
Concentration (ETC), in The New Biomassters - Synthetic Biology and The Next Assault on Biodiversity and Livelihoods, as it argues that “what’s behind the dash to biomass is not high ideals but the
calculated interest of the corporate bottom line. Far from changing to a new
economy, the biomass transition describes the retooling of the same old economy
of production, consumption, capital accumulation, and exploitation – only now a
new source of carbon is being plundered to keep the industrial machines going".
The International Food Policy Research Institute (in their paper on Water and Food in the Bio-economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Development) also stated concerns with regard to the impact of the bioeconomy on water and land resources in relation to biofuel production, reporting that "the water
requirement for energy derived from biomass is quite large—about 70 to 400 times greater than
other energy carriers such as fossil fuels, wind and solar (Gerben-Leenes et al. 2008 as quoted in
DeFraiture and Berndes 2009)".
Hence, while it appears that the bioeconomy could contribute to major socio-economic developments, such
as improving health outcomes, boosting the productivity of agriculture and
industrial processes, and enhancing environmental sustainability, harnessing
its potential will require coordinated policy action by governments, collaborative business models for knowledge-sharing, strategic investments in research, active citizen participation, and effective dialogue between all actors involved in the transition. Without proper regulation and implementation, the bioeconomy could bring future risks and further exacerbate social and environmental problems.
The past 2 months have been a total whirlwind for me as I encountered major changes in my life, which have been primarily linked to my academic pursuits. After going through all kinds of application processes, I am happy to announce that I am now pursuing a Ph.D at the Centre for Environmental Policy in Imperial College London!
The Queen's Tower at Imperial College London
I will keep you updated on topics related to my research area on Environmental Governance, and will try my best to write on current sustainability issues whenever I am able to. In the meantime, I intend to make the most out of my study here in London.
With the long and challenging road that now lies ahead of me, I look forward to experiencing the journey of a doctoral researcher and in the process of this endeavour, I do hope to gain some valuable insights and experience that may help me grow personally, academically, and professionally as well.
As the Rector mentioned in his welcoming speech during our first week at IC, in which he quoted Sir Gareth Roberts:
“The product that the PhD researcher creates is not the thesis – vital though that is to their subject area through the creation of original knowledge – no, the product of their study is the development of themselves.”
August
31st, which falls on a Friday this year, marks the day my country
gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1957 (and 1963 for the
states of Sabah & Sarawak). We refer to this important day as “Hari Merdeka”, a day in which we are
reminded of the unforgettable scene that took place 55 years ago at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, where
our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, proclaimed the country's
independence and shouted out “Merdeka!” seven times as the new flag was raised.
Our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on 31 August, 1957
Looking
back at the rapid development that Malaysia has undergone over the
years since that historical event, I cannot help but feel proud and grateful
for what we have managed to achieve thus far as a nation. Although I was raised as a “third culture kid”, no matter how far I’ve travelled and wherever
I have lived in this world, Malaysia
has and will always remain close to my heart.
Nonetheless,
as any concerned citizen, I have noticed that there remains certain elements in our eco-system and fabric of our society that has potential to cause
serious and long-term harm.
This
is why through Malaysia’s
transformation agenda and the quest to pursue our development goals towards
Vision 2020 and beyond, it is pertinent for the country to ensure that it is
integrating the three principles of sustainability – people, planet, and profit
– so that in meeting our development needs, we are not compromising the
ability of our future generations to meet theirs.
However, in order to achieve this
balance, not only do we need the Government, but also industry, academia, and
the rakyat (“the people”), whose
active participation are as equally important in spurring the country’s growth
on the national and global level. This “Quadruple Helix” model, which was
adopted as part of Malaysia’s
National Innovation Strategy, reminds us that as members of the rakyat, each of us has great potential
to play a major role in contributing to the sustainable and transformational
development of the country.
Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia, at night
We
have only one planet and on this planet, we Malaysians have only one Malaysia.
Approaching 55 years of independence, Malaysia has indeed made
significant strides in the course of its golden years but certainly there are
many more improvements to be made.
In this regard, it is crucial for our
leaders and policy-makers to identify and seek solutions to address existing
lacunae in the implementation of national policies and agendas.
Indeed,
I am truly blessed to be an “anak
Merdeka” of this beautiful country of endless possibilities. I hope that we
Malaysians will all make efforts to cooperate and collaborate together in achieving higher
standards of living and development that is socially, economically, and
environmentally sound. In
the words of our Prime Minister, Hon. Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak:
“We must continuously strive for
excellence; we cannot and must not compromise and settle for lower standards
and mediocrity. The challenge is for Malaysia to be better than the
best. While we should be proud of what we have achieved, we should not be
complacent as the world continues to move forward with new technologies, ideas
and discoveries. Change is the only constant. There is no escaping this trend
and we must strive to better ourselves and create an even better environment
for future generations.”
Terima kasih Malaysia for always welcoming me home with open arms and a
warm bundle of nasi lemak wrapped in
banana leaf.
I wish my fellow citizens in Malaysia and around the world a
happy independence day - SELAMAT HARI MERDEKA!
Check out the "Malaysia Truly Asia" video below. I grew up with this song :)
On
my long trip back from Madrid to Kuala Lumpur, I was required to transit through London, where all the
television programmes were set on the Olympic Games. As I patiently waited for
the boarding call, I observed a roomful of eyes intently focused on the
flatscreen TVs installed in the vicinity of the boarding gates, watching in
live broadcast a part of this major international sporting event held every
four years, and in which more than 200 nations participate.
Seeing
the awed look in their eyes, I was reminded of where I was – the city that is currently
hosting the 2012 Olympic Games. I imagined many other spectators around the
world watching the same event at home, in bars, on the street, in their cars,
and through their smart devices. And there I was, located just a taxi drive
away from where it was all taking place.
