MALAYSIA TO SHOWCASE THE ROLE OF ITS FOREST IN THE GLOBAL CLIMATE BATTLE AT EXPO 2020 DUBAI

According to latest statement, Malaysia has chosen “Energising Sustainability” as its theme at Expo 2020 Dubai and will feature a Rainforest Canopy pavilion. Malaysia Pavilion is the first to adopt a net zero carbon approach for Expo 2020 Dubai.

A world that is increasingly worried about the atmosphere that is fast-saturated by greenhouse gases emitted by anthropogenic activities is looking for every possible means to slow down the trajectory of a warming planet.

The role of carbon-absorbing forests especially tropical rainforests in regulating climate has never been more important. Once again, protecting the remaining forested areas which lie in the territories of developing countries regained international attention and is thrust into the forefront of the battle to reverse the planetary emergency.

Forest land accounts for about 31 per cent of the world’s land surface area (4.06bil ha)[1] with the largest proportion (45%), in the tropical domain. And of this, the oldest biome located close to the equator and found within the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn – the tropical rainforests of Amazon, the Congo Basin and Southeast Asia – are touted to be the game-changing carbon sinks of the world.

Forest-related emissions due to land use change and unsustainable logging practices contribute about one fifth of all global emissions. Therefore, protecting these remaining

[1] http://www.fao.org/forest-resources-assessment/2020