Up on this hill, the problems of urban living seem to just disappear into the mist down below. Penang Hill has always been my magical escape from the stress of being an undergraduate student in this increasingly urban city. The cool and clean humid air of this hill is so different to the hot and polluted dry air of Georgetown. The canopy and underbrush is brimming with wildlife, a sanctuary for both locals and migrants alike.

Thanks to the recent designation of this area as part of the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, we can expect it to continue being the green lung of Penang, staving off the effects of climate change brought by our daily activities. I envision a future where more green spaces around major cities like Penang Hill will exist to inspire care for the environment, and to remind us that the increasingly inhospitable climate we live in is not normal.