ASIA-PACIFIC nations account for half of all global marine capture fishery production, with Indonesia ranking fifth worldwide (5.1 per cent) and Malaysia 16th (1.5 per cent). This industry provides livelihoods and food for people, and feed for the region’s growing aquaculture sector. With each passing year, fishing in Malaysia gets more challenging due to dwindling…
In recent years, the link between human rights and the environment has gained increased traction, together with the escalating global expectations that businesses need to act responsibly to minimise their contribution to potential future climate change. The business case for the corporate sector to prioritize the right to a healthy environment is becoming part and…
PRIME Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s expressed wish to review the Environmental Quality Act, enacted in 1974, is refreshing to hear. There have been amendments to the act from time to time, but the moment has come for a comprehensive review of this country’s foremost instrument of environmental governance. Our awakening at the time and…
RECOMMENDED reading: a new United Nations synthesis of several major past scientific assessments of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The year-long effort was led by two leading experts and long-time friends, Ivar Baste of Norway and Sir Robert Watson of the United Kingdom. The report’s title, “Making Peace with Nature” (at bit.ly/UNEP-UNEA), is striking.…
Business has a critical role to play in accelerating projects and investments that support climate, nature and people. While the risks of inaction are significant and well documented, the benefits to both business security and growth are very compelling.To unlock investment and ensure credible, high-quality projects receive funding, there must be a common understanding of…
International observers of biodiversity governance watch very keenly any action by the United States government. Remember the phrase, “when America sneezes, the world catches a cold”. At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, for example, the world community watched in total exasperation when the late president George H.W. Bush personally declined to…
SINCE 1990, the Earth has lost 420 million hectares of forests to land conversion for agriculture, urbanisation, mining and industry. Forested areas equal to the combined land territories of India and Egypt were lost in the span of a single generation. It happens gradually, such devastation seldom if ever registers on the public radar in…
More than half of the global economy depends on the prosperity of the natural world. From the water we drink, to the food we grow, and the resources we use in manufacturing, biodiversity and ecosystem services support our daily lives and many of our products and services. We would be in great danger without the…
Mega UN meetings may herald ‘super’ year for nature
Join BCSD Malaysia and the Capitals Coalition for a live webinar for the launch of the TEEBAgriFood business implementation project in Malaysia. Learn how you can get involved in developing new guidance for agribusiness and gain access to training sessions on multi-capital assessments. Join a growing network of forward-thinking organisations. For registration go here: https://www.eventbank.com/event/the-economics-of-ecosystems-and-biodiversity-22433/home.html