Urban Youths Should Be Agents Of Change In Tackling Climate Change - Dr Zaliha

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Urban youths should lead the way in tackling climate change through proactive action rather than just understanding its impact, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

She said young people played an important role as agents of change who could bring about a significant impact on future sustainability.

“Every action you take, no matter how small, can have a greater impact than we expect. Don’t waste this opportunity,” she said at the launch of the Federal Territories-level 2025 Climate Change and Green Energy Leadership Project (IKLIM) here today.

Also present were Federal Territories Department deputy director-general (Management and Socio-Economics) Datuk Parang Abai @ Thomas and Federal Territories Department of Environment director Zuraini Ahmad Tajuddin.

Dr Zaliha said programmes like IKLIM were not just about raising awareness but also demonstrated that youths could lead change.

She also cited a study published in the Earth System Science Data journal last month, which projected that if global carbon dioxide emissions remained at 46 gigatonnes per year, the remaining global carbon budget would be just 143 gigatonnes.

“If this trend continues, the carbon budget (for limiting global warming) is expected to be exhausted as early as 2028. When that happens, it will be almost impossible to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius,” she said.

According to her, Kuala Lumpur, as the federal capital, faced its own set of challenges due to its population of over two million and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of nearly RM270 billion recorded last year.

“Every year, Kuala Lumpur produces up to 9.3 tonnes of carbon per capita. This indicates that the faster the economic activity and urban development, the greater the pressure on the climate and environmental balance,” she said.

However, Dr Zaliha said efforts to reduce the city’s carbon footprint were making positive progress through the Low Carbon Society Blueprint 2030 and the Kuala Lumpur Climate Action Plan 2050.

“Alhamdulillah, Kuala Lumpur has succeeded in reducing its carbon intensity from 30 grammes of carbon dioxide per ringgit of GDP in 2010 to nearly seven grammes in 2024.

“A reduction of over 75 per cent in 14 years is a remarkable achievement, but we cannot afford to be complacent,” she said.

--BERNAMA