Corporations slammed for greenwashing instead of cutting emissions

SHAH ALAM - The Environmental Protection Society Malaysia (EPSM) has successfully introduced many initiatives and projects to promote sustainable development and combat climate change.

One of its major successes was the introduction of Local Agenda (LA) 21, a blueprint for implementing sustainable development in local communities, in Malaysia in 1997.

Within five years, the Malaysian Government had institutionalised LA21 in all local authorities in the country.

“When we started our campaign in 1997, there was almost zero awareness of LA21 in Malaysia.

“Yet, within five years the Malaysian Government had institutionalised LA21 in all local authorities in Malaysia, perhaps promoted by EPSM’s efforts. It was a huge achievement,” EPSM president Nithi Nesadurai told Sinar Daily during an interview.

Nithi added that the other major initiative of EPSM was introducing Ecological Footprint Analysis (EFA) in Malaysia under its Sustainable Living in Malaysia (SLiM) programme.

"The programme advocates for living well within the ecological limits of one planet and is ongoing.

“At the implementation level, EPSM installed a rainwater harvesting system in the Pure Life Society home for use in toilets and gardening, in 2009.

“This initiative saved the home, with more than 100 residents, millions of litres of precious treated water and generated RM4,000 a year savings in water bills,” he said.

Nithi, who is the Climate Action Network Southeast Asia (Cansea) director said he had co-host the Just Transition Forum Asia annual series of meetings since 2021.

"Just Transition is an increasingly important area related to climate change and Cansea is a global leader on this issue.

“Cansea has also been directly involved with an initiative since 2021 to eliminate energy-inefficient and mercury-containing fluorescent lamps worldwide by 2025, and transitioning to LED lamps, through the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

“This action alone will avoid 3.5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and 232 tonnes of toxic mercury use by 2050, addressing both the climate crisis and mercury pollution,” he said.

Nithi said the most effective way to get involved in climate action would be to join a member-based environmental organisation and then actively engage in or lead some of their activities.

"People can also join Youth or Women’s organisations which increasingly have an environment and climate focus.

“For example, EPSM is a member of Cansea and is part of the huge Climate Action Network with almost 2,000 member organisations in over 130 countries,” he said.

Nithi also stressed the importance of transitioning from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas to renewable energy solutions.

"This is the biggest challenge to face, as countries are expanding their use of fossil fuels despite the fact of the climate emergency.

"Similarly, fossil fuel companies instead of changing their business model and taking measures to cut down on their emissions seriously, are exploring new production activities in addition to business-as-usual activities.

"This sector and its behaviour have been criticised by none other than the United Nations Secretary-General," he added.

Nithi also said that corporations in other high emissions-emitting sectors engage in activities known as greenwashing instead of cutting down on their emissions.

"They pretend to take climate action when they do the opposite, primarily because they are motivated by profit and greed," he said.