I was also
reminded of how the organizers of the Olympic Games this year have claimed that
it is aiming to be “the most sustainable” Olympics to date. According to its
official website,
the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG)
worked in partnership with BioRegional and the WWF to establish the concept
“Towards a One Planet Olympics”.
Under the principles
of this concept, the London 2012 Sustainability Plan was established. Around
five sustainability themes - climate change, waste, biodiversity, inclusion and
healthy living, were structured to provide the framework for delivering what
they defined as “truly sustainable Games”. This strategy for sustainability is
said to have been integrated into the construction, staging and post-Games
phases. LOCOG has also received support and guidance from the United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP) in its efforts to align the Sustainability Plan with
London’s
long-term strategy for a greener city.
Some
of you may be wondering, as I was, what does this Sustainability Plan entail
and what would make the Games this year so “sustainable”?
Something I
found interesting is that it is the first Olympic Games to measure its carbon
footprint over the entire project term. In addition, the Olympic Park was built
on a once-contaminated industrial land, in which over 98% of waste during its
construction phase was recycled with a goal to recycle the same amount in its
demolition phase. This move, along with using food waste at the Games for
compost, will be implemented through its strategic Zero Waste Games Vision with
a “Zero Waste to landfill” target.
Other than
that, Fish and Chips and other seafood dishes will be served with
sustainably-sourced fish. This means that they will come from fishery suppliers
that harvest at a sustainable rate, so as not to deplete the world’s supply of
fish. The organizers are also encouraging visitors to walk, cycle, and use
public transportation to travel around the city, with $15.5 million spent on
upgrading urban walkways and bike paths. An estimated 8,000 bikes are available
for rent around the city through London’s
Barclays Bike Hire program, while BMW is sponsoring about 200 electric vehicles
as fleets and installing charging points around the city.
More
greenery in the location around the Olympic Stadium have been added, while over 3,000 trees were planted in London and more than 15 tons of waste removed
from the city’s parks and waterways. And that’s not even half of it. According
to official sources, there are further planned strategies for sustainability that have been
implemented and are underway.
London 2012 Olympic Park
While
it seems like all is good and green in London town, there are on the other
hand, aspects of the Olympic Games that have caused many to question the true
sustainability “status” of the Games, with active groups from the community
taking to the streets to protest the greenwashing of the Olympics. This has
been due to several factors, including the choice of corporate sponsors of the
Games such as Dow Chemicals, British Petroleum and mining giant Rio Tinto –
large multinational corporations that have held extremely controversial
reputations as a result of their involvement in major issues concerning negative
environmental and social impacts caused by the corporations’ business
activities.
Bhopal Protest Against Dow Sponsorship Source: http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk
In
addition, the development of the Olympic site on a land that used to be
contaminated has been a cause for concern as a hundred tonnes of radioactive
waste was dumped nearby this site decades ago. This means that any development
on the site risks unearthing the radioactive waste. Some experts claimed that
the waste has been moved to a safer site. According to an article by the Guardian,
an independent nuclear analyst, John Large, stated: “The Olympic site's hurried
and unplanned development may have resulted in a great deal of public harm to
the local communities remaining around the site. Overall, there is some doubt
about the applicability and validity of the radiological risk analysis undertaken
for the future legacy use.”
After
evaluating its original report/vision, Towards
a One Planet Olympics, BioRegional and WWF produced a new shorter report
that was published on the eve of the Games - Towards
a One Planet Olympics revisited: How well will the London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games live up to the sustainability promises made in the bid?
This new report seeks to answer questions such as “How far is London 2012
toward delivering a One Planet Olympics?” and “How many of the promises made in
Towards a One Planet Olympics have
been met or appear to be on track?”.
Renewable
energy was one of the key elements in the centre of the plan for how to meet
the energy targets. However, the report states that “The failure to meet the
renewable energy targets set out in the bid is disappointing. Not only did this
leave a significant ‘hole’ in London 2012’s carbon reduction strategy,
partially addressed through ad hoc remediation, it also sent out an unfortunate
signal regarding the difficulties of incorporating renewable solutions in UK
projects.” The report also highlighted the failure to build wind turbines in
the park, which was the main renewable energy use target.
Amidst the
ongoing debates and speculations on the “greenness” of the 2012 Olympics and
whether it is indeed the “most sustainable” Games ever, I am in the opinion
that the London 2012 Olympic Games has at the very least managed to make that
essential step in educating and creating awareness on issues regarding
sustainable development. This event is making efforts to inculcate the culture
of energy-efficient, zero-waste, low-carbon, tree-planting lifestyles and best
practices among the people. At the very best, it could reach most of the
targets set in its Sustainability Plan and succeed in leaving a great legacy of
the London 2012 Olympics. Its vision, “to use the power of the Games to inspire
change”, has indeed the capability to inspire other organizations to put into
practice the lessons reflected and could very well become the benchmark of hosting
future international events. With regard to the list of sponsors, however, I am baffled at the fact that the organizers were willing to overlook the bad track record of what many consider to be some of the most irresponsible corporations with regard to sustainability issues.
Back at Heathrow Airport, the television spectators I
witnessed seemed unflinched and undisturbed by the controversy surrounding the
sustainability themes of this large-scale event. It would seem that the spirit of the Olympics
had overtaken the people and so perhaps many of them were focused on the Games
itself, eagerly watching to follow who (or what country) will win the next gold
medal.
To read the brochure on London 2012 Zero-Waste Events Protocol, click here.
Click below to watch a CNN coverage on the green side of the London 2012 Olympic Park.
