KOTA KINABALU: The government needs to invest in transitioning to a sustainable economy, says a group representing 25 civil society organisations in an open letter.
They also urged the government not to promote or approve high-risk projects that will cause more environmental problems such as fossil fuel developments in marine protected areas.
"This means adopting a total ban on oil and gas developments in protected areas, including legislating the complete protection of protected areas from extractive activities and planning a just energy transition policy that upholds the rights of communities and nature.
"We further urge the government to consult civil society in the planning and implementation of fossil fuel developments.
"Community participation in decision-making is essential to ensure that decisions made are fair, transparent, democratic and beneficial to all parties," it said following the reported oil exploration in the block SB-403 off Tun Mustapha Park in Kudat.
They also cited the 'New Oil and Gas Developments Threaten Climate Stability report' which stated that 4.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent were estimated to be located in the said block which will result in the exacerbation of climate disasters, such as uninhabitable temperatures, sea-level rise, water shortages and the extinction of a million species of plants and animals.
However, the Sabah government had said that they did not receive any application nor had given any approval for oil exploration at the country's largest marine park.
The group also said that the country could have a better chance of transitioning to cleaner, safer and sustainable energy such as solar, micro-hydro and wind.
"Investing in natural gas as transition energy during this transition period, only to phase them out later when the country shifts to renewable energy and energy efficiency seems counterproductive.
"Instead, investing in solar technology, especially for rooftops, seems like a practical choice given the abundant sunlight Malaysia is receiving.
"The focus should be on improving the grid system to accommodate more solar energy and refining policies to boost its adoption."
The 25 CSOs are RimbaWatch, Greenpeace Malaysia, Zero Waste Sabah, Danau Girang Field Centre, Reef Check Malaysia, Ecotourism & Conservation Society Malaysia, Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka), Laudato Si' Asia - Coalition for Culture of Care, Resilience and Ecological Justice Organisation, Glimpse of Malaysia, Kolektif Iklim, Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement and Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia (GRASS).
Also pledging their support were the Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch, Jaringan Ekologi dan Iklim (Jedi), Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa), Malaysian Nature Society Sabah Branch, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), Consumers' Association of Penang, Youths United for Earth, Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS), Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM), Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD), Environmental Protection Society Malaysia (EPSM), as well Global Environment Centre (GEC).
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Tags: 25 civil society organisations, oil exploration, off Tun Mustapha Park, sustainable economy, marine protected areas, Sabah, environment, high-risk projects, environmental problems, ban on oil and gas developments, protected areas.