The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has embarked on a new private sector partnership to produce 13 environmental articles every week in one of the largest newspapers circulated in the East Malaysia states of Sabah and Sarawak.

The partnership among UNDP, HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad and the Borneo Post newspaper aims to create greater public awareness on sustainable development through the series of environmental articles in the Borneo Post newspaper, sponsored by HSBC.

The series was first initiated through a partnership with UNDP, HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad and the Sun newspaper, Malaysia's second largest English-language newspaper. The series ran over a course of six months, yielding 26 articles that can be viewed here. This new initiative with the Borneo Post replicates the series at a smaller scale.

"Through this page, we bring a local perspective to global environment issues by highlighting initiatives being undertaken on the ground," said Dr Richard Leete, UNDP Resident Representative. "Each article also introduces a UNDP-implemented Global Environment Facility (GEF) project in Malaysia. It is an excellent opportunity to create awareness on efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of the environment."

"As a keen supporter of the environment, the series of articles serves as a means for us to reach out to the people and share invaluable information on sustainable development and environment conservation with the public," said HSBC Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Zarir J Cama.

Topics that will be covered in the series include biological diversity, sustainable livelihoods, energy efficiency and renewable energy, and gender and environment, linking these issues with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), a blueprint for building a better world for all people through poverty reduction by 2015. 

"Integral to the success of the MDG is biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. About half the world's population, particularly the poor, are directly dependent on biodiversity," said Dr Leete. "Ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain, provide most of the daily needs of the rural poor. This includes food, wood for fuel, building materials, medicine and water."

"Malaysia is committed to achieving the MDGs which includes a Goal on ensuring environmental sustainability. Globally, and in Malaysia, UNDP believes in strengthening partnerships and marshalling the resources needed to support the progress towards the MDGs."

"In Malaysia, UNDP works together with the Government and other partners, including the private sector, in developing, co-funding and implementing projects that will contribute to attaining the Goal on sustainable development, in particular in striking a balance between environment concerns and development priorities"

Articles in Borneo Post

1. Partners for a Sustainable Future (download in .pdf format here)
Published on 12 December 2004 
2.Organic Bounty From Nature's Acre (download in .pdf format here)
Published on 19 December 2004

Note: No article on 26 December or 2 January 2005 as Borneo Post did not publish on that day due to the Christmas and New Year breaks respectively, the day before.

3. Here's To People Power
Published on 9 January 2005
(Sorry, softcopy not available. Please contact Borneo Post directly for archive copies).