WWF-Malaysia applauds City Hall’s styrofoam ban

KOTA KINABALU: WWF-Malaysia congratulates the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) on its pledge to stop using Styrofoam for future official functions, as announced by Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir during the recent Earth Hour press conference.

“Earth Hour is not just about turning the lights off for an hour annually. The Earth Hour global environmental movement was initiated by WWF to inspire solutions and actions beyond the hour to stop climate change - alteration of the climate patterns in terms of temperature and rainfall largely caused by human activities. This is the meaning behind the 60+ logo for Earth Hour,” says Bernard Tai, WWF-Malaysia’s Head of Conservation for Sabah.

While WWF-Malaysia undertakes biodiversity conservation projects to build resilience of the ecosystems, governments and businesses are urged to complement by moving t owards more sustainable practices and the public by adopting less carbon intensive lifestyles.

Abidin announced on Tuesday that City Hall will no longer allow styrofoam containers to be used to serve food and drinks at its official events.

He said that doing away with styrofoam containers at its official events is its pledge to WWF which initiated the event.

In line with this year’s global theme “Use Your Power: Change Climate Change”, WWF-Malaysia encourages DBKK to further exercise its leadership role to make Kota Kinabalu a truly green and sustainable city.

“As the leading growth centre of population, with high consumption, resource use and waste, Kota Kinabalu is in the position to strongly lead on environmental solutions. We hope its efforts will be emulated by other government agencies and businesses,” Tai continues.

Styrofoam, while a popular f oodpackaging item, has been widely proven to be hazardous to the environment and health. Therefore, it is very timely to consider switching to eco-friendly packaging instead. Another commendable initiative of DBKK is the creation of more bicycle lanes in the city. Cycling-inclusive urban planning will make cycling more attractive and practical.

More than 55% of the population in Sabah now live in urban areas. Choices that DBKK makes in terms of energy, transport or building standards affect the people of Kota Kinabalu, t hus determining their ecological footprints as well as determining the city’s contribution to climate change.

In this context, more investment is desirable to expand and connect green spaces in Kota Kinabalu as well as to make these areas accessible to the public.

The existing natural areas such as Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre and natural beaches in Tanjung Aru area should be preserved at all cost.