Green technology: 'Cancel raw water transfer project'
JC TansenPublished: May 18, 2009 8:38 AM | Updated: May 18, 2009 8:39 AM
I am pleased to note the prime minister's newly-named Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water where the term ‘green technology' makes an appearance.
This is significant given the vast environmental blight the country has suffered over many decades in the name of national development.
Far too many of our magnificent forests have been converted to plantations as far as the eye can see, or stripped by logging, or inundated to supply ‘dirty' water or energy, sending thousand of our unique species of plants and animals to the brink of extinction.
Little wonder then that in its 2008 report, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), placed Malaysia on ‘Red Alert' with the third longest list of endangered plants and animals in the world.
It is time for Malaysia to pursue the potential of green technology and pivot to a green economy.
Preserving our forests opens our treasury of bio-diversity for R&D in biotechnology and pharmacology. Our forests also offer unlimited scope for content creation (visual and print media) to trigger diverse economic activities. There is growing academic and cultural interest worldwide in our unique plants and animals.
To secure her water needs, Malaysia should begin to form expertise in water resources management, water demand management and in alternative sources of water such as rainwater harvesting, storm-water recycling and wastewater recycling.
Cancelling the multi-billion ringgit Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project that is also very costly to the environment would be consistent with a green technology direction.
Hydroelectric energy that is generated from large dam projects is not a ‘clean' source of renewable energy although generating energy from thousands of mini-dams could well be.
If a high latitude country like Germany can meet a significant portion of its energy needs from solar energy, our sunlight should offer us greater opportunities.
An entire economic sector can be created in the ecologically sound management of solid wastes beginning with reduction, reusing and substitution and, as a last resort, recycling. The goal should be to eliminate all land filling.
All of these would create many thousands of green collar jobs in a vibrant and prosperous green economy. For the best model of how a green economy can thrive, one has to look no farther than Mother Nature herself.
No doubt the new prime minister intends to unleash the power of green technology to make Malaysia one with nature. I wish him the support of every Malaysian.
This is significant given the vast environmental blight the country has suffered over many decades in the name of national development.
Far too many of our magnificent forests have been converted to plantations as far as the eye can see, or stripped by logging, or inundated to supply ‘dirty' water or energy, sending thousand of our unique species of plants and animals to the brink of extinction.
Little wonder then that in its 2008 report, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), placed Malaysia on ‘Red Alert' with the third longest list of endangered plants and animals in the world.
It is time for Malaysia to pursue the potential of green technology and pivot to a green economy.
Preserving our forests opens our treasury of bio-diversity for R&D in biotechnology and pharmacology. Our forests also offer unlimited scope for content creation (visual and print media) to trigger diverse economic activities. There is growing academic and cultural interest worldwide in our unique plants and animals.
To secure her water needs, Malaysia should begin to form expertise in water resources management, water demand management and in alternative sources of water such as rainwater harvesting, storm-water recycling and wastewater recycling.
Cancelling the multi-billion ringgit Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project that is also very costly to the environment would be consistent with a green technology direction.
Hydroelectric energy that is generated from large dam projects is not a ‘clean' source of renewable energy although generating energy from thousands of mini-dams could well be.
If a high latitude country like Germany can meet a significant portion of its energy needs from solar energy, our sunlight should offer us greater opportunities.
An entire economic sector can be created in the ecologically sound management of solid wastes beginning with reduction, reusing and substitution and, as a last resort, recycling. The goal should be to eliminate all land filling.
All of these would create many thousands of green collar jobs in a vibrant and prosperous green economy. For the best model of how a green economy can thrive, one has to look no farther than Mother Nature herself.
No doubt the new prime minister intends to unleash the power of green technology to make Malaysia one with nature. I wish him the support of every Malaysian.
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