KUALA LUMPUR: The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry is undertaking several initiatives to help the country achieve net zero in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
Ministry Climate Change Division undersecretary Dr Hartini Mohd Nasir said among the initiatives were the development of the Nationally-Determined Contributions (NDC) Roadmap and Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS), outlining precise strategies and actions for GHG mitigation, particularly in key economic sectors.
"Simultaneously, the ministry is advancing the development of the Climate Change Act.
"Another important legislation, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA), spearheaded by the ministry, is poised for approval in Parliament this month.
"However, it is imperative to underscore that mitigation efforts alone are insufficient," she said in her keynote speech at the Climate Change Conversations forum titled "Race to Net Zero: Leadership in Climate Action".
The forum was part of the three-day International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia 2023 (IGEM 2023), organised by the ministry and the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC).
The forum was in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection BMUV, GIZ – a non-profit enterprise of the Federal Republic of Germany and Media Prima Berhad.
Present was German ambassador to Malaysia Dr Peter Blomeyer.
Hartini said Malaysia's contribution to GHG emissions stands at 0.69 per cent.
"We remain committed to implementing climate actions to reduce our carbon emissions. Malaysia pledges to reduce GHG emissions intensity of 45 per cent in 2030 compared to 2005 levels."
Hartini added that in the preceding year alone, Malaysia incurred a total loss of RM622.4 million due to floods, equivalent to 0.03 per cent of the nominal gross domestic product (GDP).
"This significant threat imperils our biodiversity, exacerbates water scarcity, and food insecurity, posing grave risks to public health.
"Regrettably, the repercussions of these impacts are not confined to Malaysia but resonate across international borders."
Haritini added that the ministry, in collaboration with German's Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection; German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ); the National Adaptation Plans (NAP) Global Network and supported by MGTC, as well as the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (Nahrim) serving as the project implementation units (PIU), will embark on Malaysia's Adaptation Planning Project over 36 months, commencing next year until 2026.
"This collaborative effort will augment bilateral support in formulating and implementing Malaysia's National Adaptation Plans and adaptation action.
"The National Adaptation Plan will bolster our national resilience against climate impacts, mitigating long-term costs associated with responding to climate-related disasters.
"Through this adaptation planning initiative, the ministry is resolute in collaborating with other ministries, state and local governments, the private sector, experts, and grassroots movements to ensure our actions yield meaningful and inclusive impact."