I DON’T know about everyone else but I feel the current weather we are experiencing is not normal.
The rapid changes in weather patterns, extreme heat and heavy rainfall in Malaysia may not be too distressing for most, although we complain about it when flash floods occur and traffic is disrupted.
However, it’s much more alarming elsewhere as sea levels rise, and most recently, when a ski resort near Mont Blanc had to close permanently “because there’s not enough snow”, a news article highlighted.
Whether we choose to accept it or not, we cannot deny that climate change is real. As we are the cause of it, we need to make things right.
On his recent visit here, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus shared his vision of an ideal world.
When he said, “Our house is burning”, I was reminded of Greta Thunberg and her message at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, several years ago.
There, she called upon businesses and world leaders to combat the threat of climate change while stressing that “our house is still on fire”.
Prof Yunus and Thunberg were not the only ones to have sounded the alarm bells. Many scientists, world leaders, as well as activists, have highlighted the pressing need to combat climate change, yet many do not feel the urgency to act.
Perhaps they feel detached because they do not experience the effects as much as others owing to their geographical locations. Maybe society has been desensitised due to information overload about climate change. It could also be that many are struggling with concerns about their livelihoods, health and basic needs, rendering them unable to engage with issues like climate change.
This leads me to ruminate on another point by Prof Yunus on the consumption of goods.
Hyperconsumerism Prof Yunus spoke about hyperconsumerism, arguing that our consumption habits are motivating the unfettered growth pursuit.
Such relentless pursuit of material possessions, coupled with a culture which encourages people to buy and consume more than they actually need, is causing significant harm to the environment and other species.
We know consumerism is what drives the world’s economy. We know too that it leads to the depletion of natural resources, deforestation, habitat destruction and pollution.
The production, transportation and disposal of consumer goods require significant amounts of energy, often generated from fossil fuels, which contribute to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Hyperconsumerism plays a part in exacerbating income inequality, as it often places an emphasis on conspicuous consumption and luxury goods. This creates a sense of social pressure to “keep up with the Joneses”, which leads to financial stress.
To mitigate the exacerbation of income inequality driven by hyperconsumerism, we need to implement policies and practices which promote more equitable income distribution, such as progressive taxation, labour protections and social safety nets to help reduce people’s vulnerability to its negative effects.
Hence, we need to educate people, especially our young, on financial literacy and responsible consumption habits.
Foster critical thinking
On the subject of education, a question was posed to Prof Yunus: “How do you define quality education?”
To this, he replied, “Let us think, discuss and debate”.
He did not narrow it down to a particular subject or discipline. He argued that while minds need to be sharpened, students must be allowed to explore and ask questions. As an educationist, I resonate strongly with this.
We must encourage our youths to be curious, to ask questions, to seek knowledge and to explore topics if we are to foster critical thinking.
This also teaches them to analyse information and consider different perspectives so that they learn to make informed decisions and are prepared for real-world challenges.
In the real world, there are rarely straightforward answers to complex problems.
We must nurture students to be interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary even, so that they will be able to address global challenges such as sustainability, public health and poverty, working in partnership and collaboration for greater stretch and impact.
Lack of education and awareness about climate change is significant as people who are not informed about world issues may not fully understand its importance or the potential consequences.
The private sectorStressing the crucial role the private sector can play in this grand vision, Prof Yunus pointed to the importance of social business and entrepreneurial innovation as instruments of economic and environmental sustainability. With the adoption of ethical business practices, the embracing of green technology, and a focus on inclusive growth, private sector entities can help alleviate the effects of climate change, disrupt the concentration of wealth for better equity, and create sustainable employment opportunities.
His words serve as a powerful reminder to all in the private sector that we are key stakeholders who can be catalysts in this global endeavour towards an ideal world.
While we still have a long way to go towards achieving the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, I’m proud to have witnessed sustainability efforts across all that we do, with my organisation being part of a conglomerate.
Humankind, said Prof Yunus, has an innate tendency towards entrepreneurship. We are remarkable at adapting to changing circumstances, which often lead to the identification of new opportunities and the development of innovative solutions to meet various needs.
Entrepreneurship is, in many ways, a response to changing environments. A good example was the Covid-19 pandemic, which was challenging at first but proved to be a new avenue for growth and innovation.Indeed, the vision of an ideal world is simple. We need to change our direction, and shift our societal values and behaviours. The question is, are we ready to change? We certainly are capable!
Prof Datuk Dr Elizabeth Lee is the chief executive officer of Sunway Education Group. A veteran in the field of private higher education, Prof Lee is also an advocate for women in leadership. She has been recognised both locally and internationally for her contributions to the field of education. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
