Macaranga Wrap-up: May 2023

May is coming to a close, which makes it time for another roundup of top environmental news with the co-founders of journalism portal, Macaranga. This month, Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua join us to discuss the heatwaves we are contending with in Malaysia, while tying it to water supply concerns that are increasing across the peninsula. Next we discuss how Malaysia and Indonesia are gearing up for a two-day joint mission to Brussels, to deliberate on issues pertaining to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) that is "negatively impacting the palm oil industry." Following that, we dissect the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change ministry's plans to impose a total ban on plastic bags in Malaysia by 2025 - a welcome plan by many, but how will this be executed in reality? On a plastic related note, we look forward to celebrating World Environment Day on the 5th of June, whose theme this year is to Beat Plastic Pollution, limit waste and push for a transition to a circular economy.

Image Credit: Afif Abd. Halim / Shutterstock.com