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A successful transition towards sustainability in the university context requires incorporation of three important aspects based on knowledge, beliefs, values and actions among all stakeholders, particularly students, through environmental education and literacy. Hence, this study aims to assess the level of environmental literacy, encompassing knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of undergraduate students enrolled in the LMCP1522: Ecosystem Discovery Journey (EDJ) course in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. A quantitative study was conducted, involving a survey and structured questionnaires completed by 108 students, also known as Eco-volunteers (Ekorelawan). The collected data were analysed by applying the descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed a high level of environmental knowledge (94.4%), positive environmental attitude (56.5%) and fair/moderate environmental practice (69.5%) among students. The study also found positive and significant relationships between environmental knowledge, attitude and practice among the students through Spearman correlation test. The analysis discovered that students acquired environmental knowledge through electronic media, particularly social media as their primary source. The findings of the study illustrated a general depiction of environmental literacy level among students and provided general direction for policy discussion with respect to environmental education in Malaysian higher education institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2007, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia launched The UKM Sustainable Campus Programme as a commitment towards achieving sustainable campus status by 2020. Environment is one of the main components of sustainable development pillars. To enhance a better understanding on the environment towards sustainable livelihood, the Ecosystem Discovery Journey (EDJ) programme was developed. It is an initiative undertaken by the Sustainable Ecosystem Management Research Group under the UKM Sustainable Campus Framework. The EDJ Programme focuses on the provision of knowledge regarding environment and sustainable development among university students, school students and community at large and to promote the spirit of eco-volunteerism. To facilitate the programme a number of training modules was formulated to illustrate the concept, role and management of ecosystem in the context of human-environment interactions towards sustainability. The modules consist of Forest, Water, Soil, Energy and Waste Management which were formulated by experts and academics from multidisciplinary perspectives. The modules provide the opportunity to acquire knowledge through hands-on field experience of the various components of ecosystems and environment. In pursuit of encouraging volunteerism among students, the EDJ provides an important platform in motivating participants to actively engage in environmental volunteerism in the campus. Participants of the EDJ programme form the core group known as "UKM Eco-volunteers" (UKM Ekorelawan). The paper describes the various processes of knowledge transfer on ecosystem and environment, hands-on field activities and engagement programme with communities. The paper also illustrates the concept of EDJ in the context of Kolb Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) and Harmonising Knowledge, Attitude, Practice (KAP) Model into Changing Behaviour Framework. The EDJ programme was further strengthened through smart partnership collaboration and strong support of various stakeholders. Hence, EDJ programme is a novel and creative way for various target groups to explore and enjoy learning on selected field sites. It also aspires to nurture the interest and cultivate positive attitude on environmental conservation and management towards sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of turning food waste into compost among hoteliers in Malaysian islands is still far behind compared to the government's target of 8% by 2020. This paper aims to identify challenges associated with implementing sources of separation of food waste, turning waste into compost, and proposing relevant actions using island-based hotels on Langkawi Island as a case study. This study adopted the mixed-method approach. The researcher distributed sets of questionnaire surveys to 42 hoteliers, followed by observation and interviews with 23 hoteliers. This study identified the lack of space, existing facilities, expertise, funding, adequate knowledge and support from the hotel management affected the activities separation and composting of food waste at their hotel. The study also suggested five key actions for achieving sustainable food waste management for the hotel sector in Langkawi via separate and compost food waste strategies. Those actions are (1) monitor by establishing a unique team of the hotel staff; (2) cooperation with the contractor of taking waste hotel; (3) systematic waste collection with fixed schedule; (4) waste audit and waste mapping; and (5) adequate infrastructure. This study provides information and guidelines to help hoteliers reduce food waste, save hotel operation costs, and maintain the hotel's focus on environmentally friendly practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanisation invariably affects the extent of natural resources and green spaces in the cities. Urban expansion to accommodate the increasing population and economic activities are constantly threatening the existing forest areas and green spaces. In this regard, it is estimated that by 2020, 75% of the Malaysian population will be residing in cities and major urban centres. The pressure on existing forest and green spaces will increase thus affecting the general well-being of city dwellers. This trend is evident in Kuala Lumpur. The Economic Transformation Programme launched in 2010 identified Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley Region a