Cabinet nod for green guidelines

The Cabinet has approved a green neighborhood and low carbon city framework and assessment system aimed at reducing the nation's carbon emissions.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said the guidelines would bring the country a step closer to achieving the goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 40% by 2020 as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Copenhagen last year.

“We are going all out to push the guidelines.

“Studies have shown that urbanization contributes more than 50% of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Our small cities and townships are getting bigger,'' Chor said after launching The Star Property Fair 2011 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center yesterday.

Also present were Star Publications (M) Bhd executive deputy chairman Datuk Vincent Lee and chief events officer Iris Tan.

A Cabinet paper on the guidelines was approved yesterday, said Chor, adding that it was a joint collaboration between his ministry and the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.

The guidelines, which would be distributed to local authorities, would promote 3R (reduce, reuse and recyle) practices as well as other environmental-friendly policies.

“We hope developers will help spur green neighborhoods by providing more cycling and walking paths to reduce vehicle use.

“The guidelines are not compulsory but it makes good business sense to do it,” he said.

Green Sabah says: Hope that this new green guidelines to reduce the greenhouse effect in the country, so that we are able to reduce the pollution rates and have a healthier, greener environment. The 3R will also help reduce waste.

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UMS to produce animated cartoon series highlighting environmental issues

15th December, 2011

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) will undertake to produce an animated cartoon series entitled ‘The Blooms’ that focuses on environmental issues.

The series would be based on the Maliau Basin Conservation Area and aims to educate the younger generation about the rich biodiversity of Sabah.

Yesterday, the university signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North Borneo Media Sdn Bhd (NBM) to embark on the project next month.

Both UMS and NBM hope to promote the cartoon not only locally but to the international markets as well and eventually turn it into a movie.

The MoU was signed by Deputy Vice Chancellor of UMS, Associate Professor Datuk Dr. Kassim Mansur and managing director of NBM, Mohammed Fikhree Abu Bakar.

Speaker of the Sabah Legislative Assembly, Datuk Seri Panglima Salleh Tun Said Keruak witnessed the event.

Read more on: http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/54788 

Green Sabah says: Sabah is rich with biodiversity. Younger generation should be educated on how to conserve the biodiversity hence maintaining the sustainability of our ecosystem. Hopefully this cartoon series will succeed. Support them!

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RM 6 million upgrade for Rainforest Discovery Centre

Sabah's award-winning Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in Sandakan is set to become better next year with additional facilities, including an environmental education activity centre.

The RM6.5mil upgrading of the Sabah Forestry Department-run RDC would also include an 80m extension of its existing 147m-long treetop walkway.

Department director Datuk Sam Manna said an outdoor stage and the facility's car park would be upgraded.

Green attraction: An artist’s impression of the proposed environmental education activity centre at the Rainforest Discovery Centre that is currently under construction.

“These new developments will further enhance the standing of the RDC as a top environmental education facility in Sabah,” he said yesterday, adding that work would be completed next November.

Mannan said funding for the work was provided by grants from the federal Tourism Ministry and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

Located some 24km from San-dakan town, the RDC is located adjacent to the internationally renowned Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre.

The RDC, with its 800m trail among dipterocarp trees, is also the venue of Sabah's annual bird-watching festival.

Among the recent additions to the RDC was a new 120-seat theatre early this year.

The RDC was named the state's best tourist attraction in the nature category at last week's Sabah Tourism Awards event.

Opened in 2007, the RDC attracted some 40,000 visitors last year, Mannan said.

He also said the department had commissioned the building of a jungle lodge along the Kawag River in the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, an area known for its rich wildlife.

He said the contractor had taken possession of the site and was expected to begin work on the lodge before the end of the month.

“We hope the proposed new facility will create more opportunities for forest recreation and tourism in the Lahad Datu area,” he said.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/28/nation/9989004&sec=nation

Green Sabah says: This is a good initiative from the government to help improve the Rainforest Discovery Centre. This will also help bring in more tourist to Lahad Datu, its a good activity centre for those who are interested to know more about rainforest preservation and environmental issues. 

RM6m upgrade for Rainforest Discovery Centre

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Green Initiatives in Resorts

Many of our visitors come to Sabah to see our natural heritage, trek in our lush green jungles, unpolluted islands and beaches, dive in our clear waters, and visit the man of the jungle, the orang utans. Eco-tourism and international visitors bring in hard currency to the country, impressions plays an important role when they tell their friends and family about the adventures they have in Sabah, Borneo.

The resorts that we have here are beautiful and provide world class amenities to their guests. So what are they doing to promote conservation in the management of their resorts? Many hotels have lush vegetation on their premises, trees, creeper plants, scrubs, hedges, and well kept grass. It is a welcomed experience to stroll through a beautifully landscaped resort.

Are they doing enough?

Are any of our resorts certified eco-friendly? Is there even such a rating, and should it be just as important as how many stars a resort rate? How stringent are the controls the resort management implement?

Next time you visit a resort, ask them about their green initiatives. Perhaps if their guests ask them often enough, it will send the message that Going Green matters, and leads to heightened awareness. It is not just a matter of how beautiful and comfortable the resort is, it’s about sustainability.
 

• Solid Waste Management

• Energy-efficiency

• Water Conservation and Preservation

• Employee Education

• Sewage Treatment Plant

Source: http://aboutsabah.com/hotel/green-initiatives-in-resorts-2/

Green Sabah says: It is time for our resorts to initiate the green efforts. Eco-friendly resort certification is a good move to encourage our resorts to maintain the sustainability of our environment. It is pointless if the resorts are only look beautiful and comfortable but they don't conserve the environment. Mother nature has contributed a lot to us and it is our responsible for taking a good care of it. I bet this will attract more tourists to visit Sabah.

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What is Green Technology?

 It is not difficult to understand what Green Technology is, basically, it is a  new and innovative, environment friendly technology that is created and used, at the same time conserve natural resources and protect the environment. Green Technology was some times referred as Clean technology or environmental technology.


Green Technology main goals are to find ways to produce technology that does not damage or deplete the Earth's natural resources. It is also meant as an alternative source of technology that could help reduces the use of fossil fuels, improving the health conditions of the people, animals and environment and also reducing the pollution impacts to humans and the earth.


Other than that, Green Technology also focused on manufacturing products that can be re-used or recycled so that the amount of wastes produced daily can be reduced. Not only so, social awareness from the people should also be spread out so that they could make changes in their daily life and aim for a better environment and health quality.


Well, basically this is what Green Technology is about. However, not only does the, government, businesses and large industries have to change the way they operate or manufacture, individuals like you and me can make a difference.

 Many people are unaware that the little changes they make in their daily lives can result to a big impact to the environment. So start taking small steps towards a greener future like reducing the use of resources such as papers, shut off lights and electricity appliances when not in use, carpool to reduce the use of fuel (it can help you save money too), recycle cans, paper, cartons, ink cartridges, plastic bottles etc, maximize the use of a single item to reduce waste. Bring your own green shopping bag while buying things at the grocers... These simple steps does not take much of your time and yet they can contribute significantly to the process towards a better tomorrow.

Source: http://whitney05.hubpages.com/hub/Green-Technology

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