JOHOR BARU: Climate change and environmental degradation remain the defining challenges of our lifetime, decrees Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah.
Her Majesty added that we are living in a time when the geopolitical landscape is shifting, and there are crises in many parts of the world.
“These crises have exposed the fragility of the systems that have been put in place and which have been practised for decades.
"We have now come to realise changes must be made,” Raja Zarith said in her decree during the launch of the Johor Green Development Masterplan and the establishment of the Johor Sustainability Centre on Monday (Nov 13).
The event is in conjunction with Asia Pacific Climate Week 2023 and took place at the Persada International Convention Centre here.
Raja Zarith said climate change and environmental degradation posed a risk not only to livelihoods but also to infrastructure, investment and businesses while affecting those who were already the most vulnerable.
Her Majesty added that plans to address climate change must always consider these groups.
“The most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) again emphasises the disastrous implications of global warming.
“Worse is yet to come unless real progress is made within an ever-narrowing window for action,” she said.