Loading...
Corporate Environmental Responsibility in Singapore and Malaysia - The Potential and Limits of Voluntary Initiatives
Singh, Sanjeev Perry, Martin
Singh, Sanjeev
Perry, Martin
Author(s)
Author(s) (Additional)
Illustrator(s)
Producer(s)
Contributor(s)
Contributor(s) (Other)
Editor(s)
Advisor(s)
Contact(s)
Data Collector(s)
GE Subjects
Collections
Files
Loading...
perry.pdf
Adobe PDF, 1.23 MB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Online Access
Abstract
"The neighbouring Southeast Asian countries of Singapore and Malaysia have contrasting environmental reputations. The small city-state of Singapore, with a population of 4 million and a population density of around 6,150 per square kilometre, is often seen as a model green city. That reputation rests partly on its efforts to control urban congestion and pollution, as well as the retention of green landscapes within the built environment. Malaysia, on the other hand, with a total population of around 20 million distributed between the comparatively urbanized peninsula and the less developed states of Sabah and Sarawak, has a poor environmental image. Deforestation, loss of biodiversity and the marginalization of indigenous populations in resource management decisions account for much of that negative image. The real comparative environmental performance is a good deal harder to judge than immediate impressions suggest, not least because Malaysia s GDP per capita is a third of Singapore s. On current income, Singapore ranks among the world s top 10 richest countries. Its elevation to this group has been rapid, but Singapore has yet officially to accept the status of a developed country. That mantle would bring economic implications and international obligations, potentially including responsibilities under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Government reticence aside, Singapore s affluence arguably makes Western expectations of environmental responsibility a relevant performance benchmark, particularly as its economy is built on the investment of foreign transnational corporations. Malaysia, on the other hand, is still managing the transition to an industrial society. Around a quarter of the workforce is employed in agriculture, and nearly half the population lives outside urban areas. Malaysian lawmakers have demonstrated a willingness to strengthen environmental protection, and high-income status may yet be achieved with a greater proportion of the country s land area designated as protected natural environment than in many older industrial nations. This may be a reasonable expectation, given the ecological significance of tropical forests. Advocacy of corporate voluntary environmental initiatives understood as actions taken to reduce environmental impacts, and promote awareness thereof, that have not been required by government regulation to strengthen environmental management can be justified in Singapore and Malaysia, although for different reasons."(pg iv)
Note(s)
Topic
Type
Book
Date
2001-04
Identifier
ISBN
DOI
Copyright/License
With permission of the license/copyright holder