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States advised to be cautious in entering into deals in the forestry sector related to climate change

  • Publication Date | February 24, 2017
  • Document Type | Letter to the Editor
  • Programmes | Pollution & Extractives
  • Issues | REDD-plus
  • Tags | carbon offset, climate finance, Green Climate Fund, UNFCCC
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) welcomes the clarification by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) that the carbon-offset deal signed by the Kelantan State Government with a private company has nothing to do with any United Nations’ mechanism.

Minister Dato Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has clarified that the UN mechanism related to the forestry sector (that was disingenuously referred to by the deal’s proponents) does not involve any market-based mechanism as implied in the trading of carbon credits.  

We hope the Ministry’s media statement reported by BERNAMA on February 16 would clear the confusion caused by the various media articles surrounding the deal that incorrectly state that the deal is linked to the emission reduction mechanism in the forestry sector under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which Malaysia is a Party to.  

Currently, in the UNFCCC, there is a mechanism called ‘Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, and the Role of Conservation, Sustainable Management of Forests and Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks in Developing Countries’, known as REDD-plus, which does not involve any trading of carbon-credits or market-based approaches. 

The Minister has affirmed that Malaysia is keen to implement REDD-plus at the national level and is working towards obtaining results-based payments from the Green Climate Fund that will benefit all states, for the conservation of forests and for their sustainable management and use, as this will mean payments in the form of grants to the country. 

The clamour for carbon trading and offsets through promoting a market-based mechanism in the forestry sector must be curtailed and halted, or Malaysia will risk losing its credibility in accessing results-based payments for its REDD-plus implementation.  

We also note with interest the cautionary tone of the Minister that he hoped the national REDD-plus plan ‘would not be jeopardised by unethical activities by certain irresponsible individuals’. 

SAM has conducted a preliminary investigation about the company based on its registration with the Companies Commission of Malaysia as well as through information online and as to its physical presence.  

Our preliminary investigations raise many concerns regarding the company as to its operations and is indeed very worrying.   

SAM therefore calls on the NRE and other relevant authorities to properly investigate and verify the operations of the company before more State Governments unsuspectingly enter into similar deals. 

State Governments would likewise be advised to be cautious in entering into deals that are purportedly sanctioned by the UN, and do their due diligence in getting proper information from the NRE, as it is the latter that is the focal point for all climate-change related negotiations and information.

S.M.Mohamed Idris

President

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

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Tel: +604 827 6930
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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