Category: Environment EN

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) urges the Penang State Government, Penang Island City Council (MBPP), and relevant departments and agencies to conduct an investigation and take immediate action to address the coastal erosion and marine pollution currently affecting the Tanjung Asam beach, near Gertak Sanggul. CAP’s recent survey found that coastal erosion over the past year has...

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) urges the Municipal Council of Sungai Petani (MPSPK) and the Forestry Department to conduct an immediate investigation and take prompt enforcement action to address the issue of solid waste dumping at the Sungai Merbok Permanent Reserved Mangrove Forest in Kedah. A survey conducted by CAP along Sungai Merbok found that most of the disposed waste...

Dutch Cities Replace Concrete with Grass-Filled Paving Bricks In the bustling urban landscapes of the Netherlands, a clever architectural shift is turning "concrete jungles" into living tapestries through the use of permeable grass pavers. These are specially designed paving bricks with small openings that allow grass, moss, and other low-growing plants to grow naturally through the pavement....

Street Trees Thrive Better with Other Plants at their Base A tree pit, bare ground beneath a tree, sealed with gravel or concrete does not protect a tree. It slowly harms it. Without water infiltration, active soil life, or shade over its surface roots, a street tree receives far less than it needs to thrive. During hot, dry seasons, the difference between surviving and struggling can depend...

Your air conditioner might be quietly making heatwaves worse. Air conditioners (AC) have become essential during extreme heat, but new research suggests they may also contribute to the rising temperatures they are helping people escape. Studies have found that during extreme heat events, widespread air conditioning use can increase local outdoor temperatures by 1-2°C (up to 3-4°F), with even...

On 5 June 2026, in conjunction with World Environment Day, the Soroptimist International Pearl of the Orient, in collaboration with the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), organised an environmental programme at Tenby International School Penang for young children aged 5-6 years old. A total of 38 students participated in the programme, comprising 23 boys and 15 girls. They were...

We cut the trees. We destroyed the hills. We blocked the natural flow of water. Then when floods arrive, we proudly say: “Nature did this.” Rain is natural. Disaster is often man-made. A forest is not just a group of trees. It is a water filter, a soil protector, a flood barrier, and a life support system. When we remove it, nature doesn’t take revenge. It simply stops protecting us....

Terrasse-Vaudreuil in Quebec has legally recognised trees as living beings with rights, aiming to strengthen climate resilience, biodiversity protection and sustainable urban development through enforceable municipal safeguards. A small municipality west of Montreal has taken an unprecedented step in environmental governance by legally recognising trees as living beings with inherent rights,...

The shift to electric vehicles (EV) must go beyond the narrow “zero-emissions” narrative. Mobility must be both clean and just. For this to happen, we must look at the full life cycle of batteries, from extraction to disposal. Developed with the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, this report by the Consumers’ Association of Penang, "Electric Vehicle Battery End-of-Life...