Activities Report 1999 Sept Newsletter
Renewable Energy: A Good Source for the Future but
Environmental Protection Also Needed
The Malaysian Nature Society welcomes the
plan to introduce a new source of renewable energy to the country’s current
four-fuel strategy. The Society feels that the plan, unveiled by our Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently, is most appropriate,
as carbon fuels are a major source of air and water pollution in developed
nations as well as in many upcoming countries like ours.
The current consumption and need for
energy in our country is growing tremendously as Malaysia strives to reach
its goal as a developed nation by the year 2020. It is thus necessary that
steps be taken to ensure that proper energy sources are studied and developed
as this will not only
meet the demand of the future but will also be able to safeguard the
environment. By doing this it will ensure that Malaysia develops both as
an industrial and environmentally sound nation.
There may be a cost involved in protecting
the environment but let us not forget that there is also an economic and
national cost if we ignore the environment and allow it to degrade. It
is thus essential that while pursuing renewable energy sources such as
the need to build hydroelectric dams the total damage on the environment
should be minimized as much as possible.
Building one large dam may not be a
good idea as a larger area has to be inundated. In addition, problems of
methane build-up due to large concentrations of unremoved and rotting plant
debris may arise. The costs of maintaining large dams are also higher and
their efficiency is lower compared to smaller dams. Building few smaller
dams in suitable valleys may be a better solution. Other options of renewable
energy include wind and waves. These areas should be looked into before
making any drastic decisions. Of course, the initial setup may be expensive
but developed countries can lend a hand here and do something practical
instead of just criticizing developing nations.
The Society hopes that further studies
be conducted in this area of renewable energy as we cannot depend solely
on depletable carbon fuels which also contribute to haze, air and water
pollution. Malaysia has a goal to reach and the Malaysian Nature Society
supports all efforts the Government is doing in maintaining both the economic
and environmental stability of this country.
Kuala Lumpur, 9 June, 1999
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Created on 3rd Sept 1999