Since the 1800s, people have been telling us that we need to do something to stop global warming. Countries have made calls about the global warming and the steps that need to be taken, and the Paris Agreement is the result of these calls. But the green recovery plan has run into a bit of a snag since the coronavirus showed up. As the pandemic is causing havoc on social and economic activities around the world, the focus has moved away from promoting the use of green energy and toward the current problem.
While countries look for a magic cure at COVID-19, should the need to reduce carbon emissions be forgotten? Now is the time to push for the use of green energy, and Malaysia is one of the countries trying to lower the effects of global warming. The Malaysian government has been working hard to make clean, affordable energy that can replace fossil fuels and help speed up the transition to clean energy. Malaysia's 2018 climate change report says that the country's sea level, temperature, and rainfall have all been going up for the past 40 years and will continue to do so until 2050.
The impacts of climate change on the environment in Malaysia
Climate change is likely to have impacts on Malaysia, such as food shortages, floods, and weather that is too hot or too cold. Also, if nothing is done to stop climate change, flooding and the rise in sea level will affect more and more Malaysians in the future. With this in mind, it's clear that we need to cut back on carbon emissions.
Clean and sustainable energy will have just as big of an impact on Malaysia's economy as it has on its environment. Consider the UK as an example. Since 1990, they have cut carbon emissions by 43%, made the environment cleaner, and grown their economy by two-thirds. One thing the government has done to help the economy recover and grow is to look into how the pandemic has affected employment.
Oil prices have gone down because of COVID-19. At the time this was written, a barrel of oil cost $44. (RM 184.26). More than 20% of the country's GDP comes from oil sales, so this price drop has had a huge effect on the economy. Investing in renewable energy sources is a good way to spread out the economy and make the country less dependent on oil revenue. It will also be a way for the government to make large investments, which are needed to get the Malaysian economy going again.
The Plan for Green Recovery
It is predicted that the green recovery plan will create both direct and indirect jobs. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) says that the renewable energy industry will create more than 40 million jobs by 2050.
The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry in Malaysia is working on a carbon-free future, which is expected to bring in RM4 billion and create 12,000 jobs.
Starting the switch to green energy
To make the change from a carbon-based economy to a green economy easier, the government and private key players must work together. The government sets up the conditions for the people in the business world to put their innovative ideas for green solutions into action. Together, the public and private sectors will be able to get the decarbonization plan to where it needs to be.
The government should make policies about recycling, saving energy, and taking care of water. High carbon emissions have been partly generated by industrial activities. Policies that limit their use of fossil fuels as energy sources will go a long way toward making the environment clean and safe.
The government needs to make it easier for people to invest in the green energy sector. Most of the time, this is needed for research and development of new green ideas. For example, digitalizing the industry will help a lot with energy transition, and the government should support this.
One Last Thing
The pandemic has shown that Malaysia needs to have a plan for reusing energy. As billions are spent to get the economy going again, the green recovery plan should be given a lot of attention.
This energy management system will increase the use of solar power in Malaysia. It will also create jobs and make Malaysians' environment cleaner and safer. It will also help fight against climate change and save businesses that have been hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.
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