Important to save all our existing mangroves
Published on: Sunday, December 18, 2022
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Dense mangroves in KK wetlands.
The UNFCCC’s 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) ended on Nov 20 whereas the CBD’s COP15 began on Dec 7.
COP27 emphasised the importance of nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches in addressing climate change as well as the need for inclusive participation, such as indigenous peoples, youth and women, making nature and people integral to the solutions needed.
One landmark decision from COP27 is the establishment of a Loss and Damage (L&D) fund, a financial fund to compensate vulnerable countries for loss and damage caused by extreme weather events.
L&D is the third pillar of climate action, joining the other two pillars – mitigation and adaptation – established in 1992 when the UNFCCC was adopted.
But COP27 did not go far enough to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions despite acknowledging that global emissions must be cut by 43pc of 2019 levels by 2030.
Lamenting the lack of mitigation ambition, the UN secretary-general’s closing remarks also called for “ambition to end the suicidal war on nature that is fuelling the climate crisis, driving species to extinction, and destroying ecosystems.”
The convergence of these two existential crises is becoming more apparent. Climate change is an increasingly important factor in biodiversity loss, and deforestation contributes about 20pc of annual global GHG emissions.
Ecosystems like mangroves provide the best defence against the impacts of climate change, like storm surges and coastal erosion.
Nature, therefore, cannot be ignored when discussing both mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
At the CBD COP15, countries hope to come to a new agreement on biodiversity.
The focus will be on setting global targets to stop and reverse the loss of biodiversity by adopting a globally agreed-upon framework called Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework for living in harmony with nature.
Effects of climate change are witnessed in deadly landslides (above), floods (below).
Forest fires
Malaysia, a mega-diverse country vulnerable to climate change, has much at stake in these negotiations.
Our rapid economic development relies heavily on the country’s rich natural resources.
As such, a healthy natural environment and a sustainable economy are essential for safeguarding both wildlife and humans alike.
Extreme weather events in Malaysia causing severe floods, landslides, forest fires and haze are evidence that climate change is already affecting our country.
At the same time, Malaysians are becoming more environmentally aware, as reflected on the pledges to protect and enhance our natural environment by the parties involved in the recent general election (GE15).
WWF-Malaysia would like to highlight how implementing these proposals can deliver multiple objectives that contribute to the important outcomes, which both of the UN conventions seek to achieve in order to protect planetary health and our well-being.
Forests and marine areas, especially mangroves, are home to our incredibly diverse flora and fauna.
As they thrive, so does their ecosystem, which absorbs and stores carbon, reducing its concentration in the atmosphere to mitigate climate change. They also buffer the impacts of climate change, including reducing the risks of landslides and floods.
Given the benefits we stand to reap, WWF-Malaysia urges parties in the unity government to fulfil their election promises regarding the environment.
Development gives connection, economic growth, investments and job opportunities. However, if we do not safeguard nature, biodiversity and people, we will lose it all.
It is clear that global biodiversity and climate crises cannot be solved separately. We either solve both or neither.
Malaysia should harness the abundant benefits that nature provides, and safeguard them for future generations.
Let us invest in nature and develop sustainably to live in harmony with it as we strive to meet our net zero and other climate targets.
WWF-Malaysia
- The views expressed here are the views of the writer's and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express.
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