The biggest platform for environmental education in Northern Malaysia “ Penang International Green Carnival” is to be held on September 9 and 10 at SETIA SPICE Arena, from 10am to 6pm. The carnival aims to raise environmental awareness and motivate people to tackle the cause and effect of global warming and create a net impact on fighting climate change. The carnival this year – AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE TOGETHER (ACCT), NOW! will feature over 70 exhibitors and partners representing leading brands, organisations and entities and also a series of awareness programmes, games, competitions, talks and many more.
Based on the NAHRIM (National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia) report, global temperature rise from 1901-2012 is between 0.69 – 1.08 degree celcius; while the global sea level rise from 1901-2010 is between 1.7mm – 2.1mm. Many small island states are threatened by rising sea levels. Penang Island possess most of the small island characteristic and is also exposed to these environmental challenges like extreme weathers and flash floods.
Penang State Government has a vision of making Penang a “Cleaner, Greener, Safer, Healthier, and Happier”. Since 2010, we kicked start a series of environmental initiatives to promote resource efficiency such as free CAT BUS, No Free Plastic Bags Every day, total ban on polystyrene food containers, giving incentives to green buildings, building cycling lanes and implementation of Waste Segregation at Source policy.
Penang has achieved the highest recycling rate in the country of 38% as compared to the national recycling rate of 22% and we hope to increase the recycling rate to 40% by 2020. We are the first state to oppose Nuclear power energy plants in Malaysia and will continue to do so.
We hope that Malaysia will abandon building nuclear energy plants like Germany. We will not permit any nuclear energy reactors to be built in Penang and the Federal Government has agreed to our decision.
We had never allowed logging on permanent forest reserves, the only state in Malaysia where not a single square inch has been touched. And we have planted more than 271,000 new trees in Penang since 2008. Penang State Government has also stopped serving sharkfin soup to protect our natural biodiversity. We are well on our way to be the first green state in Malaysia.
The Carnival is jointly organised by Penang Green Council (PGC) and Malaysian Green Building Confederation (MGBC) Northern Chapter. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to Penang Island City Council (MBPP), Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP), co-organisers, sponsors dan partners, the carnival would not have been possible were it not for the strong and continuous support from them.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for sponsoring the Penang International Green Carnival 2017 to showcase their business’ commitment to the environment and quality of life. They are our main sponsors: Solarvest Energy Sdn Bhd, Sunway Property, Wiitrac Elevator Sdn Bhd and sponsors: Sulomas Utara Sdn Bhd, Apollo Vista Concept Sdn Bhd, Aim Max Media Sdn Bhd, Sunshine Wholesale Mart Sdn Bhd, Genting Hong Kong & Star Cruises, Ninebot Malaysia, Biji-biji Initiative, Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm, Greenxagon Marketing Sdn Bhd, Cenviro Sdn Bhd, Nets Printwork Sdn Bhd and Koo Bros Production.
Climate change does not discriminate and it is the greatest threat of our time and to future generations. Climate change is happening here, and it is happening now and the time for action is now. September 9 & 10 will be a world-changing day that begins with each and every one of us. Let us all ACCT (Against Climate Change Together), Now!