Category: Environment EN

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...

A healthy economy shouldn’t create overflowing waste. When things are made to be used once and thrown away, the problem does not end in the trash bin. It moves into landfills, waterways, soil, and the air. It also means more raw materials have to be taken, processed, shipped, and replaced again. A circular economy looks at waste differently. It keeps materials in use for longer through repair,...

Ever notice how the temperature drops 10 degrees the second you walk under a big tree? That’s not a coincidence. That’s nature doing the job we keep trying to replace with asphalt and parking lots. We’ve turned our cities into heat islands by removing the very things designed to cool them down. The solution isn't some high-tech miracle — it's right outside. Plant a tree. Restore the...

Ghost fishing nets are rapidly emerging as one of the most destructive yet overlooked threats to Malaysia’s marine ecosystem. These abandoned nets left drifting or entangled beneath the surface are the direct result of irresponsible fishing practices. As highlighted in recent news, the persistence of such behaviour raises serious concern as to whether it stems from a lack of awareness or a...

As the world marks World Environment Day on Friday, 5 June 2026, the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) joins the international community in recognising the urgent need for stronger environmental protection, climate action, and sustainable development.   Hosted this year by the Republic of Azerbaijan in Baku, the theme “Inspired by Nature. For  Climate. For Our Future.” reflects the...