The next national agenda, the 13th Malaysia Plan, must mainstream environmental considerations into every aspect of governance. — Needpix
IN a Aug 28, 2024, article in The Guardian newspaper, British journalist and environmental campaigner George Monbiot made a compelling plea to his government: Nationalise climate crisis efforts and make systemic changes that match the scale of the emergency the planet faces.
Monbiot argues that the urgency of the climate crisis demands more than just policy adjustments or gradual improvements; it requires a fundamental shift in governance, where the state takes full responsibility for leading the charge against environmental destruction. He calls for an unprecedented level of state intervention, where the government not only sets the rules but also actively participates in and drives the transformation needed to safeguard the planet.
Monbiot’s message is a clarion call for governments worldwide, including ours, to take bold and decisive action.
There is no doubt now that the climate crisis is a global issue, and every nation must step up to do its part. While I am proud of the progress that we have made, and the leadership Malaysia is showing, our current frameworks, like Malaysia Madani and the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025) are no match for the challenges thrown up by climate change.
Along with our neighbours in Asean – and as Malaysia prepares to take the helm of the bloc in 2025 – the urgency of our government taking the initiative, going beyond mere persuasion, and embracing the kind of systemic change that Monbiot advocates, has never been more pressing.
Malaysia Madani, while noble in its aspiration to create a compassionate and fair society, could more centrally engage with the need for environmental stewardship.
It speaks of moral values and social justice – laudable and important areas of discourse as we attempt to rekindle trust in our political institutions – but this discourse needs to translate talk of morals and justice into concrete actions that protect our natural environment.
Similarly, the 12th Malaysia Plan recognises the importance of sustainability but, as we start to prepare the 13th Malaysia Plan our technocrats need to be guided by the absolute imperative of integrating – or better still, mainstreaming – environmental considerations into every aspect of governance.
Monbiot’s argument is that the scale of the climate crisis requires an entirely new approach, one where the government not only leads by example but also takes direct control of key sectors to ensure that environmental goals are met. The time for incremental change has passed; we must now embrace a strategy that places planetary health at the heart of our national agenda.
And here I want to share with you the excellent work that is being done by our Malaysian Academy of Sciences in leading the development of the Malaysia National Planetary Health Action Plan.
This important document is close to finalisation and can form the basis for much of the discussions around what the 13th Malaysia Plan can offer. It provides a roadmap for the kind of systemic change Monbiot envisions.
This plan is not another policy document – it is a comprehensive strategy that recognises the interconnectedness of human health and the health of our planet. It calls for a whole-of-government approach, where environmental considerations are integrated into every facet of policymaking, from economic development to education to public health. And it is underpinned by a solid communications and behaviour change strategy.
But the success of this plan in making a difference hinges on the government’s willingness to commit to its implementation. This means going beyond setting targets and goals; it requires the government to take an active role in driving the shifts the plan calls for.
For example, Malaysia can take far more decisive action to protect its forests and biodiversity, not just through legislation but by directly managing and enforcing conservation efforts. Farming out this work to NGOs and only reacting when pressure groups blow the whistle on corruption and illegal logging is a dereliction of responsibility.
The government must also lead the transition to a green economy by regulating investment so that it is driven towards renewable energy and sustainable industries, creating jobs that are aligned with our environmental objectives.
This approach is not about taking away the rights or responsibilities of individuals and businesses; rather, it is about ensuring that the government provides the leadership and resources needed to drive meaningful change. The challenges we face are too great for any one sector or individual to tackle alone. By nationalising our efforts – by making environmental stewardship a core function of government – we can ensure that Malaysia is on the path to a sustainable future.
And so to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, Mentris Besar across all of the states, and senior officials: the time to exercise political courage is upon us.
Monbiot’s points may well be written for a country on the other side of the world, but we all live on the same planet and we all need to play our part. The 13th Malaysia Plan, supported and informed by the National Planetary Health Action Plan, can be our blueprint for this transformation, but it will require your full commitment.
We need to bring the full weight of federal and state governments to bear on this issue, and lead the way in planetary health.
This cannot be simply another policy initiative. We need a fundamental shift in how we govern, how we are governed, and how we live – a transition at breakneck speed which we can either embrace or be damaged by. The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time. How we rise to the challenges it presents is our choice.
Dr Jemilah Mahmood, a physician and experienced crisis leader, is the executive director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health at Sunway University. She is the founder of Mercy Malaysia and has served in leadership roles internationally with the United Nations and Red Cross for the last decade. She writes on Planetary Health Matters once a month in Ecowatch. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.
