DAP World Environment Day Message 2012 by DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on 4 June 2012.
By allowing rare earth refinery plants to be operated in Kuantan, petrochemical industry in Pengerang and two nuclear plants in the country, BN government has clearly proven that it is pursuing economic development at all cost at the expense of the environment and people’s health.
The 2012 theme for World Environment Day is “Green Economy: Does it include you?” According to 2012 United Nations Environment Program(UNEP), a Green Economy is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, as well as prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. These investments need to be catalyzed and supported by targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes.
A green economy is described as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In other words, we can think of a green economy as an economic environment that achieves low carbon emissions, works towards resource efficiency and at the same time is socially inclusive.
Unfortunately the BN government does not adhere to the UNEP’s green economy unlike developed countries such as:-
· Australia that refuses to accept any of the waste residue from rare earth processed by the Lynas plant in Kuantan back to Australia,
· Germany that has decided to phase out their nuclear reactors plant; and
· Taiwan that rejects any petrochemical plants built on their wetlands.
In direct contrast, the BN government approved the AUD 800 million or RM 2.4 billion rare earth refinery plant in Kuantan, the setting up of the petrochemical industry in Pengerang under Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) RM 60 billion integrated refinery and petrochemical complex, and proposal to build not one but two nuclear plants costing RM 15 billion in the country. By ignoring the rakyat’s opposition and their health concerns for their welfare, the BN government is adopting an undemocratic and exclusive approach.
By allowing rare earth refinery plant, petrochemical industry and two nuclear plants in the country, BN government has clearly proven that it is more interested in profits than public good, and is pursuing economic development at all cost at the expense of the environment and people’s health.
In order to achieve a Green Economy, renewable energy must be in place. Unfortunately the Renewable Energy Fund is inadequate as it is only RM 300 million from the 1% levy on consumption of more than 300kwh or electricity bills more than RM 77 per month. Assuming an installed capacity of 3 kW only 2,217 households can benefit. With 1kW installed capacity only 6,651 households will benefit. What type of solar energy capacity building is Malaysia talking about when only 6,651 household throughout Malaysia are qualified and will benefit only from 2013?
The Renewable Energy Fund must be increased from the present RM 300 million by at least another RM1 billion. The time has come for Independent Power Producers or IPPs to plough back their billions of ringgit in annual profits and contribute back to society with RM 1 billion annually to the Renewable Energy Fund to help develop solar and renewable energy as alternative energy sources. After all if IPPs can benefit nearly RM20 billion from gas subsidies, what is RM1 billion to allow all Malaysians to use solar energy and become a nano-IPP by selling back solar energy generated to TNB?
Clearly under BN, Malaysia will never achieve a sustainable, low carbon and resource efficient future. Only a Pakatan Rakyat that rejected rare earth plants and nuclear plants can ensure our future generation live in a better world that is clean, green safe and healthy. Remember we do not inherit the earth, but only borrow it from our children. It is our duty and responsibility to return back this green legacy to our children and unborn grandchildren.
Lim Guan Eng
—mandarin version—
民主行动党秘书长兼槟州首席部长林冠英于2012年6月4日发表世界环境日献词：
国阵政府允许稀土提炼厂建立在关丹、石化工业建立在边佳兰、并计划兴建两座核能发电厂，一而再地显示国阵政府为了追求经济利益，不惜牺牲环境及人民的健康。
2012年世界环境日的主题是: “绿色经济:你参与了吗?” 联合国环境署指出，绿色经济的收入和就业增长，是由能够减少碳排放和污染排放的、能够加强能源和资源利用效率的，并且能够防止生物多样性和生态系统服务丧失的公共和私营投资驱动的。我们需要通过目标性公共投入、政策改革和法规修订来加快和支持这方面的投资。
绿色经济是促成提高人类福祉和社会公平，同时显著降低环境风险和减少生态稀缺的经济。简单来说，我们可以把绿色经济认为是一种实现低碳排放、资源有效同时兼顾社会的环境经济。
不幸的是，国阵政府并没有坚持联合国环境署所定义的绿色经济，不像那些先进地区及国家：
· 澳洲政府已经拒绝回收任何产生于莱纳斯稀土提炼厂的废料；
· 德国政府已经决定逐步撤除核电厂。
· 台湾人民拒绝石化工业建立于他们的湿地上。
相比之下，国阵政府却批准了价值24亿令吉的稀土提炼厂设立于关丹、国油的价值600亿令吉的炼油及石油化学综合发展中心（RAPID）、以及150亿令吉兴建两座核电厂。国阵不顾人民的反对及健康考量，一意孤行，这是不民主及毫无兼容性。
国阵政府允许稀土提炼厂、石化工业建立在边佳兰及两座核能发电厂的设立及计划，一而再地显示国阵政府重利益、轻公益，为了追求经济利益，不惜牺牲环境及人民的健康。
若要成为绿色经济，我们必须要有可再生能源。不幸的是，我们只有3亿令吉的再生能源基金，这基金只向用电超过300千瓦（KW)或每月电费超过77令吉的用户征收多1%费用。假设安装3千瓦太阳光电板，只有2217住户受惠， 或安装1千瓦电光板，只有6651住户受惠，若到了2013年全国只有6651住户有资格和能力安装， 政府到底在谈什么太阳能建设？
这显然严重不足，再生能源基金至少要从现有的3亿，额外增加至少10亿令吉。是时候获取巨大利润的独立发电厂每年回馈再生能源基金10亿令吉，协助太阳能和再生能源的发展。毕竟，独立发电厂从天然气补贴受益200亿令吉，拨出区区10亿令吉让全国人民使用太阳能、成为纳米发电厂，把电卖回给国能，有何不可？
很明显示地，如果国阵继续治理国家，马来西亚将永远无法拥有一个可持续、低碳及资源有效的未来。唯有民联才会拒绝稀土厂、核电厂，保障我们的下一代生活在更清洁、绿意、安全及健康的未来。请记得，我们不是地球继承人，我们是向孩子预借的，我们有责任和义务还他们一个清洁和安全的地球。
林冠英