PUTRAJAYA: Greening the economy through use of renewable fuels and fuel-efficient technologies will not only preserve the environment but generate new economic activity, the prime minister said in conjunction with World Environment Day yesterday.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called for private sector and government cooperation in these areas as part of initiatives to take environmental conservation programmes a step further.
“We need to create a new culture and lifestyle that is based on responsibility towards the environment and sustainable use of resources.
“In this new culture, efforts should not be limited to tree-planting and the other usual programmes. We should have new initiatives using technology.
“The private sector and relevant government agencies should focus their attention on developing fuel-efficient technologies, and the use of renewable energy like solar, wind and waves.
“While these industries green the economy, they can also create new business and job opportunities,” Abdullah said at the Langkawi Award 2007 and Sustainable Cities Awards 2006/2007 ceremony yesterday.
He also said more Malaysians were now aware of how greenhouse gases contributed to global warming.
“There’s greater awareness of this now, driven by the higher price of oil. This should cause us to change the way we view fuels and take steps to become low-carbon users in the overall economy and also from an individual and household standpoint.”
The theme of World Environment Day this year is: “Kick the CO2 Habit! Towards a Low-Carbon Economy”.
Abdullah’s speech was read by his wife, Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne Abdullah, who also presented the awards to the winner on his behalf.
Also present was Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas.
The Langkawi Award, which honours a Malaysian every year for his or her contribution to the environment, was given to Datuk Dr Mohammed Anwar Fazal Mohammed.
He founded several consumer and environmentalist organisations, such as the Consumers Association of Penang, Health Action International, Pesticide Action Network, Water Watch Action and Sustainable Transport Action Network.
He has also helmed regional and international consumer and conservation bodies, and worked with the United Nations Development Programme.
The Sustainable Cities Awards were given to North Kuching City Hall, Subang Jaya Municipal Council, and the Pekan District Council.
source : http://news.google.com.my/nwshp?