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10,000km river trails to be developed into recreational areas by 2030

KUALA LUMPUR: The Environment and Water Ministry will carry out social engagements as it targets 10,000km river trails to be developed as recreational areas by 2030, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said it encouraged those living around the river areas to play a role in protecting the water resources in the country.

"I agree that cooperation with the local communities, including students, could be implemented for this purpose.

"In protecting the environment, the ministry has also established the Environment Crime Prevention Unit (Unit Cegah Jenayah Alam Sekitar or UCJ) in collaboration with other agencies like the police to carry out enforcement," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (Pas-Sik).

Earlier, Tuan Ibrahim said various ministries and agencies were involved in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations state members since 2015.

"They (SDGs) cover surveillance, reporting, enforcement and legal actions. We have set certain policies in achieving our targets (under SDGs).

"There is a need for a mechanism to ensure that these targets are complied with. Each ministry has its own targets that need to be fulfilled and the performance gauged by 2030 (Agenda for Sustainable Development)," he said in reply to a supplementary from Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid bin Yusof Rawa (PH-Amanah-Parit Buntar), who urged the government to adopt the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) best practises in approving investments.

Tuan Ibrahim said Malaysia had adopted the 17 SDGs, with six of them were under the jurisdiction of the ministry.

The goals, carried out under the ministry's strategic plan (2020-2030), revolved around clean water and sanitation (Goal 6); industry, innovation and infrastructure (Goal 9); sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11); responsible consumption and production (Goal 12); climate action (Goal 13) and life below water (Goal 14).

He said the strategic plan, which was guided by three main frameworks, reflected the ministry's direction on government agenda, current policies and sustainable development.

He said the ministry had adopted the SDGs by setting 30 main initiatives under the strategic plan based on four cores— strengthening governance, green growth, strategic collaboration and social inclusivity.

"For example, the ministry has been active in ensuring the implementation of several indicators under Goal 6.

"The implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is an indicator to measure the country's success in managing and administering water resources in a holistic manner."

He said IWRM was a framework or process to coordinate development and management of water, land and natural resources to improve the economy and people's wellbeing, without affecting the eco-system's sustainability.

With the rapid socio-economic development in Malaysia, it was important that the country ensured that development revenues were not affected by the climate change and natural disasters.

Under SDGs related to climate change, Goal 13, sets minimal number of deaths due to disasters and climate change strategies in policy-making, development programmes and streamlined reporting framework.

"SDG Agenda generally covers dimensions related to community development, poverty, health, education, climate change and environmental protection," said Tuan Ibrahim.

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