Kapit District Council to emulate Kyoto’s success in environmental protection

KAPIT (July 18): Kapit District Council (KDC) will look at implementing more environmental-related initiatives to raise awareness among the people here, especially the young, on the importance of mitigating climate change.

In stating this, KDC chairman Lating Minggang said the council aims to emulate Japan’s Kyoto City which has run environment awareness programmes that have been recognised by the United Nations.

He said both he and council secretary Kelimbik Sibat had on Monday returned from a 10-day study visit to Kyoto under a partnership programme by the Japan International Cooperation Agency with Asean cities, aimed at expanding the knowledge of Asean delegates on environmental protection activities and programmes implemented in Kyoto and the surrounding areas.

“The visit was indeed an eye-opener for myself and the KDC secretary, as we were able to see firsthand through site visits how the Kyoto City communities and non-profit organisations work hand-in-hand to organise activities related to environmental protection towards a common cause – to better their city,” Lating told The Borneo Post.

He said currently, KDC conducts tree-planting programmes with the community and schools, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

To expand its efforts, he said the council will look to devise specific and feasible projects that can be carried out in Kapit District.

At the same time, Lating said KDC will also collaborate with other local authorities, especially Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) which has run a number of successful environmental programmes.

A total of 22 Asean delegates joined the study visit to Kyoto, comprising representatives from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.

Apart from KDC, the Malaysian representatives were from BDA, Mersing District Council, Segamat Municipal Council, Tawau Municipal Council, Johor Bahru City Council, and Iskandar Regional Development Authority.