CT NOW TO REDUCE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE - SPEAKER

KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 (Bernama) -- House of Representatives Speaker Pandikar
Amin Mulia on Tuesday called for a more integrated approach in implementing
development programmes in the country to reduce the risk of disasters.

He said coordination between ministries and its agencies, non-governmental
oganisations and the community must be strengthened to mitigate climate change.

He also stressed that the cost of taking action to reduce greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions now was much smaller than the cost of economic and social
disruption from unmitigated climate change.

Delivering his keynote address at the Asia Pacific Parliamentarians’
Conference on Environment and Development‘s (APPCED) 15th general assembly here,
he said adaption strategists in Malaysia also must prepare the nation for this
phenomenon.

The two-day conference themed “Climate Change and Tourism” is being attended
93 delegates from 21 Asia Pacific countries, the highest number of attendees to
date.


“Adaption is a long-term project that must be anticipated and carefully
prepared beforehand. It is not easy.

“It evolves, all at the same time, modifying economic circuits, introducing
new technologies, carrying out intensive training, investing in the creation of
new products, changing the mindset of public authorities, entrepreneurs, host
communities and tourists,” he said.

He added that these programmes would have to be implemented on a sectoral
basis.

On the tourism sector, Pandikar said it was now the time for all the
stakeholders to formulate strategies to address challenges to the sustainability
of the industry’s future.

“All tourism businesses and destinations will need to adapt to climate
change, in order to minimise associated risks and capitalize on new
opportunities, in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable
manner,” he added.


He also pointed out that one of the most serious effects of climate change
in Malaysia was coral bleaching, due to stress response caused by high water
temperatures that led to coral death, while the hawksbill and green turtles
were also badly affected by climate change.

“The Turtle Islands Park in Sabah, an important nesting site for green and
hawksbill turtles, is facing serious erosion,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters later, APPCED secretary-general Dr Marcus
Mojigoh said the conference will come out with a declaration at the end of the
conference Wednesday.

“We hope to come up with more concerted voices on recommendations on how we
can address the issues of climate change and its effects,” he said.

He said the report would be presented to United Nations’ Secretary-General
at the UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change in Switzerland next year.


This is the first time Malaysia hosted the APPCED, which among other aims
to promote awareness and understanding of issues affecting the environment and
development among parliamentarians of the Asia Pacific region and enhance
cooperation between developed and developing countries in the field of
environment and development.

It also hopes to draw adequate attention to the protection of the
environment and the ecology so as to maintain long-term sustainability of the
country's development and to undertake pertinent environment researches.

APPCED was founded in June 1993 by the Korean Parliamentary League on
Children, Population and Environment (CEP) following the Rio Earth Summit in
1992.

The purpose of the inception was to organise meetings among member countries
to seek joint measures against environmental concerns in the region.

Currently it has a membership of 46 countries.