Carbon credit scheme mooted for mitigating disaster effects

THE state government has proposed a study on creating regulations to enable implementation of carbon credits or carbon transactions in Johor.

Climate Change and State Disaster Management Select Committee chairman Anuar Abd Manap said this was important because revenue from the tax would enable the state to get funds for disaster relief.

He also said carbon credits could be implemented in Johor through local authorities.

“Any industry that releases carbon has to compensate the state government according to the value of the carbon released, through carbon credits.

“This will indirectly provide additional income for the state.”

Anuar, who is also Pemanis assemblyman, said this in a press conference held after the Johor state assembly meeting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Iskandar Puteri.

Earlier, Anuar presented the carbon credit proposal that was one of the 10 recommendations made by the Climate Change and State Disaster Management Select Committee to Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz’s administration.

Anuar said the committee also suggested that the state government provide an allocation to the Johor Malaysian Meteorological Department to add auxiliary automatic meteorological stations throughout the state.

“To improve governance at temporary relief centres, the state could create an integrated database that contains all information regarding flood management including a list of names of heads of households.

“This database should always be updated and can be used to smoothen the rescue process and also post-flood aid process.”

Anuar said the committee also suggested that there be additional allocations for the Johor Drainage and Irrigation Department for the maintenance of drains and rivers in addition to emergency allocations to district offices to enable flood management to be implemented efficiently.