As temperatures rise and air-conditioning becomes an increasingly common part of daily life, staying cool can come at a cost. There’s the electricity bill to think about, of course, but there’s also the energy we consume and the carbon emissions associated with it. So, how can we stay comfortable without using more energy than we need to? And when it comes to buying an air-conditioner, how do we balance the upfront cost with the potential savings over time? These are some of the issues being addressed by Cool-Lah: Tambahlah Bintang, a public awareness campaign organised by environmental NGO EcoKnights, with support from the United Nations Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency initiative, Malaysia’s Energy Commission and the Malaysia Energy Literacy Program. We find out more from Nabila Shohimi, Sustainability Manager at EcoKnights, and Communication Consultant for the Cool-Lah Tambahlah Bintang campaign, appointed by UNEP's United for Efficiency initiative.

As temperatures rise and air-conditioning becomes an increasingly common part of daily life, staying cool can come at a cost. There’s the electricity bill to think about, of course, but there’s also the energy we consume and the carbon emissions associated with it. So, how can we stay comfortable without using more energy than we need to? And when it comes to buying an air-conditioner, how do we balance the upfront cost with the potential savings over time? These are some of the issues being addressed by Cool-Lah: Tambahlah Bintang, a public awareness campaign organised by environmental NGO EcoKnights, with support from the United Nations Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency initiative, Malaysia’s Energy Commission and the Malaysia Energy Literacy Program. We find out more from Nabila Shohimi, Sustainability Manager at EcoKnights, and Communication Consultant for the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ecoknights.org.my/coollah-campaign-eng/">Cool-Lah Tambahlah Bintang</a> campaign, appointed by UNEP's United for Efficiency initiative.

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

Earth Matters

The Cost of Keeping Cool

When we talk about saving forests in Malaysia, the instinct is to think big: national parks, huge reserves, major conservation bodies. But Shariff Mohamad took a different approach, by purchasing three acres of land in Hulu Selangor, and simply letting it grow back.

His camera traps have since recorded more than 20 mammal species on that small patch, including Malayan tapirs, leopard cats, and the yellow-throated marten. The land sits at the edge of Selangor State Park, and its wild fig and fruit trees have turned it into a magnet for wildlife passing through. On its own, three acres isn't much of a habitat for large animals - Shariff is the first to say so. Yet it's already proving how much life a tiny, unmanaged patch can hold.

What made him choose conservation over development on his own land? How does he decide when to step in and when to simply leave nature alone? And what does his experiment suggest about the role ordinary landowners could play in protecting biodiversity? We speak to Shariff about these and more, and also how he documents his experiences through social media on Dusun Liar.

Image Credit: Shariff Mohamad

When we talk about saving forests in Malaysia, the instinct is to think big: national parks, huge reserves, major conservation bodies. But <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/dusunliar/">Shariff Mohamad</a> took a different approach, by purchasing three acres of land in Hulu Selangor, and simply letting it grow back.His camera traps have since recorded more than 20 mammal species on that small patch, including Malayan tapirs, leopard cats, and the yellow-throated marten. The land sits at the edge of Selangor State Park, and its wild fig and fruit trees have turned it into a magnet for wildlife passing through. On its own, three acres isn't much of a habitat for large animals - Shariff is the first to say so. Yet it's already proving how much life a tiny, unmanaged patch can hold.What made him choose conservation over development on his own land? How does he decide when to step in and when to simply leave nature alone? And what does his experiment suggest about the role ordinary landowners could play in protecting biodiversity? We speak to Shariff about these and more, and also how he documents his experiences through social media on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dusun.liar">Dusun Liar</a>.Image Credit: Shariff Mohamad

Can Small Forest Patches Make a Difference?

Our forests are full of stories, but it takes a certain kind of storyteller to bring them to life. For independent filmmaker Myles Storey, that means looking beyond the animals themselves, to the landscapes they live in, the people who share those spaces, and the connections between them. Since we last spoke in 2023, Myles has been exploring some wonderfully different ways of telling nature stories. He’s followed endangered species, wild gibbons and even imagined what it might be like to see the world through the eyes of a sticky frog. He has also turned his camera towards the Nakawan Range in Perlis, and his latest documentary, NAKAWAN: The Living Soul of Perlis, explores the biodiversity, culture and communities of this remarkable landscape. We catch up with Myles about his life as a filmmaker, the stories he’s been telling, and what spending so much time in the natural world has taught him along the way. 

Our forests are full of stories, but it takes a certain kind of storyteller to bring them to life. For independent filmmaker <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/mylespstorey/">Myles Storey</a>, that means looking beyond the animals themselves, to the landscapes they live in, the people who share those spaces, and the connections between them. Since we last spoke in 2023, Myles has been exploring some wonderfully different ways of telling nature stories. He’s followed endangered species, wild gibbons and even imagined what it might be like to see the world through the eyes of a sticky frog. He has also turned his camera towards the Nakawan Range in Perlis, and his latest documentary, NAKAWAN: The Living Soul of Perlis, explores the biodiversity, culture and communities of this remarkable landscape. We catch up with Myles about his life as a filmmaker, the stories he’s been telling, and what spending so much time in the natural world has taught him along the way.&nbsp;

Telling Stories About Malaysia’s Wild Places

Malaysia’s Budget 2027 includes funding for biodiversity conservation, community rangers and green initiatives, alongside measures to address issues such as flooding and water security. The government has also increased the allocation for the Ecological Fiscal Transfer, which provides funding to state governments to support conservation efforts. But WWF-Malaysia had called for a much bigger investment in nature ahead of the budget, including RM1 billion for the Ecological Fiscal Transfer, dedicated funding for nature-based solutions, and a commitment to spend at least 1% of the national budget on nature and biodiversity. So, how do the measures announced compare with what’s needed to protect Malaysia’s natural environment? Are we investing enough in conservation, and what more could be done to ensure nature is properly accounted for in the country’s development plans? To help us unpack this, we speak to Dr Jason Hon, Director of Conservation at WWF-Malaysia.

Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Malaysia’s Budget 2027 includes funding for biodiversity conservation, community rangers and green initiatives, alongside measures to address issues such as flooding and water security. The government has also increased the allocation for the Ecological Fiscal Transfer, which provides funding to state governments to support conservation efforts. But WWF-Malaysia had called for a much bigger investment in nature ahead of the budget, including RM1 billion for the Ecological Fiscal Transfer, dedicated funding for nature-based solutions, and a commitment to spend at least 1% of the national budget on nature and biodiversity. So, how do the measures announced compare with what’s needed to protect Malaysia’s natural environment? Are we investing enough in conservation, and what more could be done to ensure nature is properly accounted for in the country’s development plans? To help us unpack this, we speak to Dr Jason Hon, Director of Conservation at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wwf.org.my/">WWF-Malaysia</a>.Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life.Image Credit: Shutterstock

The Cost of Keeping Cool

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