ISSUE 23 PONDERS by Ponderosa Golf

PONDEROSA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB NEWSLETTER
A DEGREE OF CONCERN
JB’S RISE IN
TEMPERATURE
When we think of Johor Bahru, we often imagine
a beautiful coastal city with azure skies, warm
sunshine, fresh air and white clouds rising over the
horizon. The rugged beauty of the city is coupled
with a robust ecosystem of economies that thrive
next to a complimenting yet competitive neighbour.
However, Johor is under threat by one of the
greatest challenges faced by mankind. It is under
threat by the very climate we cherish in the scenic
imagination of our city. Climate change is a real
threat to Johor and it is not something that is
waiting to happen but it has long begun and the
after effects are now rearing its ugly head.
A recent study published by Think City cited that
Johor recording a peak temperature increase of
6.70°C within a shorter period between May 2005
and May 2018 in comparison to the other cities.
The areas with significant temperature rise were
focused around industrial and developing areas
such as Skudai, Johor Bahru, Tanjung Langsat,
Pasir Gudang, Iskandar Puteri (Nusajaya), Bandar
Dato’ Onn and Tanjong Langsat.
To understand the situation better, the temperature
in Johor fluctuates between 30°C to 32°C. April is the
warmest month, with an average high-temperature
of 32.8°C. If the temperatures reached a threshold of
between 35-37°C for three days straight, an official
alert will be put out. Category 2 (heatwave level) is
when the temperature is over 37°C for three days
straight while Category 3 (emergency level) is when
the temperature exceeds 40°C.
Globally, the ambition is to keep the increase below
1.5°C. This is a science-based target that is deemed
to be a safe threshold for warming. The climate
crisis however does not start at this 1.5°C threshold,
it is already here. Going above 1.5°C aggravates the
crisis further.
With increasing global surface temperatures,
droughts will be longer and more extreme, storms
becoming more severe due to warmer ocean water
temperatures, a rise in sea levels, increased risks in
food production and crop yields, jeopardised food
and water security, more frequent unprecedented
heatwaves and a general degradation of good
health and wellbeing.
In Johor, the devastating impacts of the rise in
temperature are evident. The evidence of impact
can be measured in the lost of livelihood, lost of
homes, lost of millions of Ringgit in emergency
services, cloud seeding exercises and disaster relief
and to the extent of seeing thousands of people
falling ill from pollution.
Johor needs to get back on track. Business
ambitions and actions need to be bolder if we are to
stand any chance of winning this fight. Companies
must commit to fighting climate change and align
their business strategies with better environment,
social and governance (ESG) consciousness.
Written by Edey Suresh, Johor State Director for the
UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei
(UNGCMYB)
NO MORE PLASTIC STRAWS
What was previously straws given only upon request, the Green Leap Forward
campaign has progressed to providing only paper straws for selected drinks.
REVAMP OF FOOD PACKAGING
We have long discarded Styrofoam boxes in line with the Government’s call
while we are in the process of changing all packaging for food delivery or
take away to paper products only.
Work with us to save the environment. Drop old habits, adopt new ones for
Earth’s sustainability.