Environmental issues in Malaysia

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Haze over Kuala Lumpur in 2010. Haze in Kuala Lumpur.jpg
Haze over Kuala Lumpur in 2010.

Malaysia faces several environmental issues. Malaysia's environment possesses megadiverse biological diversity, with globally significant endemism and biodiversity, but is threatened by several issues. Deforestation is a major issue in the country that has led to many species becoming threatened with extinction. As a major economic sector, palm oil production has had a substantial environmental impact. Air pollution is also a major issue, with the country one of the most affected countries by seasonal Southeast Asian haze. The country is also affected by climate change.

Contents

Issues

Climate change

Graph showing temperature anomaly in Malaysia between 1901 and 2021. Temperature Bar Chart Asia-Malaysia--1901-2020--2021-07-13.png
Graph showing temperature anomaly in Malaysia between 1901 and 2021.

Climate change is having a considerable impact in Malaysia. Increasing temperatures are likely to greatly increase the number of heatwaves occurring annually. Variations in precipitation may increase the frequency of droughts and floods in various local areas. Sea level rise may inundate some coastal areas. These impacts are expected to have numerous environmental and socioeconomic effects, exacerbating existing environmental issues and reinforcing inequality.

Malaysia itself contributes emissions given its significant use of coal and natural gas. However, the use of hydropower has expanded in the 21st century, and other potential energy sources such as solar power and biomass are being explored. The government anticipates the need to adapt in areas such as health and coastal defenses, and has ratified the Paris Agreement. Malaysia has experienced warming and rainfall irregularities particularly in the last two decades [1]

Endangered species

Deforestation

This image reveals the overall extent of land-cover change throughout the region. Deforestation in Malaysian Borneo.jpg
This image reveals the overall extent of land-cover change throughout the region.
Deforestation in Malaysia is a major environmental issue in the country. Between 1990 and 2010, Malaysia lost an estimated 8.6% of its forest cover, or around 1,920,000 hectares (4,700,000 acres). [5] Logging and land clearing, particularly for the palm oil sector, have been significant contributors to Malaysia's economy. However, as a megadiverse country, efforts have been made to conserve Malaysia's forests and reduce the rate of deforestation.

The following are notable projects contributing to deforestation:

Malaysia had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.01/10, ranking it 111th globally out of 172 countries. [10]

Pollution

Air pollution in Malaysia is a major issue, with the country one of the most affected by seasonal Southeast Asian haze. [11]

Reclamation

Coastal reclamation is damaging mangroves and turtle nesting sights.

Recycling and waste management

The country has numerous waste and recycling policies and initiatives but overall low rate of recycling and problems with violations and enforcement of such laws and policies.

Water

Controversial projects and policies

Project/Area affectedActivityStateBeganNotesRef.
Bakun Dam Dams Sarawak 2008Forest loss. [14]
Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR) Highways Selangor 2008Forest fragmentation in the Selangor State Park. [15]
Forest Plantation Development [16] Plantation Selangor 2008-Clearance of natural forest for timber plantations. [17]
Empire Residence Development Housing Selangor 2008-Hillslope clearance. [18]
Pan Borneo Highway HighwaySarawak/Sabah2016Forest loss, Brunei sections and the Temburong Bridge project and its implications to Limbang [19]

Environmental organisations

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental issues in Nepal</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental issues in Thailand</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Malaysia</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southeast Asian haze</span> Fire-related air pollution issue

The Southeast Asian haze is a fire-related recurrent transboundary air pollution issue. Haze events, where air quality reaches hazardous levels due to high concentrations of airborne particulate matter from burning biomass, have caused adverse health, environmental and economic impacts in several countries in Southeast Asia. Caused primarily by slash-and-burn land clearing, the problem flares up every dry season to varying degrees and generally is worst between July and October and during El Niño events. Transboundary haze in Southeast Asia has been recorded since 1972 with the 1997 and 2015 events being particularly severe.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deforestation in Malaysia</span> Climate emergency issue in Malaysia

Deforestation in Malaysia is a major environmental issue in the country. Between 1990 and 2010, Malaysia lost an estimated 8.6% of its forest cover, or around 1,920,000 hectares. Logging and land clearing, particularly for the palm oil sector, have been significant contributors to Malaysia's economy. However, as a megadiverse country, efforts have been made to conserve Malaysia's forests and reduce the rate of deforestation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environment of Malaysia</span> Megadiverse ecology with rainforests and ocean

The environment of Malaysia is the biotas and geologies that constitute the natural environment of Malaysia. Malaysia's ecology is megadiverse, with a biodiverse range of flora and fauna found in various ecoregions throughout the country. Tropical rainforests encompass between 59% and 70% of Malaysia's total land area, of which 11.6% is pristine. Malaysia has the world's fifth largest mangrove area, which totals over a half a million hectares.

Palm oil, produced from the oil palm, is a basic source of income for many farmers in South East Asia, Central and West Africa, and Central America. It is locally used as cooking oil, exported for use in much commercial food and personal care products and is converted into biofuel. It produces up to 10 times more oil per unit area than soybeans, rapeseed or sunflowers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deforestation in Borneo</span> Deforestation

Deforestation in Borneo has taken place on an industrial scale since the 1960s. Borneo, the third largest island in the world, divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, was once covered by dense tropical and subtropical rainforests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palm oil production in Indonesia</span>

Palm oil production is important to the economy of Indonesia as the country is the world's biggest producer and consumer of the commodity, providing about half of the world's supply. In 2016, Indonesia produced over 34.6 million metric tons of palm oil, and exported 25.1 million metric tons of it. Oil palm plantations stretch across at least 12 million hectares. There are several different types of plantations, including small, privately owned plantations, and larger, state-owned plantations. There are a variety of health, environmental, and societal impacts that result from the production of palm oil in Indonesia. A recent publication by the NGO Rainforest Action Network (RAN) indicates that the use of palm oil by some of the biggest chocolate and snacks' producers is increasing this problem.

Laos is increasingly suffering from environmental problems, with deforestation a particularly significant issue, as expanding commercial exploitation of the forests, plans for additional hydroelectric facilities, foreign demand for wild animals and nonwood forest products for food and traditional medicines, and a growing population all create increasing pressure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Indonesia</span> Emissions, impacts and responses of Indonesia

Due to its geographical and natural diversity, Indonesia is one of the countries most susceptible to the impacts of climate change. This is supported by the fact that Jakarta has been listed as the world's most vulnerable city, regarding climate change. It is also a major contributor as of the countries that has contributed most to greenhouse gas emissions due to its high rate of deforestation and reliance on coal power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Southeast Asian haze</span> Haze over the Southeast Asia region in mid-2010

The 2010 Southeast Asian haze was an air pollution crisis which affected many Southeast Asia countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore during the month of October in 2010.

References

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