KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will be a carbon-neutral country as early as 2050 and this will be achieved through the introduction of carbon pricing and carbon tax, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He told the Dewan Rakyat today that the details of other measures for carbon reduction would be announced once the review on the long-term low-carbon development strategies is completed by next year.
For this purpose, he said the government would no longer build new coal-fired power plants in the country.
"I realise this needs concentrated efforts and commitment as well as a high green investment but I am confident that with the participation of the Malaysian Family, this will not be an empty dream," he said in tabling the 12th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat today.
As part of the government's effort to achieve sustainable development goals, the prime minister said civil society organisations (CSO) will also be recognised as development partners.
To this end, he said the role of CSO will be institutionalised in various governance mechanisms, especially in the implementation and monitoring of development programmes at the grassroots level to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
"A comprehensive National Energy Policy will be introduced to provide a long-term strategic direction to support our aspiration of becoming a carbon-neutral nation.
"Cleaner electricity generation will be implemented through the operation of several gas power plants in Peninsular Malaysia to replace coal-fired power plants.
"Acts related to energy efficiency and conservation will also be introduced to regulate energy consumption by high-intensity consumers in the industrial and commercial sectors.
"Renewable energy generation from solar, biomass and biogas is targeted to increase to 31 per cent of the total installed capacity by the year 2025."
Ismail Sabri said the government would also prioritise the development of the energy-efficient vehicle (EEV) manufacturing industry to support environmentally friendly mobility initiatives.
To ensure coordinated and comprehensive climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, he said a roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a national adaptation plan would be introduced.
"The ecological fiscal transfer mechanism will be improved to support the state government's measures to conserve forest areas.
"Increasingly endangered wildlife sanctuaries such as tigers, tapirs, and elephants will be upgraded for conservation purposes."
Apart from this, Ismail Sabri said the government is allocating RM16 billion for several projects under 12MP and 13MP.
These projects include a flood mitigation programme, integrated river basin management, and coastal erosion control, as well as flood forecasting and warning programme.