KL is not all that Livable, say Expats

KL is not all that Livable, say Expats

Living in Kuala Lumpur can be fun. But not as much fun as it used to be. That’s according to expatriates, based on a new survey about the world’s most livable cities. Conducted by the British consulting firm ECA International, the survey places Kuala Lumpur at a dismal 126th place,…

Air Pollution is a Threat Worldwide

Air Pollution is a Threat Worldwide

In Bangkok, Thailand, schools had to be shut for days. In Warsaw, Poland, the sky darkened as much of the city was swathed in a baleful miasma. In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, children’s health came under serious threat. All these events happened at various parts of the globe within the space of…

The Problem of Plastic Waste will require Drastic Measures

The Problem of Plastic Waste will require Drastic Measures

Plastic waste is everywhere, but several countries, from Malawi to Morocco, have made plans to phase out plastic shopping bags and other disposable items. Now, following in their footsteps, Great Britain is planning to enact new measures aimed at weaning customers off disposable plastic products that are chucked out after…

Air Pollution harms Infants’ Brains

Air Pollution harms Infants’ Brains

Pollution kills and debilitates. And of all forms of pollution, air pollution is perhaps the most insidious, for breathe air we must throughout our lives and if the air is polluted we have no choice but to breathe in all that invisible pollution along with the oxygen that we need…

PM: Fossil Fuel Subsidies are a Bad Idea

PM: Fossil Fuel Subsidies are a Bad Idea

Fuel subsidies are, on the surface, a good thing. They can boost the economy and help economically deprived Malaysians save up on fuel costs. Yet they also come with environmental costs. Cheaper gasoline prices would mean Malaysians would think less of using public transport and opt instead to drive around…

Air Pollution can Weaken your Bones

Air Pollution can Weaken your Bones

Air pollution can cause a whole host of ailments from preterm births to Alzheimer’s disease to strokes. That we’ve already known. Now we can add another debilitating condition to the side-effects of prolonged exposure to air-borne particulates: weakened bones. According to researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health…

A new Coal-like Biofuel can be a Clean and Green Energy Source

A new Coal-like Biofuel can be a Clean and Green Energy Source

Coal is one of the most commonly used fossil fuels across much of the world, yet it’s also one of the most pernicious. Coal-fuelled power plants release plenty of CO2, thereby worsening climate change, while the burning of coal is also responsible for horrendous air pollution. A typical coal plant…

A new Environmental Protection Act is in the Making

A new Environmental Protection Act is in the Making

When the current Environmental Quality Act was enacted in 1974, Malaysia’s environment was in a significantly better shape. Most of Sabah and Sarawak were still covered in thick forests, while mainland Malaysia, too, boasted large swathes of virgin forest. Air and water pollution were yet endemic and the nation’s marine…

Recharging Malaysia’s EV Plans

Recharging Malaysia’s EV Plans

Many people remain wary of transitioning to electric cars for a variety of reasons. One reason is that electric vehicles still tend to cost considerably more than comparable models with internal combustion engines. Another reason is so-called range anxiety. Namely: people are concerned that on longer drives their car batteries…

Singapore adopts Electric Car-Sharing

Singapore adopts Electric Car-Sharing

Malaysian cities are chockfull of cars. They cause plenty of traffic congestion and, worse, pollute the air. The country has one of the world’s highest per capita rates of car ownership and weaning citizens off the habit of driving around might be a Sisyphean task. So what’s the solution? One…

Malaysia and Singapore ‘will step up’ Cooperation on the Environment

Malaysia and Singapore ‘will step up’ Cooperation on the Environment

Environmental issues know no borders. Harm done to natural environments in one area, region, state or country invariably has a way of having its effects felt much farther afield. Polluted air and polluted water can cross manmade boundaries with ease. That’s why effective environmental action requires international cooperation. It is…

Air Pollution is “Worse than You Think’

Air Pollution is “Worse than You Think’

We all know that burning sensation: acrid smog stings the eyes and irritates the throat. During the periodic haze from burning forests in Sumatra that envelopes much of Malaysia for days and weeks at a time, millions of Malaysians are exposed to massive amounts of harmful air-borne pollutants. Yet not…

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture must Stop

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture must Stop

Malaysia has been losing much of its peatlands and their ongoing loss bodes ill for the country’s environment. Peat swamps are home to a great deal of biodiversity with a fascinating kaleidoscope of species. They also absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide. In fact, peat swamps in Malaysia may store…

India ‘will Sell’ only Electric Cars

India ‘will Sell’ only Electric Cars

India is known for many things, but a commitment to environmentalism tends not to be among them. The country has some of the world’s most polluted cities, wildlife crime remains rampant in the land, and natural habitats around the subcontinent have been shrinking alarmingly. Then again, some things are changing…

We were Polluting the Air long before We even Knew It

We were Polluting the Air long before We even Knew It

In centuries past, people lived in harmony with nature. They led sustainable lifestyles and kept environmental pollution to a minimum. Then came the Industrial Revolution in the 17th century and everything changed: we began polluting the environment disastrously and carry on doing so. So goes a common narrative about our…