Climate advocate: Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah arriving at the launch of the event. To Her Majesty’s left is Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and partially hidden is Nik Nazmi. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: Climate change and environmental degradation remain the defining challenges of our lifetime, decrees Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah.
Her Majesty said that people 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 have been practised for decades.
“We have now come to realise changes must be made,” Raja Zarith Sofiah said in her decree during the launch of the Johor Green Development Masterplan and the establishment of the Johor Sustainability Centre yesterday.
The event at the Persada International Convention Centre here was held in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Climate Week 2023.
Raja Zarith Sofiah said climate change and environmental degradation pose a risk not only to livelihoods but also to infrastructure, investment and businesses, while affecting those who are 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 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.
Earlier, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the government has set up an advisory panel on climate change, which consists of key ministries, government-linked investment companies, government-linked companies, the private sector, as well as finance institutions and academicians.
He said a consultative panel on climate change was also set up to obtain views and input from NGOs, civil society groups, vulnerable communities and the youth.
“I believe both panels are more pragmatic in their approach to bridging the gap between scientific knowledge, policy decisions and societal needs.
“We must be inclusive and not limit our actions only at the national level.
“Our transformation will present new opportunities, but we must also not leave anyone behind in this journey,” he said.
Nik Nazmi said new climate policies can impact and disrupt our traditional ways of doing business across the economic value chain.
“To be successful, the transformation has to be just and equitable so all can enjoy the benefits.
“Just transition is one of the backbones of the Paris Agreement in its aim to limit global temperature to well below 2°C and also keep the 1.5°C goal alive,” he added.
