The individual, the state and sustainability

THE Penjana (Pelan Jana Semula Ekonomi Negara or Plan to Rebuild the Nation’s Economy) short-term recovery plan offers much-needed relief to many Malaysians and has worthy goals in mind. But it seems to have wasted an opportunity to follow along the lines of a “Green New Deal”.

Any effective climate action that also addresses issues of inequality and economic needs requires some kind of systemic state support. The basic outlines of such a plan have been proposed in the United States, with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey having led the way. In an ideal world, we would adapt this as a blueprint for economic and environmental reconstruction. In reality, this is yet to happen.

A recent conversation I had focused on the difficulty of communicating the importance of environmental issues to the relevant ministries and bureaucrats – they can seemingly only understand things from a short-term economic standpoint (even though various studies have concluded that fighting climate change is economically logical). My frustration largely lies in how we can actually implement policies comprehensively at a federal and state level, rather than the ad hoc, piecemeal improvements that we have slowly been seeing.

Large challenges require radical change, but these also require political will. The question, then, is how to generate it in the first place, in light of the fact that debate about the degazetted forest reserves in Terengganu and Ulu Muda, Kedah, is in the news. How exactly can public opinion create actual concrete change? I wish I knew what the answer was.

In the meantime, personal commitments are required from Malaysians, or at least those who are privileged enough to make changes. The middle-class, for example, with its social capital and with greater degrees of freedom, can be a dynamic agent for change, but it’s held captive by neoliberal ideals, consumer culture and political apathy. The idea is that we should maximise, capitalise and be able to take convenience for granted. What we need is to shift this sort of mindset – luxurious property, social status, cars and material wealth are largely delusions. And ideas such as self-care, wellness and Marie Kondo’s entire philosophy are not just prescriptive but also distracting – they don’t address the root of our problems, while also neglecting that these “cures” address problems of the privileged classes.

For those who can, there’s the matter of committing to making actual changes on an individual level. There is a long list of what we can do. Take public transit (RM30 monthly passes in the Klang Valley under the Penjana plan!). Stop using plastic bags and use your own takeaway containers. Cut out air-conditioning, using the fan is often comfortable enough. Be realistic about “seeing the world” or “finding yourself”. Start composting if you have the space (easy enough once you have the basic guidelines).

This list can go on. But the message is simple. Fighting for sustainability is not just political, it is also personal.