Climate Change

What is Climate Change?

Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns. Since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. Burning of fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which trap the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

Check out the video to understand more about climate change.

What are the Impacts?

Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes at the end of winter is breaking up earlier, plants and animal ranges have shifted. Effects that had been predicted by scientists in the past are now occurring: accelerated sea level rise, intense heat waves, droughts, flooding, wildfires and tropical storms. If we continue along our current path, scientists say that the consequences will be devastating for many, having implications on where we live, how we grow food and provide other services vital to our existence.

COP26 Highlights

The most emphasised and publicly recognised landmarks when it comes to climate action were the Kyoto Protocol 1997 and the Paris Agreement signed at the COP21 in 2015 – where 197 countries pledged to set respective targets to combat climate change by keeping the global temperature rise well below 2°C within this century. This is the most widely observed goal that organisations use to set mitigation strategies.

Fast forward six years to the just concluded COP26 and some of the key highlights:

110 nations signed a joint pledge promising to end deforestation by 2030.
More than 80 countries, led by the US and EU, pledged to cut methane emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030.
Around 20 major countries pledged to stop funding overseas fossil fuel projects including oil, gas, and coal by the end of 2022.

The U.S and China signed a pledge to work together on climate goals, however, both refused to sign a statement pledging to eventually phase out coal.

Just a month before COP26, Malaysia announced a commitment in the 12th Malaysia Plan to go carbon neutral by 2050 in line with the aspiration to become a low-carbon country. Along with the target, Malaysia is introducing two policy measures to halt the construction of new coal-fired power plants and to establishing a carbon-trading scheme on an international level.

That means greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would need to be dramatically slashed. Transport, energy infrastructure, waste, new construction and existing architecture will all need to take significant steps to achieve carbon neutrality.

How You Can Contribute

We are all responsible as individuals to change our habits and live in a way which is more sustainable, and where our impacts are minimal. Individual actions might seem insignificant, but must not discount the domino effect those actions could have. Try practising the following to make your life more sustainable:

Make your home more energy efficient

Change to energy efficient LED bulb; Unplug electrical appliances when you are not using them; Look for Energy Star labels when buying new appliances.

Drive less when possible

Not only does using a private vehicle add significantly to congestion on the roads, it also results in carbon emissions. Carpool or take public transport, and if you don’t have to go far, try walking or riding a bicycle.

Cut consumption and waste

Everything we use as consumers has a carbon footprint. Avoid single-use products and fast fashion; Shop for second-hand items and give unwanted items a new life by donating them to charity or selling them on.

Reduce food waste and eat less meat

Avoiding meat and dairy products is one of the biggest ways to reduce your footprint. Many studies suggest that a high-fibre, plant-based diet is also better for your health – so it can be a win-win scenario.