Earth Matters

Back in November 2022, the 19th Conference of the Parties (CoP19) to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) took place in Panama, to discuss the future of the international trade in endangered species. At the meeting, Malaysia lobbied for two proposals to respectively upgrade and add protection for two songbird species - the straw-headed bulbul and the white-rumped shama - in the wild. In a huge win for Malaysia, both were accepted unanimously, and will help against the smuggling of the two species into other countries in the region, where there are thriving songbird industries. What follow-up needs to happen now since the proposals have been accepted, in terms of supporting national laws, monitoring and regulation? We speak to Kanitha Krishnasamy, the Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, to discuss.

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One million species are currently at risk of extinction. Back in 2011, almost 200 countries agreed to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, a set of 20 targets intended to protect nature, save biodiversity and enhance its benefits for people. All 20 targets were missed. In late December 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was finally signed, a landmark agreement which consists of four key goals and a set of 23 targets, intended to address biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems and protect indigenous rights. Will this truly act as "a framework for all life on earth?" We discuss the highs and lows of the outcomes from the biodiversity talks at COP15 with Theiva Lingam, a public interest lawyer and environmental activist, and the legal advisor for Sahabat Alam Malaysia.

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A landmark deal was reached after two weeks of talks in Montreal at the COP15 UN biodiversity summit, where nations from across the world agreed to a new set of goals and targets to “halt and reverse” biodiversity loss by 2030. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework includes something we've been discussing often - the “30×30” target, to conserve 30% of the world’s land and 30% of the ocean by 2030. What does this all mean? We dissect what went down at the talks with Julian Hyde (General Manager, Reef Check Malaysia), and Jasmin Mohd Saad (Policy Consultant, Reef Check Malaysia) in the final episode of our monthly series Biodiversity for Malaysia, which aimed to get everyone on the same page when it comes to all things biodiversity-related, especially on issues surrounding the Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 framework process, the 30X30 target, and more.

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In our last Earth Matters show for 2022, we catch up with Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the co-founders of environmental journalism portal Macaranga, who share some of the big stories that they covered throughout the year, on macaranga.org. We cover five main topics including food security and climate change, the impacts of African swine fever in Malaysia, calls to modernise Penang’s pig farming business, the need for coral restoration (and coral awareness in general), and also the strange beast that is forest plantations in Peninsular Malaysia.

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Indah Water Konsortium, Malaysia's national sewerage company has been entrusted with the tasks of developing and maintaining a modern and efficient sewerage system for all Malaysians. Providing crucial services to millions of households in the country, Indah Water is determined to keep building a sustainable business that contributes towards a cleaner, greener and healthier environment. How are they doing that? We speak to Narendran Maniam, the CEO of Indah Water Konsortium, to discuss the company's plans, especially how they are venturing into non-core business initiatives to support not just business growth, but the circular economy.

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We have a new rebranded Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, led by YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. What are among the issues that he should prioritise? We speak to two Earth Matters regulars, about what they hope the ministry will focus on, as we collectively tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. First we hear from Andrew Sebastian, the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the Ecotourism & Conservation Society Malaysia (ECOMY), and in Part 2, we speak to Ili Nadiah Dzulfakar, the Chairperson of Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY) , and member of Gabungan Darurat Iklim Malaysia (GDIMY).

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The rebranded Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change will be at the forefront to address Malaysia's environmental issues, and the ministry combines natural resources, pollution control, climate change, and the water sector all under one roof. Described as a move towards more holistic environmental governance, the ministry will be led by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. On the show, we speak to Celine Lim from Sarawak's Save Rivers, about what she feels the new ministry must focus on, when it comes to our natural environment in Sarawak.

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Describing the work he does as “literally anything under the sun for sustainability," Abdul Razak Abdul Aziz, the founder of Social Eco Enterprise Development for Sustainability or SEEDS Malaysia, likes to get involved any way he can, working towards promoting a more ecologically-friendly lifestyle for us all. Together with his wife Intan and their family, they have been running a natural farming and sustainable living centre in Klang since 2017, and Razak believes that when it comes to farming, "it’s all about the soil - brown, living soil.” It was World Soil Day on the 5th of December, and we catch up with Razak about his work in permaculture, sustainable living and discuss ways we can all become “soil-mates” towards a greener future.

Image Credit: Facebook/SEEDS Malaysia

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In our penultimate roundup for 2022, we catch-up with the co-founders of environmental journalism portal Macaranga, Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, to discuss top environmental news from November 2022. Most Malaysians were focussed on GE15 this month, and the intense campaigning around it. But were conversations on prioritising the environment and the climate crisis also part of those discussions, from both the competing candidates, and civil society? November also brings monsoon rains to the country - have we learned lessons on how to cope with increased incidences of flooding, which seem to be getting more intense? Finally we turn our attention to the 19th Conference of the Parties to CITES which was held in Panama this month, and discuss the highlights from negotiations on the most important issues facing the trade in endangered species of animals and plants.

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The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – COP27 – was meant to build on the outcomes of COP26 to deliver action on an array of issues critical to tackling the climate emergency. Were these critical issues - urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience, adapting to the impacts of climate change, delivering on the commitments to finance climate action in developing countries - met? We catch up with Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Head of Programmes at the Third World Network to discuss key outcomes, or lack thereof, from this set of negotiations.

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