Kuala Lumpur, June 5 – UNDP teamed up with one of the Klang Valley’s  pioneering ‘eco-friendly’ malls, 1 Utama, to celebrate this year’s World Environment Day. From June 5-8, the festival, themed, “Go Green –Get to Grips with Climate Change” aimed to galvanize public support around the issue of environmental sustainability and to promote green lifestyles.

The festival saw the participation of over 20 organizations, including  environmental preservation groups, corporate companies, recyclers associations and educational institutions.

A host of fun-filled and educational activities on the theme of climate change were organized for visitors including recycling activities, live performances, craft and art, organic cooking demonstrations and story-telling sessions for children.

Lending her support to this year’s festivities was UNDP Celebrity Partner and prominent actress Joanna Bessey. In her speech at the launch event, Joanna said, “The greatest challenge confronting us, mankind, in the 21st Century is our sustainability on this planet and the global climate crisis. Climate change is not just an environmental issue. It is much more because it forces us to question the very foundation of the development that has shaped our world since the Great Industrial Revolution, including our addiction to oil.” 

“Socially, the impacts are already being felt with economic dislocations across the world – from food riots in Haiti to the devastating destruction in Myanmar.  And it is the poor who are hardest hit. But we all feel the impact, so there’s no time like the present to realize something can be done about it!

“On this World Environment Day, the message which I bring to you, my fellow Malaysians, is that we are all part of the solution. You, as a consumer, have incredible power to create change. Whether you are an individual, a business or a government, there are many steps you can take to reduce your ecological footprint. It is message we all must take to heart,” Joanna said.

Joanna also took time off her busy schedule to read an environmental story, titled, "Togu and the Trees of Life" to children at the mall on June 6.

Dato’ Teo Chiang Kok, Director of 1 Utama, highlighted some of the initiatives that the mall has undertaken to promote environmental conservation, including the usage of a computerized central monitoring system that controls all our mechanical and electrical equipments in order to optimize the use of energy.

 “The idea behind this project is to raise awareness about the current environmental issues to our shoppers and more importantly, to instill the love for Mother Nature in our children, our future generation,” he said.

The launch of the event was officiated by Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Minister of Housing and Local government, who said, “Public awareness is a long process to instill the spirit of loving the environment within the society. Awareness campaigns have to be carried out continuously and more importantly to involve our children. Awareness towards conservation and protection of the nature can only bear fruit if the society has knowledge, understanding, change of attitude and active participation.”

Commenting on the major recycling drive organized by 1 Utama on conjunction with the celebrations, Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan, said that the effort reflected the significant cooperation between the private sector, NGOs, industries, individuals and the government to promote minimization of solid waste threw 3R.

“Most importantly the campaign makes a clear indication linking solid waste management which is a national issue with global warming which is an international concern. Thus, by addressing a national issue we are at the same time address climate change,” he said. 

The highlight of the launch event was a touching piece by the Tree Theatre Group, titled, “Tears of Trees” and equally charming performances by Charms cheerleadng squad and the eco-percussion youth group, YAWA.