The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is to develop an environmental performance index as a yardstick to gauge the environmental management performance of every state next year.
Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said the Malaysia Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2012 would be developed in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
He said the cabinet had agreed to the ministry’s proposal which also had the support of various federal agencies.
“At the moment, we do not have an indicator on the public’s response to environmental issues, such as climate change, the performances of local bodies like the City South Hall in managing solid and sewage waste disposal and the number of acreage of trees planted here.”
Speaking after officiating at the Division Journalists Association Car Boot Sale and Sports Day at the Integrated Sports Complex here, he said the index would also help the ministry in terms of resource and manpower allocations.
He said Malaysia was ranked 54th among 163 countries under the Global EPI 2010, based on quantitative data obtained from the World Health Organisation, United Nations Global Environmental Monitoring System, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and academia.
The Malaysia EPI 2012 would also address issues pertaining to socio-economic sustainability, resources efficiency, environmental governance, and environmental awareness and behaviour.
On the 2012 Budget announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Uggah said his ministry was happy with the allocation of RM2 billion for flood-mitigation projects.
