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Back in March 2022, a significant resolution was passed at the 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, titled "End plastic pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument." This resolution acknowledged the severe global issue of plastic pollution, recognising its detrimental effects on the environment, society, and sustainable development. It mandated the UN Environment Programme Executive Director to establish an International Negotiating Committee (INC) to create a legally binding treaty addressing plastic pollution across its entire life cycle. This landmark decision marked the beginning of the process toward a global agreement on plastic pollution, with the aim of finalising the treaty by the end of 2024. The fourth session of the INC to develop this international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, is set to take place from the 23rd to the 29th of April 2024 in Canada. Many battles are set to be fought at these negotiations, to effectively respond to the global plastics pollution crisis. What are they? We speak to Arpita Bhagat, the Plastic Policy Officer at GAIA Asia Pacific, and Dharmesh Shah, a Consulting Senior Campaigner (Plastics Treaty), at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), to find out more about what civil society organisation will be pushing for, at INC-4.
Image Credit: GAIA
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In Malaysia, it's sadly not that difficult to purchase wildlife as pets, especially through online channels. But what's spurring Malaysians to want to own and then buy these exotic pets, and are there enough laws to prevent the often illegal trade of these wild species of animals? We speak to journalists Hannan Azmir and Lee Kwai Han, who recently wrote two articles on the illegal trade of wildlife online, for local environmental journalism portal, Macaranga. We also speak to Dr Nor Arlina Amirah Ahmad Ghani from Justice for Wildlife Malaysia, a non-profit research enterprise entity who aims to protect and conserve wildlife in Malaysia through legal means, and how they are promoting legal literacy among wildlife conservation fraternities.
Image credit: Macaranga (Hannan Azmir)
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The Urban Orchard Kuala Lumpur (UOKL) is a project initiated by Yen Maseri Hj Idris, better known as Uncle Yen. After losing his youngest son in 2016, Yen started planting fruit trees along the riverbank of Sungai Penchala, near the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, as his way of dealing with the loss of his son, and honouring his late son’s memory. His vision is to create a sanctuary for people who are struggling with mental health issues, and to share the fruits of his labour with the public. He joins us to share more about how he turned the neglected swampy land in Taman Tun into a thriving biodiverse orchard, and also how he hopes UOKL will inspire more urban dwellers to reconnect with the earth, and find healing and happiness in the process.

Image credits: UOKL
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International Zero Waste Day was just celebrated on the 30th of March, with the aim of promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns, supporting a societal shift towards circularity, and raising awareness about how zero-waste initiatives contribute to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. According to the UN, the waste sector contributes to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, and pollution. It's said that zero-waste initiatives can encourage sound waste management and minimise and prevent waste, helping to address the planetary crisis, protect the environment, enhance food security, and improve human health and well-being. Here on Earth Matters, we've had the privilege to speak to several zero-waste practitioners, who have shared their own journeys of transforming their lives and consumption patterns, and going as ‘zero-waste’ as possible. In this look-back episode, we hear from Bea Johnson, the French-born US-based environmental activist, author and motivational speaker, cited as the founder of the zero waste movement, who is best known for reducing her family's annual trash down to a pint and for authoring the book Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste. We then hear from Zero Waste Malaysia's Khor Sue Yee (Co-founder and Director) and Jasreel Lim (Head of Finance & Business Development), who discuss Trashpedia, which is dubbed the ultimate guide to waste segregation and sustainable living.
Image credit: Shutterstock
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In Terengganu’s Pulau Redang, the community is actively engaged in protecting their marine ecosystem, particularly focusing on coral reef restoration with the support of Reef Check Malaysia and the Redang Marine Conservation Group (RMCG). Six locals trained by Reef Check Malaysia's Cintai Redang team have achieved significant milestones within a year, including rescuing 750 coral fragments, removing 274 kg of ghost nets, and eliminating 89 Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COTS). They've also established partnerships with local schools and developed a national community-based Coral Rehabilitation Toolkit, aimed at guiding communities in coral conservation efforts, which has been piloted successfully. Supported by various organisations and funded by the National Conservation Trust Fund, the toolkit offers comprehensive strategies for assessing, rehabilitating, and sustaining coral reefs, including community engagement and tourist involvement for long-term sustainability. We find out more about this conservation success from Julian Hyde, the General Manager of Reef Check Malaysia.
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Macaranga Wrap-up is our monthly show on Earth Matters where we give you a roundup of the top environmental news from the month past, curated by the co-founders of the environmental journalism portal Macaranga. Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua return this March with updates on some illegal wildlife trading cases, involving both African rhinoceros and reptiles. We will also take a look at the recent ruling involving the European Union and the Malaysian government, where the World Trade Organisation rejected Malaysia's complaint against an EU decision that biodiesel made from palm oil should not be considered a renewable biofuel, though the EU will also have to make some adjustments to the measures they introduced. Finally, over in Johor, the Merambong seagrass meadow next to Forest City Johor, is reportedly thriving after restoration. A development + conservation success story? We discuss this and more. 
Image credits: Shutterstock
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