In August 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its sixth assessment report with the main highlights of how climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying. 

The big question now is, how does climate change affect our community and us? First, we see an increase in extreme weather locally and globally. Last month, we witnessed severe flooding and landslides in several parts of the country due to heavy rain. Two months earlier, the Malaysian Meteorological Department warned the country of a prolonged heatwave. 

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Globally, even some of the wealthiest European countries could not stop the wrath of nature and were hit by devastatingly heavy floods. However, these extreme weather conditions are not the only impacts of climate change. We are talking about rising sea levels, disturbance to food systems, and many more.

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If we do not do something now to address global warming, we will experience more extreme climate events that will change civilisation as we know it. To combat climate change, WWF-Malaysia and many other organisations and scientists worldwide are putting together efforts to achieve net-zero emissions. We are advocating for the target of a 1.5° limit to the current rise in average global temperatures as agreed by the international communities via the Paris Agreement.

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We need everyone on board in efforts to reverse the decline of nature and transforming the country into a sustainable nation by 2030. We see youth as important stakeholders. Their viewpoints and insights are crucial as we look into combatting climate change.