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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Protecting the environment requires that we control human activities that contribute to the deterioration of our environment, and at the same time, initiate measures for the improvement of our environment. Both of these require raising public awareness about the state of our environment

If we fail to accomplish these noble objectives and adopt a couldn't-care-less attitude, the results could be catastrophic.

The 21st century has brought humankind great achievements, but it has failed to tackle what threatens to cause irreversible, apocalyptic changes to our world. Climate change, our worst and biggest problem since the 20th century, is now rearing its ugly and menacing head.

Global warming, the greenhouse effect, the melting of icebergs and icecaps and rising sea levels are just a few of the effects of climate change we face today. Stopping these and other threatening phenomena requires concerted efforts by the whole world to solve the problems that beset mankind.

Climate change is happening dramatically and drastically. In many places people can no longer go out for pleasant walks because of the extremely hot weather. The factors that contribute to this change are many and varied, including the thinning of the ozone layer, acid rain and haze. Haze is the number one pollutant that contributes to climate change.

The only way to reverse climate change is through awareness, which includes educating the public through campaigns and media, including electronic media activity. The public need to be updated about what is happening to Mother Earth. Knowledge is power they say; only when we come to know what is really happening can we make the effort to change and preserve what we now have for future generations. We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

If we have a burning passion we can ignite our beacon of hope for a better future and enflame our will to conserve the beauty of the created order.

What matters is fulfilling social responsibilities while executing development. We can't run away from development, but we should not sacrifice our environment in the name of development.

Take for example the polar icecaps, we read that they are shrinking at a rate of 9 percent each decade. This means they will melt in a few decades, not a few centuries. Scientists have found that if all Greenland and Antarctica melts, the ocean will rise 60 meters.

Since the mid-1970s, the icecaps have been disappearing. Average temperatures in the Arctic region are rising twice as fast as elsewhere in the world. Arctic ice is getting thinner and melting. Snow and ice usually form a protective cooling layer over the Arctic. When this cover melts, the earth absorbs more sunlight and gets hotter. This makes temperatures around the world higher.

We have been told that over 100 million people live within one meter of sea level. Imagine the dire consequences to these people if sea levels continue to rise. A warmer Arctic will also affect weather patterns and thus agricultural production around the globe, as well as causing the possible extinction of precious aquatic life and ocean acidification to boot.

When we burn fossil fuels – oil, coal and gas – to generate electricity and power our vehicles, we produce the heat-trapping gasses like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that cause global warming. The more we burn the faster churns the wheel of global climate change. So what we must all do is save energy, of course.

We can being by changing our drinking habits, eliminating styrofoam cups and plastic bottles. We can also quit smoking. It takes 10 years for one cigarette butt to biodegrade. Cigarette butts are not only litter but many land and marine animals die annually from mistakenly eating them.

We can go public – ditch the car and catch public transport. For every mile of travel, public transport uses about one-half the fuel consumed by an automobile. Pull the plug – if 10 out of every 100 mobile phone owners unplugged their phone chargers once their phones are fully charged, the energy saved could power 60,000 homes a year.

Plant a tree – trees absorb CO2, clean the air and produce oxygen. Recycle soda cans. Recharge your batteries. Slow down and tune up – save money and CO2 emissions as well as staying safe by not speeding. Keeping your tires properly inflated can decrease gas consumption and keeping your engine tuned can improve your car's efficiency.

Let’s work in collaboration with the United Nations to create worldwide awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action which is sorely needed.

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(Sekina Joseph is a freelance writer, social activist and member of the Malaysian Interfaith Network based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She writes on social, cultural, philosophical and interfaith issues. She can be contacted at sknjoseph@yahoo.com. ©Copyright Sekina Joseph.)