Include environment conservation in manifesto

WE would like to remind the leaders of every political party in this country to include environmental conservation in their election manifestos for the 14th General Election.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by 193 countries including Malaysia in September 2015 at the United Nations Summit encompass environmental, social and economic dimensions.

These are now considered as universal goals for development and indicators of a country’s wellbeing.

We believe that environmental conservation deserves greater emphasis in your aspirations for our country. Sustainable development should be a goal that ensures a win-win situation in the environmental, social and economic dimensions.

By telling voters of your aspirations and plans for sustainable development in Malaysia, you will allow them to make informed decisions about their candidates.

Please recognise the environmental aspirations of the citizens of Malaysia, especially the youth, by including these concerns in your party manifesto and also ensuring that they are given top priority to ensure sustainable development for current and future generations. Also, please inform voters how you will work towards realising these aspirations in the first 100 days of successfully forming the next government.

Malaysia is recognised as one of the top 12 countries in the world for mega-biodiversity. Blessed with tropical rainforests, mangroves, peatland and montane forests, Malaysia is ranked fourth in the world for having the most tree species.

Our surrounding seas are important parts of the Coral Triangle, which contains more than 75% of the world’s known coral species. Our biodiversity is certainly one of the reasons why many tourists come to Malaysia.

As we all know, humans cannot survive without nature. While development is meant to improve our standard of living and grow our economy, unsustainable development will inadvertently destroy the very element that provides the services we take for granted such as our clean air, fresh water, food and protection against extreme weather. In the end, we would be left worse than expected.

But this need not be the case. We must aim to achieve development in a sustainable way to balance our aspirations for econom- ic growth without compromising our natural capital (environmental assets, social systems, cultural resources). Only then can we ensure higher standards of living for our current and future generations.

In the absence of sustainable development and without proper protection of nature, the risks of flash flood, air pollution, landslides, shortage of clean water resources and expanding urban heat islands will increase.

We have already seen instances of this happening and the frequency and intensity will only get worse due to the pressures of increasing population and changing climate.

The forests, wetlands and oceans play vital roles in providing food, nutrients and recreational space for humans, regulating the climate and buffering against extreme weather.

We are putting forth this appeal in a neutral and non-partisan manner on behalf of our supporters – your constituents.

They expect us to engage with the political system to advocate sustainable development and to urge political leaders to make this a priority above party politics.

Announce to the voters your aspirations and plans for sustainable development in Malaysia and allow them to make informed decisions with their votes.

BIJI-BIJI INITIATIVE CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (CSO-SDG) ALLIANCE ECOCENTRIC TRANSITIONS ECOKNIGHTS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SOCIETY MALAYSIA FRIENDS OF SARAWAK MUSEUM HUNGER HURTS MALAYSIA LAND EMPOWERMENT ANIMALS PEOPLE (LEAP) SPIRAL MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY #POWERSHIFTMSIA REEF CHECK MALAYSIA SABAH WOMEN’S ACTION RESOURCE GROUP SABAH ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST SABAH WETLANDS CONSERVATION SOCIETY SARAWAK ECO-WARRIORS SARAWAK SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS TREAT EVERY ENVIRONMENT SPECIAL (TREES) WETLANDS INTERNATIONAL MALAYSIA WWF-MALAYSIA