sub-region of Kuala Lumpur Extended Mega Urban Region as one of the key region to enhance and spearhead the economic growth towards a developed nation status in 2020. Currently the region is home to 10 million residents about 31% of the total population of Malaysia. This figure is expected to increase to 12 million people in 2030. The main aim is to transform Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley Region into a highly connected city where people can access many facilities, opportunities and services being liveable as a vibrant urban metropolis. It also aspires to be among the top 20 most liveable cities globally by 2030. For the past several decades Kuala Lumpur has greatly expanded and diffused through the connection of smaller towns and urban centres such as Putrajaya, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Klang, Kajang, Selayang, Ampang Jaya and Sepang. This expansion process undoubtedly has encroached into forest areas and green spaces in Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley Region, consequently reducing the natural resources of the area. The diffused nature of urban expansion has also fragmented the available forests and green spaces. As a result the areas are small, isolated and scattered in the Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang ValleyRegion. Even though the areas are small, they are significant in protecting and conserving urban flora and fauna. This paper explores the pattern and scale of fragmentation of forests and green spaces in connection with the urbanization processes. The paper also provides information on these urban and peri-urban forests, their characteristics and locations and their crucial roles for recreational and outdoors activities as well as ecosystem services provided to city residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue outbreak has proliferated around the developing countries, including Malaysia. Thus, understanding the distribution pattern is essential for urbanization livelihood. The objective of this study is to determine the trend of dengue cases reported from the year 2014 to 2018 and the spatial pattern for dengue spread concerning weather elements in Bangi town. Pearson's correlation analysis found that temperature element (r = -0.269) was negatively correlated with dengue cases for the year 2014 and 2018; however, rainfall amount (r = 0.286) and rain days (r = 0.250) were positively correlated with dengue cases in the year 2018. The rainfall element found to be a significant decisive factor-related for most study years compared to the temperature element. Therefore, climate change is the issue to the increase of dengue fever. Most tropical countries where dengue is more likely to spread have underdeveloped health care systems, meanwhile the primary disease prevention and control problems are growing. New efforts to prevent and monitor climate change and the occurrence of dengue, including new methods of vector control and dengue vaccine, are essential to address possible effects of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many ways children in Malaysia learn about the environment. They are thought about environment through subjects in school, co-curricular activities held at the school and other parties particularly parents and family members who are closest to them, the media, NGOs and government agencies. Hence, this study was conducted to identify the sources of the children's environmental knowledge and their perceptions about the environment. Data were collected in November 4-14, 2014, i.e. at the end of second term of school session. A total of 480 pupils from four primary schools in three states was selected as respondents. Two instruments were used in the study, first was using questionnaires to determine the sources of pupils' knowledge about environment; and second using visual technique, i.e. drawings about the environment drawn by respondents to determine their perceptions about the environment based on the knowledge they acquired from school and other sources. The results showed that pupils generate knowledge about the environment mostly from classroom (98.3%), most of the components drawn in their drawings are biotic (97.3%), and their perception of a clean environment (96.3%) dominates the number of drawings. Based on this study, it can be concluded that the majority of pupils obtained their knowledge about the environment from the classroom. Hence, the students' hold perception that the environment has clean and safe characteristics. This study showed that the importance for close engagement process especially with teachers are the important factors to ensure that the children knowledge about the environment is futher enhanced and have a significant impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was applied to evaluate the environmental performance of the cockle farming activity in Malaysia. The study was conducted by a mid-point approach following the ISO 14040 series of standard and CML-IA Baseline V3.01 method using SimaPro 8 software. A total often impact categories were selected namely abiotic depletion (ABD), global warming potential (GWP), ozone layer depletion (OLD), human toxicity (HT), freshwater ecotoxicity (FET), marine aquatic ecotoxicity (MET), terrestrial ecotoxicity (TET), photochemical oxidation (PO), acidification (ACD), and eutrophication (EUT). Capital goods dominate the impact of HT (82.20%), ABD (81.72%), EUT (81.36%), FET (79.3%), PO (79.02%), MET (75.06%), TET (59.8%), and GWP (53.15%). Operational goods dominate OLD at 80.24% and ACD at 53% Fiberglass material dominated almost the entire environmental impact except for the eutrophication which was dominated by polypropylene. Harvesting process was identified as the main process contributed to the potential environmental impact in cockle farming. LCA is potentially expanded not only to the entire chain of cockle production, but also to put into practice other aquaculture systems in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]