This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on November 21, 2022 - November 27, 2022

Human civilisation has been thriving for thousands of years within a narrow envelope of a stable climate. However, the extreme weather we are beginning to face exacerbates the already severe threats to our ability to survive and thrive.

Just as earthquake planning is acculturated in certain countries, so too climate education needs to be acculturated, especially in this region, which is disproportionately affected by climate change. The analogy would be putting your child on a boat for the rest of its life without teaching it to swim or fish.

So, a statement that resonates with us is this: “I care about climate change because I care about the person next to me. We will not be able to ‘buy’ well-being during the climate crisis.”

It will be almost impossible for any board of directors or business to claim ignorance about the destructive carbon and environmental footprint of their business activities, including emissions within its sphere of control and influence [emissions classified as Scope 3 by the standards organisation Greenhouse Gas Protocol]. These game-changing new frameworks for reporting and disclosure are the precursor to establishing responsibilities and, thence, accountability and, eventually, liability.

Let us be clear: Causality has been clearly established by science.

We recognise that: 

(i) The earth’s atmosphere has already warmed by 1.15°C in 2021, with a more than 50% chance of hitting 1.5°C of warming in the next few years, despite the rare triple-dip La Niña;

(ii)  There is a strong causal relationship between population growth, economic activity [as measured by gross domestic product] and rapid growth in greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions;

(iii) The Earth cannot support both population growth and economic growth, as human activities, powered by fossil fuels, are exceeding planetary boundaries;

(iv) On a cumulative basis, 75% of global GHG emissions were emitted by just five countries and, on an annual basis, 55% of emissions are generated by the top five global emitters; while, (v) 15% of annual GHG emissions are generated by the richest 1% of the world’s population and 52% of annual GHG emissions are generated by the richest 10% of world’s population.

We also acknowledge the need for reparation, that:

Commitments by developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol [1997] to reduce emissions and provide financing, build capacity and transfer technology have not been completely fulfilled:

(i) Commitments to provide financial assistance for loss and damage under the Paris Agreement [2015] and subsequent conferences of the parties [COPs] have been discussed but not agreed upon or implemented;

(ii) There is an acute sense of helplessness and outrage among youth at the lack of intergenerational equity; and

(iii) We are arguably the first generation that has sufficient knowledge and access to funding and solutions, such as technologies and know-how, to significantly alter the inevitable destructive arc of the Anthropocene, but we are also very likely the last generation that can do so to prevent needless and widespread human suffering.

However, there is a tremendous opportunity to be part of the ecosystem of solutions.

We need to reaffirm that the existential climate crisis, as informed by science, is providing mankind in general and businesses in particular with a tremendous “wall of opportunity” to use the resources at their disposal to shift from the current, GHG emissions-driven development trajectory, marked by environmental degradation and social and economic injustice, to a sustainable development trajectory marked by environmental and ecological conservation, sustainable jobs and livelihoods and a just transition to a low-emissions economy.

Businesses need an environment in which grants, incentives and policies are implemented to facilitate a smooth and just transition. And they need it now.

Only government can do this.

Businesses large and small must adapt to the soon-to-be-warmer world. They must learn to adapt if they are to minimise losses and ultimately recover.

The “All of Government, Whole of Society” approach needs to be a reality, not just a slogan. It is the only way for our nation to achieve climate resilience.

Sunita Rajakumar is the chairman and Dr Gary W Theseira is a council member of Climate Governance Malaysia. This column is part of a series coordinated by Climate Governance Malaysia, the national chapter of the World Economic Forum’s Climate Governance Initiative. The CGI is an effort to support boards of directors in discharging their duty of care as long-term stewards of the companies they oversee, specifically to ensure that climate risks and opportunities are adequately addressed.

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