Every nation must play role to preserve Mother nature

As we are well aware, natural resources are not infinite. They can hugely be degraded as in some developed countries or even developing  countries or destroyed as in some countries in Africa, the Horn of Africa in particular.

Kuching Waterfont and its clean river safe for boating

Alarming environmental issues around the world today – greenhouse gases, deforestation, pollution, environmental degradation and climate change, just to name a few, have become common.

Over population poses yet another challenge.  It is projected that world  population will increase by 2.6 billion over the next 45 years - from 6.5 billion today to 9.1 billion in 2050.

Even now the huge population is already putting a strain on limited natural resources like in the Indian sub-continent and the Horn of africa. All these problems, which are becoming a common place, demand that the world must re-examine ways on how to conserve the environment.  Every nation must play its role; fingure pointing will not solve them. 

It is often said we are holding this planet in trust for our children and those that they will come after them. Obviously, this is  a very apt way of putting our role to protect and conserve the environment. Hence, it is imperative for every nation to adopt a “cradle to grave” mindset to ensure sustainability of the local resources. Developed nations like America, Australia or those in Scandinavian countries cannot expect the third world countries alone to play bigger roles in environmental protection and conservation.  

Otherwise, all the technology in the world will come to nought if nations  take the environment for granted think and the problem of environmental degradation  is someone else’s problem to solve. 

Arguably, development is often linked to the degradation of the environment. Hence a nation must find a healthier approach to development. Obviously conscientious efforts must be made to foster excellence in the practice of engineering  for the advancement of economic growth while at the same time preserve the fragile environment. Besides, such efforts must also create awareness on the importance of green technology and sustainable engineering practices.

Ironically, Sarawak and for that matter Malaysia, which has often been criticized by foreign NGOs over environmental issues, takes things like recycle, solar energy, renewable energy, green technology, sustainability, environmental protection, clean energy, and so forth very seriously.

For example, Sarawak has been and will continue to take the sustainability approach very seriously to its development. In fact, sustainability is the key focus in the implementation of any development plans.

The Brundtland report and World commission on environment and development (1987) defines “sustainable development” as supplying “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

In Sarawak, this has been translated into controlled land clearing with closely monitored preservation and sustainable forest policies.  Over the years, the practice has brought about positive outcomes, for the development of our rural communities.

Chief Minister, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud in his key-note speech at Asean Australian Engineering Congress 2011 says the  the word “sustainability” has a very special meaning to him.  Many years ago the state government implemented “sustainable development” - as opposed to the old slash and burn method of clearing land - for development. It also dictated the development of the state’s policies on permanent forest.

City Fan Miri

He says by next year, 95% of rural households will be able to have electricity with the special allocation from the federal government; now 60% of them enjoy the facilities.  Besides, more Penans, who are living a nomadic lifestyle out of their own choice, will also be persuaded to lead a more settled life. They will be provided with land, housing, power, clean water, education and health services if they decide to lead a more settled lifestyle. Now their average life expectancy leading nomadic lifestyle is 39.   At the same time more re-settled communities will be given individual titles to acreage, plus roaming entitlements in communal forests.

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib says Sarawak is geared to practice the international Equatorial principles in the overall efforts to resettle people, who are or who will be affected by the construction of hydro dams. More recently, the state government earmarked “green” projects such as those in Sarawak Corridor Of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

SCORE is a major initiative to develop the central region of the state and transform Sarawak into a developed state by 2020 and to ensure sustainable development all the way beyond. 

SCORE sets the benchmark of Sarawak’s main thrust in clean energy. Solar, wind and water will be relied upon to produce energy for the state’s future economic policies and programs rather than dependence on fossil fuels which are both finite and damaging to the environment.

The clean energy created from these sources will be utilized by various downstream industrial and business activities in Sarawak’s central region and neighboring areas.

Miri Esplanade

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib says another example of Sarawak’s eco-friendly project is the on-going Kuching Wastewater Management System. Although Kuching has been declared a healthy city by the world health organisation, its rivers and waterways have deteriorated due to the discharge of untreated or partially treated wastewater.

Currently, blackwater from toilets is only partially treated in conventional septic tanks while greywater from bathrooms, kitchens and washing areas is discharged without treatment.

Under the new system, wastewater will be collected and transported to a treatment plant where it will be treated according to the department of environment's standard for effluent discharge.

The population of Kuching division is now about 682,000 people. It will become more densely populated in the future. One of the state’s  biggest challenges is to provide good clean water. Hence, the state government has to develop the centralised sewerage system, though it has to incur huge expenditure.  Even the first phase is expected to cost the government with grant from the federal government rm1.5 billion.

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of Swinburne Sarawak, considers the congress with the theme “engineering for sustainability as timely and and very important.

benuasains

 *Photos Source:

 google.com.my