10.3 - Practices in Environmental Sustainability

Practices in sustaining the environments involve activities that protect the capacity of ecosystem, prevent environmental pollutions and avoid any sort of developmental activities that can threaten the health and quality of life of living organisms.

Practices that Contribute towards Environmental Sustainability

Environmental-friendly transport

• Cycling or use electric or hybrid vehicles.
• Car-pooling.
• Public transports such as bus, commuters, Light Railway Transit (LRT), Electric Train Service (ETS) and KLIA Express/KLIA Transit.

Energy saving

• The source of electrical energy comes from the burning of non-renewable substances such as petrol and diesel.
• Use electricity wisely to reduce the release of pollutants like carbon monoxide.

5R's concept

• Disposal of waste materials can be reduced through 5R's.
  • Rethink
  • Repair
  • Reuse
  • Reduce
  • Recycle

Usage of alternative renewable energy

• Renewable energy such as sun, wind, wave, water, geothermal and biomass are energy generated from natural resources.
• These energy are more clean, easy to use and safe.

Management of domestic and toxic waste

• The Department of Environment has the authority to
  • Coordinate disposal of waste materials activities.
  • Decide the maximum limit of waste production.
  • Control the licensing of categories, content, quantity and risks of waste products.
• Upcycle waste materials can reduce disposal at the landfill sites.

Biological control

• A technique to control pest population by using their natural predators.
• This can reduce the usage of pesticides.

Water saving

• Wash vehicles or water the plants by using used water or rainwater.

The Status of Food Security in Malaysia

Food security means having an assurance on availability of food, sufficient access to food as well as safe food utilization. There are 4 major components to food security, which are

• Availability of food
• Access to food
• Food utilization
• Food stability

Halal is also one of the important elements in food security. Halal food emphasizes on hygiene and orderliness during the production process from the farm until the final food product. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) are the two guidelines that ensure food security where the product has good quality, hygienic, health and safe.

Availability of food

• The ability to obtain enough source of food which are good in quality from the local market or imported food.

Access to food

• Food easily obtainable to sustain nutritional needs of diet.

Food utilization

• Refers to the ability to acquire enough nutrients melalui food, clean water, food processing and preparation.

Food stability

• Each individual has access to enough nutritious food at all times.