World Nature Conservation Day was celebrated on July 28. Every year, this day is observed to create awareness about protecting and conserving natural resources.

Threats to nature are increasing at an alarming rate. Deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, use of plastics, discharge of harmful chemicals and pollution of air, noise and water are rampant.

Safeguarding a healthy environment is a must for present and future generations. It is crucial to appreciate the abundance that the Earth has given us. The water, oxygen, soil, minerals, trees and animals are all taken for granted simply because we do not see the danger of losing them.

A search for environmental issues will reveal much interesting news. In fact, if greenhouse gas emissions are constantly high and global warming continues unabated, an average of 234,500 Malaysians will be affected by floods annually due to a rise in sea levels between 2070 and 2100. This is aggravated by poor drainage system, especially in urban areas.

An issue relating to negligence in environmental care worth highlighting is the dumping of chemical waste in Sungai Kim Kim, Pasir Gudang, Johor. This resulted in the release of toxic fumes that caused thousands to be hospitalised. This happened despite having in force the Environmental Quality Act 1974. This act specifically restricts the discharging of waste into the environment.

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New Straits Times