5.
We have a very significant different rate of rising at the coastal
compared to the open ocean. Our ocean, our ASEAN region which is home to over
680 million people is one of the most vulnerable places on earth to the effect
of climate change. It's quite dense compared to other places. If you compare
with America for example they are only they have about 200 over million
population as compared to what we have in ASEAN. from the low line coast of
Vietnam and Thailand to the archipelago
of Indonesia and the Philippines to the Mekong Delta. Sea level rise is not a
distant threat. It is already leaping our shores displacing communities
damaging crops and eating away development gains. And this kind of threat we
are facing in a real time in Terengganu.
6. According to the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) the global sea levels have risen over 20 cm
since 1900 and the rate is accelerating. And just now Tikki as you explain
about what she heard about the rising of one point over centimeters, I guess.
Millimeters across certain period of time and it keep on rising. In Southeast
Asia the land is not only threatened by water from above. In many places the
land itself is sinking due to groundwater extraction and urban development.
7. The crisis affects everyone but a
very important fact that we have to understand and dwell, it does not affect
everyone equally across ASEAN. The coastal cities like Jakarta, Bangkok and Ho
Chi Min City for example, face existential challenges. Rural fishing and
farming communities often with fewer resources are forced to adapt or migrate.
Our mangroes forest, coastal reefs and vital ecosystems which is the natural
barriers against storm surges are being degraded. Yet, while the threat is
grave we are not 100% powerless, tonight or rather since the early start of
today in Terengganu, you already sit down and discuss about it and I believe I
guess you have another session tomorrow with I've seen the title of the
discussion and presenters with the credible scientific background from the
presenters across ASEAN. I believe you have to sit to sit down and think about
it and discuss about it seriously. And somewhere else later, we are going to
continue discussing about this So our planning and actions at the end of the
day need to be bold than ever. In ASEAN, we have a shared history of resilience.
We know what it means to unite during difficult times and we have to consider
the issue of sea rise as one of the difficult times that we have to work
together.
8. Now, we must channel our that spirit
into a regional strategy. One that emphasizes adaptations, innovation and
solidarity based on one simple but important rule. We have the same objective
across ASEAN but unique strategy for each one of us based on our demographic,
based on our economic background, based on the setting of our shores across
ASEAN. There are couple of strategy that I might want to explain it tonight,
quite simply just on the surface of it.
9. The first one (1); we must invest in climate resilient infrastructure. The sea
walls flood barriers, elevated housing and sustainable drainage system must
become a new normal. The second (2);
nature must be our ally. We must restore mangroes, protect wetlands and
integrate ecosystem-based solutions into our urban planning. Nature has always
protected us. Now it's time we protect our nature in return. Third (3); we must prioritize climate finance
not just from international donors but from within. We must commit our own budget and encourage
private sector participation to fund adaptation at scale. Number four (4); we need to support the most
vulnerable. Adaptations must be must be people centered from early warning
system in remote areas to fair relocation policies that ensure dignity and
opportunity for displaced families. Five (5);
we must speak with one voice on the global stage. ASEAN must be a forceful
advocate in climate negotiation insisting on greater ambitions from major
emitters and fair access to climate funds for developing nation. Six (6); we must empower our youth which is
the next generation of ASEAN leaders, engineers, scientists and community
organizers must be equipped and inspired to continue this work long after we
are gone. And finally, I've explained about six of them. But finally, which is
I think the most important things I would say the rest of the 1 2 3 4 5 and six
they are all straightforward and understandable, they are all part of the
scientific things and all that. The most important thing which is the trickiest
of all, I would I would say whether we like it or not is not science and
statistics. Science based on facts and figures. Statistic based on numbers
which is also fact and figures.
10. Based on my experience as an engineers and
scientists before as a researcher in the public university an expert panel at
few ministries nearly 20 years ago and then now as a member of parliament or
lawmaker you call it in Philippines and a chief minister and a politician, I
would definitely say that the biggest hindrance is not science and mathematics
or the facts of the matter. Our biggest hurdle will be quote unquote I put it
myself. An art of relentless convincing needed to get the science that we
believe, to get the numbers that we plug in or we calculate if you like to get
all the facts and figures through number one, through our policy makers or the
decision makers, to act based on what we propose. They just may sit down and
just listen to your explanation your scientific explanation and numbers. But at
the end of the day, they are the one who decide to move forward things. That's
number one (1).
11. Number two (2); we need to
convince the broad spectrums of our politicians and our politicians. This is
this is another problem. We are we have quite broad spectrum in parliament.
It's not just in Malaysia, I think it's all over ASEAN for that matters and if
the government of the day need to bring any matters or any laws into parliament
or enact anything or to spend lots of money on things that related to sea level
rise, they need to make all these people to understand really. Otherwise, we
are going to face a strong objections and retaliations if they do they don't
understand.
12. And number three (3) which is also we need to have a
very convincing and persuasive is our public at large. Our public or we call it
in Malaysia, we call it our rakyat, I think Indonesia also they call it the
same thing, in Brunei is far more complex than ever as we evidently observe and
compare them in the past, things in the past 20 years ago or 30 years ago with
a particularly with the presence of social media. We may decide we want to do
something on the ground for example, to tackle sea level rise but the objection
with the people surrounding it bring to the social media. So, we you need to
have different strategy to deal with them. And, that's not end yet. So, as a
scientist or expert, you come to this this discussion on any other workshop or
any other seminar, you come a conclusion and everybody agrees that we need to
act accordingly with our findings. So, the next hurdle, out of those three
hurdles, we might settle in one ministry. And rest agrees that this is a very
important issue, need quick fix action to address the sea level rise for
example. But, still and rest need to work to talk with Ministry of Economic in
Malaysia and together with the Ministry of Finance because they are the one who
have what it takes to move or to do anything to tackle the sea level rise. And
that might take months of deliberation back and forth with those who give a
final say how much money being approved for your projects. And as we speak 6
month or one year, we might see the effect of sea level rise or the erosions
killing us. So, this is a challenge that we have to consider.
Ladies and gentlemen,
13. To all this is not just a battle to
preserve lands It is a fight for justice for identity and for the future of our
nations. The sea may rise but so too must our courage, our cooperation and our
commitment. Let's us rise together for a safer stronger ASEAN. Our fear above
complacency, above borders. Let us turn the tide together. We can fight that. Again,
my final note. Sir David Attenborough said
for the very first time in the history of Homo Sapiens which is we are asking
people in different cultures on different continents with the different moral
systems to agree. That's never happened in the history of humanity. We can't
suppose it's going to happen to overnight. We just have to keep at it. With
that final word, again thank you very much for being here in Terengganu. Do
come back with your family for more casual setting happening in Terengganu. Do
enjoy our local delicacies and all but bear in mind be observed on your
cholesterol level and all those salts. We are talking not the salt water
intrusion, to the shores but to the to the rivers but salt intrusion into our
blood systems. So, we have to be really careful with that. So, with that, thank
you very much for coming here in here in Terengganu. Do enjoy yourself.
Sekian. Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi
wabarakatuh.
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