By Nikko Fabian
RANAU : upon The local community are urged to actively participate and cooperate in efforts to achieve the goals of the I-GREEN Program to preserve the environment.
Ranau District Officer (DO) Tinus Manggam made this call when officiating the I-GREEN Expedition Program in Ranau.
Themed “Towards the Green Code of Sabah 2024” , it was held at the Ranau Market Square Wednesday.
The program, the first of its kind in Ranau, serves as a platform involving all members of the community to collectively take actions towards preserving the environmental landscape.
“In truth, the presence of all parties demonstrates our commitment and love for the district of Ranau,” he stated.
According to Tinus, the I-GREEN Expedition program is a continuation of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing’s 2024 I-GREEN program, which was implemented on February 27 as an initiative for greening and environmental sustainability starting from a top-down to bottom-up approach.
“It aims to help us identify issues and sustainable solutions. This program aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a United Nations agenda since early 2015 encompassing 17 goals to achieve the resolution ‘Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,’ a shared resolution among governments of 193 countries,” he explained.
Tinus emphasized that the global community is facing an environmental crisis with unprecedented rates of change. He highlighted the need for integrated and balanced efforts to address climate change and global warming caused by human activities altering the global atmosphere composition.
“In tackling climate change, we need to act cohesively and responsibly. This responsibility must be shared by all parties to ensure the sustainability of the current and future generations. We believe that the key to resolving the climate crisis lies in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and transforming society to preserve the environment,” he added.
Therefore, Tinus sees this program as a significant contribution to the Ranau community in achieving sustainable living in line with the vision of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing towards Driving Sustainable Development and Achieving Community Well-being.
“I believe programs like this are crucial as they serve as platforms for exchanging ideas, dialogue, research, and networking with experts to learn best practices in addressing current global issues.
“In addition, to achieve sustainable development goals, the integration of GREEN elements must be considered in landscape planning.”
“Landscapes are not just about planting trees. GREEN here does not only refer to creating green spaces or parks but also includes other physical elements such as rooftop gardens, rainwater harvesting systems, eco-friendly building materials, and renewable energy generation through efficient solar energy systems,” he stressed.
Also present at the event were the Assistant Secretary (Landscape), representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing Nurulhayati Awang More, the Executive Officer of the Ranau District Council Elmer Endra M Sator, the District Chief of Ranau OKK Dominic Ganie, Council Members, and Department Heads.
